Scarlett could feel irritation raising within her - corporate finance gave her nothing but a throbbing headache. By the time the class finally ended an hour later, she felt completely drained. Gathering her things, she stepped out, her freind Ruby tugged gently at her sleeve.
" Come on, let's go to the cafe and talk for a while ", Ruby insisted with a hopeful smile.
" I have to get to my part-time job, Ruby... and i still have to study after that ", Scarlett said shooking her head gently .
" Please! Just fifteen minutes. That's all ". Ruby poutted dramatically.
" Fine, just forget minutes, not a second more " as she agreed.
Scarlett, had grown up in an orphanage with no family of her own, wasn't someone who warmed up to people easily - not quickly, not without reason . She had always been on her own.
How she ended up in that orphanage, who left her there, or why - she had no answers, only a hollow silence where memories should have been. She had always carried a quiet ache in her heart - not because of anything recent, but because, for as long as she could remember, no one had ever cried for her. No-one had ever cared enough to.
But after joining college, that heaviness began to lift, little by little. For the first time, the loneliness didn't feel so lots because of Ruby . Ruby was the kind of girl who radiated joy - always bright, always full of life.
When Scarlett first joined college, it was Ruby she met first. By gate or coincidence, they were assigned as deskmates. Scarlett, quiet and withdrawn, barely spoke a word those initial days.
But Ruby never let the silence settle. She kept talking to Scarlett as if they had known each other for years, trying to peel back the layers of silence, one gentle conversation at a time.
Because of Ruby, Scarlett slowly began to open up. Words that once felt heavy on her tongue started to come easier. Over time, the silence between them turned into laughter, late-night talks and shared secrets.
From strangers to seatmates, they became something rare - bestfriends, the kind that feel like family when you're never truly had one. Scarlett thought she is so blessed to meet a friend like that.
They walked into a cozy little cafe just off campus. After settling at a small corner table by the window, they placed thier order - two coffees , one strong and bitter for Scarlett, one iced and overly sweet for Ruby.
Ruby stirred her coffee lazily, the looked up with a slight smile.
" I said yes to him yesterday ", Ruby said quietly.
" To who? " Scarlett blinked.
" That guy, I told you about last week - so.... I guess I have a boyfriend now ".
" I figured. Be careful though ".
" Why? You don't trust him? "
" I don't know, just.... Be sure he's real about it. Not after something else ".
" He's not like that. I can feel it ".
Scarlett said nothing.
She wanted to believe it to. But for some reason, am odd discomfort settled in her chest. A small, quiet worry she couldn't explain even to herself. A kind of fear she didn't understand.
Scarlett glanced at her watch and stood up, brushing back a loose stand of hair.
" Alright, my time's up. I need to go," Scarlett said, slipping her bag over her shoulder.
Ruby stood too, streching her arms. " Yeah, me to. My driver's been waiting for a while now."
They exchanged a quick smile.
" Bye Scarlett! " Ruby called, already heading toward the car parked just outside.
Scarlett watched her friend wave before sliding into the back seat of a sleek black car that drove off moments later. The street feel quiet again.
And once more, Scarlett was alone - just her, the sidewalk, and the weight of everything she didn't say.
Needing to clear her mind, she walked quitely to the library. The silence inside wrapped around her like a blanket - comforting, yet hollow. She wandered between shelves until her fingers paused on a worn hardcover. Pulling it out, she sat by the window, opened to the first page, and began to read.
But no matter how hard she tried, her eyes kept drifting to the same line, her thoughts refusing to settle.
Just then, Aiden walked over and sat down directly across from Scarlett, a casual grin tugging at his lips.
" Want some juice? " He asked, his voice teasing, as if trying to break the tension in the air.
" No , I don't drink that, " Scarlett replied curtly.
" Then tell me what you do drink. I'll bring it for you. "
" I don't drink anything offered by someone like you. "
" Why are you talking like that? "
" Because I don't know who you really are, Aiden. You talk to me one day and the next, you're off charming someone else. Do you expect me to believe I'm special? Do I look that naive? "
" Wait - did you follow me? "
" I would've followed you.... If I ever took you seriously. But I never did, Aiden. "
" So you don't have any feelings for me at all? "
" Right now, all I care about is my studies and career. Nothing else matters to me. "
" You make it sound so easy.... Like turning feelings off is just a switch. "
" It's not easy. But it's necessary. "
" Was I really that bad in your eyes? "
" You weren't bad, Aiden. You were just never serious. That's worse. "
" So that's what you think of me. "
" That's what you showed me. "
" Maybe you never gave me a chance to prove otherwise. "
" People who are genuine don't need chances, Aiden. They show it without trying."
" Please.... Give me one chance. I'll change, Scarlett I swear. "
" At the very least, Aiden.... Be genuine with one girl. "
" Love is precious. Once it's gone.... It doesn't come back the same. "
" So.... Is there no other chance for me? "
" I don't trust you, Aiden. And without trust.... There's nothing left. "
With that, she stood up, picked her bag, turned around and walked out. The sound of her footsteps faded into the silence she left behind - heavier than any word she'd spoken.
Aiden didn't move. For the first time, he had no words.
As Scarlett stepped out of the library, her mind still clouded with the remnants of the conversation with Aiden, someone called out from behind.
" Scarlett.... Wait up! "
She turned around to see a classmate, a quiet girl from her fiance class, hurrying toward her with a notebook in hand.
" Hey, I had a doubt in one of the topics from our corporate finance lecture.... I was wondering if you could explain it to me? " The girl asked hopefully.
Scarlett offered an apologetic smile.
" I'm really sorry, I have to get to my part-time job right now. I'm already running late. "
Scarlett paused for a moment and added gently.
" But definitely tomorrow. I'll explain everything then. "
The girl nodded understandingly.
" Okay, no problem. Thanks! "
Scarlett gave a quick nod and turned, quickening her pace - a little relieved to be walking away from both Aiden and her growing emotions, even if only for a moment.
As Scarlett crossed the main gate of the college, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Ruby was calling...