Aarav
At 5:30 in the evening, I walk to the park, music playing through my earbuds.
A stranger approaches, his face blurry in the dim light. He waves, but I stand still, pretending not to notice. He's probably not waving at me, and even if he is, I have no reason to respond.
As he passes, his hand brushes against mine, and I catch a glimpse of his smile.
Before I can react—
I wake up to the sound of my alarm.
Thank God. Just a dream.
I've had vague dreams like this before, even back in school. What a weird way to start the morning.
My college is close by, just a thirty-minute commute. I stay at my aunt's house, renting a room for myself. My elder sister, Lilith, still lives with our parents.
When I wake up and get ready for college, I walk down to Aunt's place and notice Rudh is still sleeping. I splash some water on his face.
"Fine," he grumbles, annoyed.
We both go our separate ways.
By the time I return home from college, I can already tell there's a party going on. Loud voices, singing, laughter—it's irritating.
I don't even have to go into how chaotic it is.
I went straight to my room.
"Aarav!" Rudh calls from a distance.
I ignore him and head straight to my room, shutting the door behind me. Locking it.
I drop my bag on the bed, pull out my phone, and scroll through memes.
Right on cue, my phone rings. Mom.
I already know what she's going to say.
She always tells me to be polite to my aunts.
I sigh. My Aunt Nita is a single mother, running her own eatery while raising a son and daughter. She and my parents must have some unbreakable bond because they talk all the time.
Ever since college started, I've been taking late-afternoon walks at Mori Park, about forty minutes from my place.
As usual, the park is filled with people. Some jogging, some walking, some laughing, some exercising.
But today, something's different.
There are more people than usual.
This is the first time I've seen the park this crowded at this hour.
Mori Park—also called the "Jade Forest"—is famous for its greenery. It has a pond, small bridges, and a peaceful vibe. But today, the usual quiet feels off.
And then—
It starts raining.
People scatter, running for shelter.
I quickly shove my phone and earbuds into my pocket and dash toward a tree with thick branches. But as I do, I notice something—
Someone is sitting on a bench.
He's not moving.
He doesn't even flinch at the rain pouring down on him.
I stand under the tree, watching. He looks lost in thought, completely unaware of the storm around him.
The rain gets heavier, drenching everything in sight. I hesitate, but I can't just stand here and watch.
I sprint toward him.
"Hey!" I shout.
No response.
He's still sitting there, like a statue.
Just as I reach out to tap his shoulder—
He looks up.
I freeze.
His eyes. There's something about them that makes my chest tighten.
And then I realize—
He's crying.
Goddamn it.
Why am I even thinking about this?
Before I know it, my hand grips his wrist, and I pull him toward the tree.
He doesn't resist. He just follows, head down, shoulders tense.
Even as I hold his hand, he stands there—silent, unmoving.
I hesitate.
Should I ask if he's okay? Or… should I—
Should I hug him?
No. That's stupid.
My mom used to tell me, "If you see someone sad, just hug them."
I used to believe that.
I used to do that.
But now? Now I hate everyone—even the ones who treat me well.
Still, before I can stop myself, the words slip out—
"Are you okay?"
No response.
He just keeps staring at me, looking even more miserable than before.
A strange frustration rises in me.
"Why are you crying?" I ask.