Racheal left the shoreline with a lightness in her chest she hadn't felt in weeks. Meeting Mia had been unexpected—almost like fate handing her a gentle push toward something new. The two of them strolled side by side along the quiet path leading back into the city, the sound of the waves still faint behind them.
Mia walked with easy confidence, her sandals dangling from one hand as if she belonged wherever she stepped. "You know," she said, glancing at Racheal with a playful smile, "I don't usually make friends this quickly. But something about you makes me want to."
Racheal blinked, caught off guard. She wasn't used to strangers saying such things. "Maybe it's the sea air," she replied softly, half-joking, half-shy.
Mia chuckled. "Maybe. Or maybe you just have a presence that draws people in."
Her words lingered, and Racheal looked down at her steps, hiding the small smile that tugged at her lips. It felt strange—comforting, even—to be noticed in a way that wasn't tied to fear or shadows.
They reached the edge of the busy street. Cars honked, people hurried past with shopping bags, and the faint smell of roasted chestnuts drifted from a vendor's stall. Racheal adjusted her bag on her shoulder, uncertain if their conversation would end here.
But Mia wasn't finished. She turned, leaning slightly closer as if sharing a secret. "You know, I have a brother. He's… different. Cold, at least to most people. But one day, I want you to meet him."
Racheal raised her brows. "Cold?"
"Yes," Mia said, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "But not in a bad way. He just doesn't let people close easily. I think he'd be curious about you."
That stirred something in Racheal—half curiosity, half hesitation. She wasn't sure why this stranger, whom she had just met, already wanted to tie her into her world. Still, there was sincerity in Mia's voice, an openness Racheal found hard to refuse.
"Maybe one day," Racheal answered carefully.
"Good," Mia said quickly, her smile brightening. "Because I'd really like us to be friends. Real friends."
She held out her phone, and after a moment's pause, Racheal typed her number in. As they exchanged contacts, Racheal felt a strange sense of possibility—like this meeting was the start of something she couldn't yet name.
When they finally parted ways, Racheal walked back to her hostel with her thoughts swirling. She couldn't decide if Mia was simply friendly or if there was something deeper behind her sudden interest. But for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel alone. And that was enough.