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“Hi, I’m sorry to disturb you but- are you Y/N L/N?” A familiar voice suddenly greets you while you were almost drifting off to sleep on the empty bus, causing you to look up towards the source.
“Yeah, how can I—” You stiffened, eyes suddenly started to gloss as your brain processed whether this is reality or just another mere dream you have been having all these years. The man before you could only simper, his hand nervously wring with each other.
“You got a second?” His hazel-coloured eyes meet yours. “Yes! I mean- yeah, I do have a moment to spare while waiting for the next stop.” You let out a gawky chuckle, eyeing the space beside you. Catching your signal, he took a seat right beside you. “It’s been a while, has it?” He starts the conversation, glancing at you.
“It— has been quite a while, yes.” You try to keep your voice steady as you could feel tears begin to clog up your vision. There was an awkward pause before he continued, you were hoping he didn't notice how you’re sobbing already.
“What have you been up to these days?”
“Oh! I’m now working as a criminalist- kind of like a forensic version of detective you could say.”
“That suits you well.” He tittered, there's oddness in his tone you couldn’t pick up: it almost sounds heartbreaking. You crooned in response.
“Hey, remember how when we were younger- we used to run around and hang out with Blue, and find clues and talk to Mr Salt and freak out about the mail and-”
“Do all the fun stuff? Yeah, until you say—”
“And then one day I was like,”
“I’m leaving.” You both spoke, facing each other and by then you noticed- there were tears in his eyes.
“This is my brother Joe, he’s gonna be your new best friend.” You muttered the sentence that still leaves you dumbstruck. “And then I got on the bus and left.” He lowers his head, his cap covers half of the upper part of his face.
“Yeah, you left for college.” You altered your position, facing towards the outside view through the window. The image of the untainted white snow covering the local forest converts into muted darkness when the bus enters a tunnel, only illuminated by the hanging street lights.
“Can we just— talk about that?” His expression softens, head still looking down to the floor of the carrier. You couldn’t compose the right word to explain whatever that you’re feeling right at that moment, so in regards, you just gave a faint, inarticulate hum.
“I realize that was kind of abrupt, to be honest.” Steve shifted on his seat tensely, fidgeting with the hem of his green-striped shirt that you’re well cognizant of. “I just kinda got up and went to college— and that was really challenging by the way.”
“Huh, I can relate to that.” The silent ringing of the tires speeding through the tunnel echoes into your hearing. Strangely, you find comfort in the eerie resonance.
“I know you know. Ah! I’m not saying it’s mostly bad experiences but-” He stammered, “It took some time to get used to. And that’s great!” He lifted his head slightly, the yellowish sunset colour of the underpass lamp gleamed within his eyes: musing right through you with such tenderness.
“Because I got to use my mind and learn to take one step at a time. And now I am literally doing many of the things that I wanted to do.” He let out a content sigh, his lips curved into a beautiful smile. “And look at you now.” He contemplated you with wide, ingenuous eyes.
“All the things you have done and accomplished in all these past times— it’s just so amazing, right? I mean, we started out with clues and now it’s what? Student loans, jobs-” The male tilted his head, consciously inches towards you. Seeing that you didn’t flinch, he continued his sentence.
“And families.”
Your brain clicked after the fashion of a switch right then. ‘It has been what? 10 or 15 years since we last met so naturally, he would have someone right now.’ your wits sneered. And that unknowingly left a bitter taste in your mouth.
That much time has passed since you have waited for his answer. For you to hoard every bit of courage you’re saving for the next time you’ll meet him— even then you weren’t sure you would ever converge with him in any way. To finally confess to him. And now when he’s in front of you, you couldn’t make a simple conversation with him, let alone tell him the truth about how you just fell in love with him after all these years. Great, just fucking great.
You were so deep into your own thoughts that you haven’t got the chance to process what happened next.
“I want you to know that—” Vocal faded as he leaned closer, his face was so close to you that you could smell the familiar sweet morn of his cologne.
“I never forgot you. Ever.”
His hand slowly reaches to cup your cheek, warmth wraps around you as you slant into his palm.
“And I wanted to tell you that I really couldn’t have done all of that without your help.” You couldn’t help the little sniffles that begin to slowly break you as he utters those words. Steve pulled you into a hug, leisurely rubbing circles and pats to comfort.
“I guess what I wanted to say is that after all these years,” He pulls away in a trice, locking his gaze at you- or rather, your lips.
“I’m glad that we’re still friends. Though I wish we were more than that.”
The flakes of icy nature twirling with the timbre of gravity decorates the panorama behind you only adds the alluring essence of the moment, and it only feels natural for you to react with your instincts. The gentleman winced at your sudden move, his grip around you tightening as he felt your soft lips connected to his. The weather is so cold but yet, you could feel such easement flowing within you: butterflies fluttering in your stomach as both of you give in to each other.
Both of you were startled at the sudden ring echoed throughout the bus: indicating your final stop and initially— your sign to leave. Just before you could stand— as if he could read your mind, Steve reached for your hand.
“Thank you for listening.” You could feel your heart slowly crack seeing his apparent fake smile on you. Taking the bags and files rested beside your footrest, you quickly shifted out from your seat and made haste towards the open exit. “Oh, Y/N!”
“You look great, by the way. Whatever it is you’re doing, it’s working.” Face reddened at the compliment, you briskly pay the driver and get off; a deep sigh respire from you as you try to recollect yourself. Just then as you tighten the grip of your bag, you could feel the crinkle of something sharp in your hand: a terribly crumpled yellow paper with numbers and behind it is an epistle, all is written with blue crayon.
“My number! Thought maybe we could catch on from where we left out?
p/s: my treat as always, of course!! <33”
Never have a cliche note make you feel like a dog with two tails before, and candidly— for once you have a lucid plan for your day off tomorrow.