The next day,
It was around 7 p.m. when Anaya finally made it back to the hostel room from outing. she dropped her bag with a sigh, like the weight of her still clings to her shoulders. the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting a soft silver hue of moon through the window. the city outside buzzed quietly, like it always did at this hour. alive but distant.
Anaya flopped onto her bed dramatically. "Oh god, today was too much," she groaned, stretching her legs and then rubbing her ankles.
and then she slept over...
sleep.... sleep.... sleep.....
The next day morning, around 9 am. the warm rays of the sun filtered through the curtains, gently brushing against Anaya's face. she stirred a little, her eyes fluttering open. the ache from yesterday's still lingered in her legs, but there was something comforting about the morning light, like a quiet promise of calm.
It was their holidays now. there were no classes, no practicals. just time for her to do her part-time job that kept occupied her in the evenings.
Anaya pulled herself out of bed, stretching her arms toward the window, and then quietly began her usual routine.
by evening, she was ready, dressed in a soft beige blouse in a light white color and long dark skirt. she slung her violin case over her solider and finally she wear a black mask not to recognize by others.
as she making her way out,..
Anaya whispered, "oh! forgot to tell you. I've been worked as a violinist at a cozy rooftop restaurant. but, no one my friends or family know it. I had make that clear before joining, that I don't want to show my face. then, he said okk."
she continued, "oh! its been two week, when I last get there. yeah! I just take leave for my semester exams. finally now I'm here."
she continued, "oh! but I'm not a professional. I was just playing some soothy and melody music. just for earn not a passion."
she is already at the entrance of that restaurant. it is like a classical restaurant. as she entered, the place is like not much of fancy, but it had a warmth to it. dim fairy lights, clinking glasses, quiet laughter, and couples whispering to each other over candlelit tables. the city's sky line served as the backdrop.
it wasn't a big stage, just a little corner near the balcony, but when she stood there, violin in hand, it felt like a world of her own. the moment her bow met the strings, the chatter dimmed, and the soft notes carried into the night air.
she played the music for the silence inside her like that her emotions can turns into the melody in the strings.
as she closed her eyes and played and played under the open sky, her thoughts wandered. not to anyone particular, but to a feeling.
as she finished her work and returned to hostel. then, she ate and crawl on her bed while looking at her phone. then, slowly she fell asleep...
the next day morning, as she wake around 6 am. she finished her daily routines and have breakfast. but now, she doesn't have anything to do in these holidays.
Anaya whispered, "maybe its good to watch a drama for fun."
"I started watching these dramas a long time ago. but, I just watch c-dramas. here, everyone sees those dramas. but, some are getting confused when they see chinese or thai dramas they all think that it was korean.
"yaeh! I watch all of those, chinese, japanese, korean, thai.. like sometimes I prefer to see chinese or korean like that..."
"but mostly I watched c-dramas, because they are everywhere in youtube. I really can't watch k-dramas in youtube. so, i just watch chinese dramas.."
as she crawled on her bed and watching the thumbnails of c-dramas in youtube..
Anaya said, "well! I 'm really not like them, who are watching these madly. I just watch them for fun."
"and I highly prefer university dramas and historical fantasy with a cool leads."
"because, they are less in private romance."
as she looking those thumbnails, posters of smiling leads in uniforms are appeared.
then, suddenly she just saw a boy in a white shirt maybe their uniform. standing on a bus, holding the railing with one hand. the light fell just right. his expression unreadable. a still frame from a drama she didn't know.
she tilted her head and muttered, "he's not even that good looking, unimpressed. probably a a boring drama."
then, she kept scrolling ....
but the next day, he was there again...
and again...
and again...
days passed, yet she doesn't watch his drama...
Anaya whispered, "at first, I just thought it was just an algorithm glitch. like just a random face that caught in the loop of endless scrolling. I skipped him, again and again.."
"every time I searched for a new drama, there he was like a silent echo in my feed, refusing to be ignored.."
but that night after she returns from her part-time, something was different..
maybe it was the wind stirred softly outside the hostel window.
or maybe it was the loneliness in the room, her roommate had gone home for the holidays..
she sat cross legged on her bed, the glow of her laptop casting a faint light over her face. her fingers hovered above the trackpad, hesitant.... yet curious..
and this time, when the thumbnail popped up again. his eyes are still like almost waiting for someone to see.
this time she didn't skip it...
she clicked it...
the intro music played, and then the title has shown up "Remember Me". and then as the first scene began, Anaya felt something.
Anaya whispered, "oh! its not that pretty bad. only the thumbnail is shows like he is pretty bad***."
his character wasn't loud. he didn't have the dramatic charm most male leads wore like badge. he was quiet, observant. the kind of presence that grew slowly, like warmth stepping into the cold fingers.
Anaya watched in silence. her heart beat was steady...
Anaya didn't stop at one episode..
she watched the second..
then the third...
and somehow she fell asleep watching over him on the screen...