Sora was already drying off after a shower, when his 6AM alarm sounded.
He silenced it and walked to his wardrobe; the outfits he hung up for the week were ready and waiting, each having their own specially-labeled hanger.
He picked out Monday's hanger and stroked the soft new hoodie in admiration. He usually designed the hoodies for their brand, but this was custom Daekora that his roommates had commissioned just for him. In his favourite colour too, lavender. At the time, his face barely displayed a third of the excitement he actually felt.
But at the thought of roommates, an image of squished faces flashed through his mind. His chest tightened, but his mental Sora quickly burned the picture.
He got dressed like all was well. After checking himself out, he was satisfied with the showstopper he saw in the mirror.
He put on his cologne and crossed the hall towards King's room to steal King's new cologne, as well. It was tradition at that point for Sora to 'help launch his new scents'.
However, his excitement paused and he found himself frozen mid-knock.
Right.. King didn't sleep alone.
Then he went back to his own room to get his bag. At the wooden desk, he saw where one foot of the table had dragged the carpet a little, evidence of having been moved.
He felt unfamiliar emotions, but he knew instantly that they were unpleasant. He couldn't help but to clutch the strap of his bag tightly. He picked it up from where it sat on the matching wooden chair and left the house. The cold early morning air was sobering and he let out a small sneeze.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out to see it was the group chat he and his classmates created for their PSY 402 assignment due at the end of the semester. He skipped to the last few messages, not bothering to read through their unnecessarily long conversations. He assumed any important information would be repeated later.
Jada: so can we meet at the library at 11 today?
Gavin: I'm free now, I gotta go visit my brother by then
Kim: I'm free rn 2
Jada: oh that's great, i was just pretending to be considerate. let's get shit done asap! @sora @xan @nikita ?
Sora replied that he was on his way, and just decided to focus on the group project for now.
Despite everything, he arrived at the department library first and sat at a table by the window, overlooking the park. There was a large tree beside the window, as though one could reach out and grab it. It was shedding the last of its golden leaves and the wind scattered them like ashes. He propped his head on his hand and watched students move about their day, all with their own concerns. With their own love and heartache.
He could only imagine.
He remembered reading somewhere that the tears of strangers were just water. That had never felt more accurate.
But he also remembered a time when someone cared, regardless.
"A poetry book?" Sora asked in a hoarse voice and the brown-haired boy just nodded, holding the book out further.
"I can't really explain it, but it can help you feel.. seen. Even when you think you just want to be invisible." The boy egged him on. "Borrow it for now and don't cry anymore, okay?"
The boy couldn't have been older than him, at least not older than twelve, yet he seemed so put-together. How could he afford to be so warm to a dirty little stranger on a random park bench? Did he have no self-preservation skills? Stranger danger?
Sora eyed the boy up and down, but he took the book with one hand, unintentionally dirtying where he touched.
He expected the boy to sit, take the book back, or just keep talking, but he only smiled and ran away. Sora blinked and his confusion deepened.
Did he consider whether or not he could read? What if he was just a beggar in need of food and not words?
What a strange boy.
Sora couldn't help the small puff of laughter that escaped his lips. He couldn't afford to be careless like that, but his heart still felt the tiniest bit of warmth. He flipped through and saw some words and some illustrations. Then he opened the first page.
Written in the messiest handwriting he had ever seen was: 'Property of King Calder'.
A heap of books slammed on the table and brought him out of his daydream.
Sora didn't jump, but his heart rate picked up and his eyes flew open. That was when he caught the stare of a boy sat across from him. Gavin's face flushed slightly at being caught and Sora raised a brow. "Have you been here long? You could've just woken me up."
He then turned to the person that slammed the books down, now leaning on said books for support. He opened, "Good morning to you too. Is that the treatment I get for being early?"
Jada sighed. "Sorry Sora, I didn't know you were asleep, truly. The books were too heavy." She replied, breathless from the workout. "I just needed to drop them fast."
He eyed the collection, "Why so many?"
She finally caught her breath and took a seat, "You can never be too thorough with research. Oh, Kim!" She called out quietly, but loud enough, and waved the girl over. "Besides, fifty percent of the grade is a big deal and the topic's really wide, you know?"
Sora nodded, folding his arms on the table and using them as a pillow.
Gavin interjected, "Right, creative expression and coping mechanisms for social anxiety seems pretty broad.. and vague."
Jada leaned in, eyes bright. "Exactly. We want to explore how different forms; like poetry, art, even fashion, help people manage anxiety. And how those methods connect to personal identity. I think if we meet up regularly, we'll be done before we know."
Kim slid into the seat beside Jada, glancing at the books. She chipped in, "That's why I also brought some studies on art therapy. Plus, some personal narratives and poems."
Gavin sighed, "Guess we're covering a lot of ground. No.. pressure."
Everyone at the table, excluding Jada whose eyes shone even brighter, felt they were enveloped by dark clouds of pre-exhaustion.