Noon was waiting for Seen's classes to end so they could walk home together. While he waited, he had his favorite playlist playing—soft, melancholic songs where the piano often took the lead. He'd always been drawn to emotional, expressive music, even though his country didn't really value music much—or perhaps its local music just wasn't his thing.
That's why he mostly listened to foreign tracks. It would've made sense to learn the language and understand the lyrics properly, but honestly? He never did. He was lazy... and preferred to interpret the words however he liked. Still, over time and through repeated listening, he started picking up bits and pieces. Maybe that wasn't such a bad outcome after all.
Noon was the kind of person who was smart enough to grasp things quickly, but didn't see the point in putting in effort unless it had a clear reward. If there was nothing to lose, he didn't mind not gaining anything either.
He got up from his bench and started wandering around campus, music still flowing through his earbuds. The university system in the capital was impressive, and Noon was enrolled at the largest public university. His major wasn't exactly thrilling, but the campus itself had a certain charm—towering buildings, dozens of departments, and over a hundred thousand students.
He paused, thinking for a moment:
Isn't it strange that I ran into Seen here? Of all places, in this chaos...
But he quickly shook the thought away. He wasn't in the mood for philosophical rabbit holes about fate and existence. No time for an identity crisis right now.
He kept walking and soon found himself outside the Faculty of Arts. It wasn't his department, but he'd always felt drawn to the place. He was an avid novel reader, after all, and held a certain respect for this corner of the campus. The building had a circular design, painted in soft whites and grays, with a peaceful aura. Students here dressed simply and comfortably—quite the contrast from his own department, where lab coats ruled, or the Economics faculty, where bright colors and flashy styles seemed to be the norm.
He wandered for a bit, then turned back. One of his closest friends studied here, but there wasn't enough time to catch up. He had a "date" in less than two hours. Okay—not a real date, maybe. But still... it didn't hurt to think of it that way.
A faint smile touched his lips. As he stepped outside the building, he looked up at the sky. He had always loved the sky… and, coincidentally, the song playing right now was about it. The timing felt perfect. With a quiet sense of contentment, he made his way toward the nearest bus stop—right next to the medical department, where Seen studied.
He sat at the station, watching people pass by—students getting on and off buses, others just waiting patiently like him. He glanced at their outfits. Everyone here looked stylish in some way—or at least, like they were trying. That was university life, wasn't it? The prime of youth.
He sighed, lowered his head, and turned up the volume slightly to drown out the surrounding chatter.
He wasn't bad-looking himself. You could even say he was... a bit unusual, in an interesting way. His face was decent, and his hair was genuinely nice—but he didn't put much effort into his appearance, so they both usually looked a bit messy. As for his clothes? Not cheap, not flashy. Just simple, all-black, and extremely practical.
He lazily ran his fingers through his hair and thought:
I really need to stop being this lazy... I should start taking care of myself more.
Then, as if the thought came out of nowhere:
But... why am I lazy? When did that even start?
In his memory, he hadn't always been like this. In fact, he used to be energetic—always giving his best in everything. So when had things changed? When had he started cooling down and giving up so easily?
A thought came to him.
I think it started in high school… yeah, probably around sixteen.
Just as Noon found himself reminiscing about his high school days, someone from that very past appeared out of nowhere.
It was Nai — a guy he'd met during his second year of high school. They were never exactly close, but Nai had always been good enough to stay in his inner circle.
He watched as Nai approached with confident steps, casually crossing the bus lane without a care. The guy stopped right in front of him. Tall, with short, neat black hair, a fit build, and striking features. His dark yellow shirt and brown pants somehow made him look even more charming.
He smiled as he stepped closer, placed a hand on Noon's shoulder, and spoke in a deep, calm voice.
"Oh, Noon… Where have you been hiding? It's been forever."
Noon didn't respond. He didn't have to. He knew exactly what kind of person Nai was.
Nai studied his face for a moment before asking, with genuine curiosity,
"What's on your mind right now?"
Noon answered almost instantly, as if he were thinking out loud.
"I was just wondering… When did I become so lazy?"
Nai blinked — and then burst out laughing. Not just a chuckle, but a full, loud laugh that didn't match his usual calm demeanor. People waiting at the bus stop turned to stare, which only made Noon more embarrassed.
Nai slapped his shoulder with a grin.
"Oh man, Noon, you're hilarious! You're asking when you became lazy? Bro, you were born lazy! What even is that question? Let me break it down for you—"
"Please, stop!" Noon cut in, grabbing his hand to silence him. "I know you, so just… stop."
Nai chuckled and gave a small nod, backing off gently. Noon sighed and let go of his hand.
He knew Nai well — always the energetic type, a natural leader who talked way too much.
True to form, Nai turned toward the rest of the people at the stop and raised his voice with a playful grin,
"What do you guys think? Why do people become lazy?"
Noon groaned internally.
(Ugh. This is exactly why I hate social butterflies.)
A lively discussion broke out. Strangers joined in one by one, pulled in by Nai's charm, his good looks, and that magnetic energy he radiated. Somehow, he'd turned a random bus stop into a cheerful, philosophical debate about laziness.
He was speaking with a neuroscience student when Noon overheard him say,
"You know, in psychology, a lot of people who lock themselves in their rooms and avoid everything? It's often due to past trauma… or maybe just fear of leaving their comfort zone."
That annoyed Noon, but he stayed silent. Something else caught his attention.
At the far end of the building, he saw her.
Sin.
She was walking out with two of her friends.
Without thinking, Noon shot up and slipped away behind Nai, who was too busy talking to notice. For the first time in a long while, he felt a clear purpose beating in his chest. He ignored everything else and focused on her.
Sin was looking around too — searching for him.
She wore a long, sky-blue dress and bold orange heels. Her long black hair was tied into a sleek ponytail. Her eyes were dark and gleaming, and her expression held a soft, hopeful shyness.
She walked alongside two girls — one with brown hair, the other blonde. Noon didn't recognize them, but he figured he'd ask Sin about them later.
When she spotted him, she gave a small wave and started walking toward him, hesitant but smiling.
He smiled back and stepped forward as well, both of them a little shy.
They greeted each other softly, just as a too-familiar voice called out from behind:
"Oh wow, Noon! Looks like you finally left your comfort zone! Hahaha!"
Noon slowly turned to Nai, eyes filled with an almost murderous glare.
Nai immediately backed away with his hands raised, message received — no words needed.
Noon looked back at Sin, who was now staring at him in surprise. Her two friends were too. He let out a long sigh and said gently,
"We should get on the bus before it leaves."
Sin gave a quiet smile.
"You're right."
Her friends exchanged surprised glances, then followed the pair from a small distance — two strangers beneath the calm glow of the sunset.
In a random city, on a random day, in the midst of ordinary lives… the first seeds of a love story quietly began to sprout. Softly. Slowly.