Saval arrived on time, as always. Mia was already waiting in front of the cinema, sitting on the edge of a planter with her phone in hand. She wore a light jacket and had her hair tied back, and when she saw him, she stood up with a calm smile.
—You made it on time —she said, putting her phone in her pocket.—I'm never late for the movies —he replied, walking with her toward the entrance.
They didn't talk much while they waited in line. They bought tickets for an action movie they had mentioned in a previous conversation. Something with explosions, car chases, and quick dialogue. Saval wasn't expecting much more. And that was fine.
Inside the theater, they picked seats near the center — not too close and not too far from the screen. When the lights went out, the world shrank to the giant screen and the faint sound of popcorn being chewed.
During the movie, Mia laughed a couple of times, whispered something about a scene that made no sense, and at one point even nudged his arm when a character said something ridiculous. Saval just gave a sideways smile, letting the movie flow without focusing too much. It was clearly well-made, entertaining, but his mind felt a bit scrambled. Like something else was lingering in the background, waiting to be thought about later.
When it ended, they walked out of the theater talking in fragments.
—Well... at least it wasn't a disaster —Mia said as they rode down the escalator.
—It had good editing —said Saval—. Though the lead actor looked like he didn't know where to look half the time.
—Right? I got that feeling too. Like someone was feeding him the lines through an earpiece —she laughed.
—They stepped out onto the street. The afternoon had already passed, but there was still some light in the sky, pale and fading.
—Feel like grabbing something to eat? —Mia asked, turning to him.
—Yeah. I didn't really have lunch, to be honest.
—Want to go to that sandwich place on the corner?
Saval nodded. They walked in silence for a few minutes. It wasn't awkward. Just a pause between words.
Once seated with trays in front of them, Mia bit into her burger carefully and then looked at him.
—Did you like the movie?
Saval nodded slowly.
—Yeah. It wasn't amazing, but it had its moments.
—I thought you'd like it more. It reminded me of that show you recommended.Saval smiled.
—Except this guy had less charisma.
Mia took a sip of her drink, glancing sideways at him.
—And how are things with Semiel?
The question dropped like something casual, but it wasn't. He could feel it in her tone. A perfectly planned curiosity.
—Better —he said after chewing and swallowing—. We're talking normally again. We cleaned the apartment yesterday so I could stream early tomorrow. He stayed over.
—That sounds... peaceful.
—Yeah. It was.
—She lowered her gaze for a moment, as if thinking about something she didn't say.
—I'm glad. It's important to have someone you're okay with. Especially now, after everything that happened.
Saval nodded, then focused on his food. He didn't say anything else about Semiel. He didn't mention what Semiel had told him the night before. Not because he wanted to hide it. It was more that... he didn't know how to explain it without making it sound bigger than it was. Or without making it hurt.
—And you? —he asked after a while—. Everything okay with your people?
—More or less. The university is quiet, but there's still a weird vibe. Sometimes I feel like we're walking among broken things no one wants to pick up.
Saval looked down at his drink.
—Yeah —he said softly—. I feel that too.
After that, they talked about other things: a new series, a café near campus that had closed down, a rumor about a professor who might leave mid-semester. Simple conversations, the kind you have when you need a break from the real world.
When they left the place, it was already night. Mia stopped at the corner and smiled at him.—Thanks for coming, Saval. I needed to disconnect for a bit.
—Me too —he replied.
They didn't hug. Just a wave goodbye and a quiet smile. Then each of them walked in a different direction. Saval walked with his hands in his pockets, feeling the echo of unspoken words. The things we don't say sometimes weigh more than the ones we do.
But still, something in him felt... calm. Even if it was just for a little while.