Spring, the time of the year when the snow melts and flowers grow. The season of love and storms.
The morning arrived quickly in her neighbourhood as usual, filled with no noise nor crowd but just the sunrise lighting the pavement.
The air around felt familiar. A warm and fresh smell, like that of coffee. One so familiar that it made her smile without even looking up.
"You know," she said, stepping out of her apartment building, "most people wait for permission before stalking someone." She smiled softly, looking toward the gates where the culprit leaned against.
Ben—an averagely tall young man in his mid-20s with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing casual blue jeans, a jean jacket, and a white inner shirt.
His left shoulder rested against the wall, with one of his hands holding a paper bag and the other holding two cups of what looked like coffee.
His entire stance gave off confidence. Like he had always been there. Like he belonged there.
He tilted his head slightly. "It's called timing, not stalking. Learn the difference, fish," displaying a cute smile on his face.
Anna narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you trying to act cute all of a sudden?" she said, laughing. "...You look like a freaking monkey," not even holding back her laughter.
Anna: "You memorized my schedule once again, jeez."
Ben: "You have a predictable life."
Anna: "You bought breakfast again."
Ben: "I know you definitely forget to eat."
She sighed, taking the cup from his hand. "You really need a girlfriend."
"And yet," he said, pushing off the wall, "you can't do without me," he said, smiling warmly.
They both started walking side by side, moving at a steady pace without even trying, purely out of instinct.
Anna took a sip first, and the taste was exactly the way she liked it—the regular. And of course it was. For a friendship 20+ years old already, at this stage every habit was already known.
Without thinking, Anna reached up for Ben's neck to straighten his collar where it had folded inward.
He smiled softly. It was usual as well…
Like it was normal.
Like she had always done it, fixing him up right from when they were kids.
Their entire energy was as though they were dating, so that anyone who saw them wouldn't even question the possibility.
They spent the morning the usual way, walking toward the café where they both did their remote jobs for hours before finally leaving.
But it didn't just end there. They would argue about which café had the best pastries. The food they shared, their work, even the littlest things didn't pass without them talking about it.
After work they would usually spend their afternoon wandering through the city like they had nowhere urgent to be and all the time in the world to waste.
As they walked through the busy road, laughing and talking together, Ben pulled her back by the waist when she nearly stepped into traffic while talking.
Sparkling a little romantic atmosphere between them, which random strangers thought was beautiful.
But they both laughed easily, leaving the strangers in confusion. Although Ben's movement was smooth and natural, they didn't think too deeply about it.
To them it was fun, just harmless teasing. They didn't notice what was obvious to everyone else.
"At least pretend you're ashamed," he said.
She chewed her gum slowly. "I feel nothing."
"What can you do?"
"You've known that since middle school."
Ben huffed, but the corner of his mouth lifted.
They continue walking, but this time taking note of the moving traffic compared to before, at least not until...
Anna's phone buzzed slightly, pausing slightly. She barely glanced at it at first—just a usual notification, probably one of the usual advertisement alerts.
Then she suddenly stopped walking, staring deeply into her phone. Her gaze fixed, filled with worry.
Ben quickly grew worried as well. "What happened?"
She didn't answer. Her eyes stayed on her screen while her expression shifted slowly—the kind of change that only someone who knew her would notice.
Ben stepped closer. "Anna."
She hesitated a bit, then she turned the phone toward him.
A message glowed on the screen. From a group chat filled with old but familiar names. Names she hadn't seen in years, from a group that was almost dead.
Class Reunion — Tomorrow Night! Royale Restaurant, 7PM. Don't ghost us again 😜 this time.
Silence stretched between them as she immediately locked her phone.
Anna: "I'm not going."
He didn't ask why immediately. He just looked at her, watching her every movement.
Then he said gently, "Why?"
"I just don't want to." She responded, her hands visibly shaking nonstop.
"That's not an answer," Ben said, his voice completely serious.
She shrugged. "I just don't want to go, please." Her voice started sounding annoyed, yet demanding attention.
He tilted his head slightly, staring heavily at her face like he usually did whenever she was hiding something.
She tried looking away at first, trying to avoid his gaze, but it was of no use.
"It's just stupid," she muttered, her voice low and weak, like a frail animal cowering in fear.
"Tell me anyway," Ben insisted, grabbing her hands slowly to provide a sense of assurance.
She exhaled slowly.
"…I was bullied there."
Her words were quiet, plain, and soft—but they carried weight.
"I know," Ben said softly.
Anna's brows knit. "You do?"
"Did you actually think I wouldn't notice something like that happened?"
She stared at the ground, looking helpless and emotional.
"I just… don't see the point in going back," she said. "I don't want to remember it once more. I don't want to reopen wounds that are already healing."
Ben went quiet for a moment before finally speaking.
"You have to stop running." He paused to catch his breath. "If you keep running from it," he said, voice calm, "it'll keep hunting you."
She scoffed lightly. "Wow. Inspirational speech of the year, Mr. President."
"I'm serious," Ben said, his voice calm yet firm.
She tried to change the subject quickly. "So anyway, did you finish that report yesterday—"
"Anna."
She stopped.
He rarely stood firm. Although he was a playful person, sometimes he became serious—extremely serious like now.
"You should go," he said steadily, firm but gentle. Like an immovable fortress, but calm.
Anna: "No."
Ben: "Face it once."
Anna: "No."
Ben: "I'll be there."
She folded her arms. "I'm still not going."
He just continued staring at her quietly. He didn't rush or push her. It was only a matter of seconds until she gave in.
Finally after a while, she sighed.
"…I don't even have anything to wear," she said at last. A final struggle. A last straw.
He answered instantly.
"Then I'll get you something."
She laughed. "You're joking, right?!"
He didn't laugh back.
"Right?" Her face went pale and her smile faded a little.
"My treat," Ben said, smiling as though he had just won a battle.
He meant it. He meant every word.
****
City Mall. The mall was bright enough to blind even the blind. It was filled with many stores and boutiques, mostly luxury brands.
Anna stood in front of a mirror wearing the fourth dress she'd tried.
She stared at her reflection, turning side to side slightly, then frowned.
"No."
Then she disappeared behind the curtain again.
Ben leaned against the wall, arms folded, patient as ever.
Dress five. "No."
Dress six. "No."
Dress seven—
"No."
He sighed. "At this point I think you're just dumb about fashion."
"What do you mean? I enjoy standards," Anna said, trying hard to prove herself.
He reached blindly toward a rack, grabbed a random dress, and held it out.
"This one. Try it."
She stared at it.
Anna: "…It doesn't even look good."
Ben: "Trust me."
Anna: "You don't know fashion."
Ben: "Trust me."
She rolled her eyes and took it halfheartedly. Then a minute later, the curtain slid open.
As though the spring spirit caught up to him—or he was just shocked—when he looked up, all sense of reasoning left him.
He forgot how breathing worked, and his heart began beating fast as though it were a race.
A red gown, soft, flowing, and elegant. It fitted her like it had been designed specifically for her. As though it had been waiting on the rack just to be picked by her.
She looked at herself in the mirror—really looked this time.
Quiet.
The saleswoman clasped her hands. "Oh, that's perfect! Sir, this will look lovely on your girlfriend."
Silence.
Ben cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Sorry. She's not my girlfriend."
He cleared his throat once more. "She's just my best friend."
His words were simple but true, and yet they didn't feel right to him. His heart felt tight and pained.
And Anna—she wasn't any different. She didn't know why something inside her stung, as though she was pierced. It was small and quick, almost barely present, but it was there.
The saleswoman blinked rapidly. "Oh! I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine," he said. "We get that a lot usually," trying to smile midway.
Anna stepped back behind the curtain without speaking. But it was rather obvious—something was different about her.
****
Outside the shop, she started increasing her pace, moving ahead of him.
Fast.
Ben caught up easily. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Anna."
"Nothing."
He reached out and gently caught her wrist, pulling her closer to him.
She stopped.
He leaned slightly closer, almost as though he could kiss her at any moment.
"…Ice cream?"
She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile, but her emotions failed her. Before she knew it, all her unknown anger flew away and all she could think of was some ice cream.
Minutes later, they both sat on a bench, each holding a cone.
Traffic hummed in the distance. Wind moved lazily through the trees and through her hair. Somewhere nearby, someone laughed.
Anna stared at the pavement, deep in thought.
"Why does being with him always feel like the safest place in the world?"
She couldn't understand her feelings. Was it just affection or love?
So she ignored it once more, like every time in the past.
Unknown to her that even the most beautiful rose can become a thorn when handled wrongly.
The next night arrived dressed in gold light and glass reflections.
Inside Royale Restaurant, laughter floated through the air. Glasses clinked. Music hummed low beneath conversations.
It wasn't your typical restaurant for the average nobody. It was one only the upper middle class, at least, could scrape by to afford.
The door slid open, drawing attention to the entrance. Standing there was an average-height lady wearing a red-colored gown, and beside her was a handsome man of unknown origin.
Anna stepped inside.
Her red fabric flowed behind her like a quiet flame. Each step of hers was careful—but her posture was straight. Her shoulders tense—but her chin lifted. Her eyes nervous—but steady. She was the very definition of beauty. Beauty only seen in top model magazines.
Ben entered beside her in a dark tuxedo, calm as still water.
They looked like a couple that belonged together.
People stared.
A voice cut through the room.
"Well… if it isn't our little crybaby."
Anna froze mid-step as a woman with sharp eyes approached her, smiling sweetly.
"You look… different," the woman said, her gaze sliding over her dress. Then she glanced at Ben. "I see you got a new boyfriend. He's really the full package, I can see."
Anna's throat tightened as her fingers stiffened around her clutch. Her heartbeat grew loud, racing by the second.
Not again.
Ben stepped half a pace forward. Calmly, but active.
"I've heard much about you," he said politely. "I'm her best friend. We didn't go to the same high school—but we've always been together, since childhood."
The woman's smile faltered slightly, but before she could say anything further, other voices jumped in.
"Oh my God, Anna?!"
"You look stunning!"
"You've changed so much!"
"You're gorgeous!"
Warmth replaced the cold creeping up her spine.
Her shoulders loosened.
Then a pair of girls turned to Ben.
"So… if you're not dating," one said, smiling awkwardly, "then can I have your WhatsApp?"
He didn't answer immediately.
He glanced at Anna first.
She smiled politely.
But her grip tightened on her purse.
The room softened once more as laughter returned and different conversations flowed. And just as everything began to feel normal—
The door handle turned.
Silence rippled. Everyone wondered who it could be this time.
The door opened.
A voice spoke from the entrance.
"Sorry… am I in the right place?"
Anna's glass slipped slightly in her hand.
She looked up.
It was him.
TBC~