Thivi finally spoke, her face aglow in the moonlight. "Today was fun," she said softly, her voice bright with quiet joy. "I didn't expect my first time in Bandung to be this special."
Lighting a cigarette, she watched the smoke curl into rings, drifting away on the breeze. Peace. To her, this simple moment meant more than anything.
Felicia spoke next, her voice soft, heavy with meaning. "Me too. This is my first time staying like this. Meeting you both… at such an unexpected time… it feels like I've been given a place to belong. Thank you, Kaivan."
Kaivan didn't answer. He sat quietly, gazing into the distance, exhaling smoke that danced and faded into the night. Inside, a rush of feelings swirled, warmth, gratitude, and stillness.
His mind wandered back to the Tome Omnicent. That old book had changed his life, bringing him to these people. Without it, this night would never have existed. He drew in a long breath, letting silent gratitude bloom in his chest, beneath the open sky, among friendships he had never imagined.
Silence wrapped around them again. Seated together on the rooftop, time seemed to stop. Only the gentle sigh of wind brushed past, completing a night rich with quiet wonder. Above them, the stars shone serenely, as if bearing witness to the unspoken truths, about life, about chance meetings, and about the fate that bound them.
Kaivan took a deep breath, staring into the vast sky. This fate feels strange, he thought. That book… the burden I carried… has led me to them. More than just an adventure, it has given me friends I never thought I'd find.
Beneath the stars, the three of them sat lost in thought. The moment was simple, yet it felt like a knot tying them together. None of them knew what tomorrow might bring. But that night, they understood one thing: they were not alone. And that, for them, was the greatest gift.
Cigarette smoke swirled, spiraling before vanishing into the night. The breeze kept singing its quiet song, and within each heart, an indelible memory took shape: of a night still and warm, of companionship calm and sure, and of a gratitude too deep to name.
Morning arrived gently. Sunlight slipped through the mist, chasing the chill from Kaivan's window. Birds began to sing, and fresh air slipped in through the cracks, carrying the scent of dew.
But something felt different.
Kaivan, who usually woke in silence, opened his eyes with a hint of confusion. His body was still sprawled across the living room sofa. Blinking, he let his gaze wander, and the sight before him made him pause.
Thivi and Felicia were already awake. They moved with quiet purpose, cleaning the house and preparing breakfast. Thivi, her hair still tousled but her eyes bright, swept the floor while humming softly. Felicia worked calmly beside her, arranging plates and utensils with gentle precision. A faint smile curved her lips.
Kaivan stayed still, lying there as he watched. My body aches… am I really going to sleep here for a week? he thought.
But the ache quickly faded beneath the warmth of the scene. A morning he hadn't expected. A home that no longer felt empty. Two people who had filled a quiet space he never knew was there.
Minutes passed, and the hush of the house was broken by footsteps outside. A knock sounded against the door, lively and firm. Radit, Kaivan's longtime friend, had come to pick him up for the workshop. Yet when the door opened, he was greeted by something unusual.
Thivi, dressed in bright clothes and brimming with morning energy, stood at the entrance. Surprise flickered across Radit's face, Kaivan had always been the one to greet him. He furrowed his brows for a heartbeat before masking the sudden jolt with a slightly awkward smile.
With polite composure and an easy tone, Radit greeted her. "Oh, you're the one opening the door. By the way, where's Kaivan?"
Sensing Radit's confusion, Thivi responded in an easy, almost playful tone. "Kaivan's still inside. Come in, Radit , we're putting breakfast together." Her voice was light, yet it carried the warmth of a bond that had only just begun to form between them. There was an inviting softness in the way she spoke, as though this morning's meeting was anything but awkward.
Radit stepped inside carefully, each movement betraying the questions spinning through his mind. The living room, usually silent, now brimmed with the scent of breakfast and a new kind of energy. To him, Kaivan had always been private , withdrawn , but now there was something different in the air. This isn't like him, Radit thought. Kaivan never lets someone else open the door. What's going on?
As he walked further into the room, he saw Kaivan sitting on the sofa, still half-awake. Radit sat down beside his friend, hoping for some clarity about this unfamiliar scene. Before he could speak, his eyes drifted toward Felicia, who was arranging plates on the dining table. Her long hair fell over her shoulders as she moved with quiet grace, even amidst her busyness.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Radit finally asked, "Who's that, Kaivan? I don't think I've ever seen her before."
Still heavy with sleep, Kaivan replied casually, "That's Felicia. She stayed over last night."
But Radit wasn't satisfied. His brows drew together as his confusion deepened. "Wait , what about your family? Since when do strangers get to stay over just like that?"
Before Kaivan could answer, Teh Kira , Kaivan's calm, watchful older sister , spoke from the kitchen, her voice steady yet filled with quiet authority. "Thivi, could you bring the tea? Felicia, would you help me carry this to the table?"
That simple act, where everyone moved with such natural ease, seemed to offer an answer without a single word. On this morning, their cooperation and warmth gently swept away any unease Radit might have felt. The strangeness of the moment softened, replaced by a comforting sense of belonging, as though everything happening was simply part of life unfolding.
Still captivated by the household's rhythm, Radit smiled broadly when Teh Kira called out, "Radit, come sit , join us for breakfast."