The day had settled quietly, with its gentle winds brushing through the city like a whisper. The evenings were still cool, a lingering chill reminding students that winter hadn't completely left. Anaya stood before the library entrance, her heart echoing the quiet thudding of the breeze.
She looked anxious more than usual. Her hands clutched her bag tighter than they needed to, and her eyes kept flickering toward the library's door.
Anaya doesn't know, even if he has seen it or not. but, she decided to wait for him in the library.
as she walked towards the library, some students were preparing for something in the playground. but, she doesn't have time to care for those things. then, she made her way into the library.
as she reached the library right on time. it was a little past 6 p.m, and warmth of the day had long begun to fade. inside the library, it was hushed. most students had left already. Anaya made her way to their familiar corner window seat, her fingers brushing the edge of the wooden table as she sat down.
Vicky wasn't there yet..
she sat with her hands on her lap, eyes flicking every now and then towards the door, then back to the outside of window.
Then, an hour passed. Now it was already past 7.
Anaya still waiting at the exact spot where they used to sit together, the small wooden desk by the back window overlooking the playground. The memory of them laughing over a confusing biology diagram returned to her. He'd helped her, and his patience had lingered in her mind longer than any lesson.
She glanced at the clock above the bookshelf.
7:10 p.m.
The librarian gave her a polite warning, "Library will close by 8:00, dear."
Anaya nodded with a quiet "Thank you," but her chest was starting to tighten.
Maybe he hasn't seen the note yet. Maybe he forgot. Or maybe he's on the way.
She walked in small circles around the aisle near their desk. Her fingers grazed the spines of books she didn't intend to open. She kept looking up every time the door creaked, only for her hope to slowly crumble again.
The air inside the library was growing colder. And emptier. Most students had left.
Still, Anaya didn't move. She sat back down, wrapping her shawl around herself, her eyes half-glued to the door.
He'll come, won't he?
But with each ticking second, it felt like the silence inside the library was answering her louder than any voice.
She looked out the window. The playground was unusually lively for this time of evening. Groups of students were scattered around, some holding balloons and placards. A few of them were filming something. The lights near the sports block shimmered across the pavement.
Anaya watched curiously. "Looks like someone's… confessing?" she murmured to herself, trying to smile, though her voice cracked a little.
But her own moment still hadn't arrived. Hers was buried quietly in a note, maybe unseen.
The librarian began turning off some of the lights. Anaya stood up slowly, brushing down her top, giving herself one last hopeful glance toward the door.
Nothing changed..
then, suddenly the library lights dimmed slightly, like signaling closing time was near. Anaya looked at the clock on the wall again.
now, its already 5 minutes to 8 p.m.
still no sign of Vicky..
a gentle announcement from the librarian asked remaining students to wrap up for the night.
Anaya remained seated for a while longer, trying to appear calm as her chest tightened. again, she looked out the window and noticed movement in the playground.
with curious, she stood and walked over to the glass, peering out. laughter echoed faintly, and the playground lights glowed soft yellow against the night. dozens of students were standing around. in the middle someone seemed to be speaking, while holding something out.
then, the time has been out. the library is going to closed.
With a faint sigh, she stepped outside, wrapping her shawl tighter against the wind. Her footsteps echoed slightly on the pavement as she made her way across campus.
As she reached the edge of the playground, her eyes wandered again to the crowd.
There were so many people gathered students from all branches, it seemed. Music was playing faintly from someone's phone speaker. A few girls were squealing and clapping. Some of her own classmates were standing there.
Curious, Anaya stopped walking. A thought crossed her mind.
Maybe Vicky doesn't see the note. I'll tell him later… maybe he is celebrating his birthday..
She tried to smile again, but her lips didn't listen.
Then, just as she turned to walk away..
She heard her name being called from a distance. "Anaya!"
She paused. It was one of her friends waving at her from the crowd. She waved back half-heartedly and began walking toward them, weaving through the students.
And that's when it happened.
as she walking towards to her friends. She saw something.
Something that made her freeze in place. Like her body understood before her mind could even process it.
The cold wind didn't matter anymore.
The sounds of students laughing, the cheering. it all went faint in her ears.
Her heart was pounding like a drum now. Not out of nervousness, but from something she couldn't name yet.
Her eyes stayed locked on one direction. Unable to look away.
And just like that, her world tilted a little.
She didn't move. Not even a step forward.
Anaya stood frozen in place.
Her feet didn't move. Her breathing felt shallow. The world around her like voices, laughter, footsteps are all blurred into background noise, like someone had turned down the volume on life itself.
Her eyes remained fixed on what she had seen.
She couldn't name it yet. Her brain wasn't ready to admit what her heart had just begun to understand.
The breeze tugged gently at her shawl. Someone brushed past her shoulder, but she didn't flinch. She was still in that exact second where everything changed, but nothing had been said.
A second ago, she had been someone with hope in her pocket, with a proposal waiting to bloom into something.
Now, she wasn't sure what she was.
The corners of her eyes stung. Not because she wanted to cry not yet. but because she didn't know what else to do.
Her fingers twitched slightly, like they were trying to reach for something invisible, something that had just slipped out of her grasp.
still, she stood there, frozen...
the laughter in the air turned into a distant hum...
as her eyes locked on something or maybe on someone...
and in that moment, her heart dropped deep down...
while everything around her blurred into silence..
as she couldn't move.. as she couldn't breathe...
but, what...? what was she seeing..?