Liam:
Wild Glade was exactly as Christo had described. It was a small clearing on the edge of the forest near Schönwald, with a restaurant on one side and a small shelter on the other side to hide from rain.
The restaurant was simple; built of wood and logs. It was already dark, so details were hard to make out, but the bonfire's glow made it stand out. It looked small but intimate.
The place wasn't anything fancy, though. It was pretty simple. There was just enough space to sit, eat, or hang out during the day. And now, it was drizzling lightly.
Christo had told the owner we were coming, and the man had stayed late, cooking snacks and small dishes for anyone still around. A few people hadn't left yet, probably expecting the place to stay open a bit longer.
We moved toward the shelter to stay dry, leaving the bonfire, it was burning despite the drizzle.
"So, what do you think of my latest find, guys?" Christo asked, spreading his arms. "Does it live up to the hype I was creating?"
Kusum smiled and nodded. "Yes, Christo. It's... really nice. Thanks for bringing us here."
I had to admit, it was a good spot, but it felt more like a dating location, if you wanted to overthink about it.
Riya tilted her head, maybe she had thought the same. "So... what exactly is the purpose of this gathering, Christo?"
Christo grinned. "What do you guys think?"
Bruce leaned back on his chair, crossing his arms. "You tell us."
"I just... enjoy groups, friendships, seeing how people interact," Christo said. There was a pause, like he was choosing words carefully. "It's fun to watch, but also... you know, people learn things about each other better this way."
I frowned slightly. It was a good enough answer, but something about it didn't sit right.
"It's the best method I know," he continued. "Here, it's open sky, forest all around. The moments we build in place like these are the ones that stick with you. Life's short. Might as well live it fully."
"Yes," Riya agreed, nodding, "that makes sense. It's... refreshing, actually."
Chad, meanwhile, was leaning close to Leland, trying to strike up a conversation, but failing miserably. I had to give him that. He was persistent, and no amount of rejection seemed to keep him down. But Leland looked like he had no interest in talking. His eyes kept flicking toward Olga, who was sitting quietly with her arms folded on the other side of the shelter, watching the fire.
Leland's gaze lingered a little too long, making me wonder if he was thinking about something he wasn't saying. Olga's expression didn't change, but I could tell she had noticed.
Bruce let out a small laugh, nudging me lightly. "So, Liam, what do you think of all this? Quiet night in the woods with... strangers?"
I shrugged, running a hand through my hair. "It's... different. Nice, I guess. But it's a quiet night in the woods with friends."
It was really nice. This kind of place and this atmosphere was all new to me. And this gathering was a rare opportunity to make friends.
The problem was, apart from Christo, none of us were particularly good at keeping the conversation alive. So, when he went off to the restaurant to order snacks, everything just... slowed down. The chatter fizzled out, and for a while, all I heard was the rain's soft murmuring on the shelter roof and the crackle of the bonfire outside.
Everyone had perked up when Christo had mentioned drinks. Chad and Bruce were practically grinning at each other, already debating beer versus wine like it was a big deal.
I had tried drinking once with my guys, hidden from our parents. Honestly, I never understood the hype. It just tasted bitter to me, but maybe I hadn't been old enough to appreciate it.
I glanced around the shelter. Most of our group had started talking in small bursts, laughing, filling the silence. Kusum, though, was sitting close to me, listening quietly without saying much.
I leaned toward her. "Hey, Kusum," I said.
She turned with a small smile. "Hey, Liam."
"Not interested in joining the conversation?" I asked.
"I'm listening," she said, shrugging lightly. "I don't really have much to add."
"Really? Everyone always has something to say. Where are you from?" I asked, studying her for a second. She looked Asian to me. Not white like most of the Americans or Europeans, but not dark either. Her black eyes and smaller frame made her stand out among the others.
"Yes," she said, her face brightening a little. "From Nepal, actually."
"That's fantastic," I said. "It must be a great country, right?"
"Yes." She smiled a little, nodding. "It is a beautiful country... as long as you get out of the cities."
"Do you miss your home?" I tried diverting the topic to get to know her better.
Her eyes softened. "Yes. Don't you? You are from Europe, right?"
"Scotland. And yes, I miss my home," I confessed with a short laugh. "So how did you end up here?"
She hesitated for just a moment, then said, "Like everybody else, I guess. Most of the young people from my country go abroad. I did the same. Took a big loan to get here." She let out a breath, her smile faltering. "I miss my parents. And my brother. We're not well-off, so... it depends on me to do something for them."
"Yeah, I hear you. Sounds a lot like my case. Minus the loan. I'm here for you if you ever feel like talking to someone," I said, trying to lighten the mood with another laugh.
She blinked, maybe surprised by my honesty, then gave me a quick, genuine smile.
Christo came back carrying a box of beer and some snacks. Bruce and Chad pounced on it first, cracking open bottles like kids on Christmas morning. The rest followed soon after, curious to try their first sip. I wasn't really interested. So, I grabbed a packet of chips.
What interested me was the place itself. Coming all the way out here just to sit and drink felt like waste of time. Wild Glade seemed like the kind of place that wanted to be explored.
So, I slipped away from the group. Nobody minded really. Busy in their new endeavor.
The glade was quiet. A few of the visitors who had been hanging around had already left and the fire in the middle was dying down, flames shrinking into glowing orange coals. It was persistent, though, burning all the while it was raining.
I walked a little further, but everywhere I turned, it looked the same. The same trees, rustling shrubs, the occasional chirp or croak from whatever lived out there. It was calm, but also kind of repetitive. Maybe it would look better during the day. For now, I gave up the idea of exploring and started strolling back toward the shelter. Maybe I would come back here someday.
That was when I noticed her.
A girl was sitting alone on a log near the dying bonfire. She must have felt my eyes on her, because she looked back immediately... and then kept staring.
I tried to play it off, pretend I hadn't been staring, but there wasn't much else around for me to fake interest in.
Slowly, she lifted her hand and waved.
I turned around, half-expecting someone else to be behind me, but the clearing was empty. No one was there. It dawned to me that she was waving at me.
I raised my hand and gave a small wave back. That's when she curled her fingers, motioning me closer.
I hesitated. Talking to a stranger out here, away from everyone else, didn't sound like the smartest idea. My eyes flicked back to the shelter. The group was still there too caught up in their own chatter to notice me. Christo wasn't drinking, probably saving himself for the drive back later. Olga wasn't either; she sat quietly, half-listening to the others.
When I turned again, the girl hadn't looked away. She was still watching me patiently.
I lingered another second, then sighed to myself. What harm could it do? I had six friends right there in the shelter, and she was just one person sitting alone.
I walked toward her.
Her eyes followed me the whole way until I stopped right in front of her. She didn't smile, just tilted her chin slightly and said, "Sit."
I lowered myself onto the log opposite her without thinking. That's when I noticed her eyes properly. They were blue, sharp, and catching every bit of the coal's glow.
What was with me always noticing people's eyes? Was that just the first thing I picked up on?
Her eyes held me there, pulling at my attention until I realized I'd been staring too long. She didn't blink once. She'd been showing off her eyes.
"Do you like them?" she asked casually.
"Yes..." The word slipped out. I tore my gaze away quickly, not wanting to look like a creep.
But even when I looked aside, my eyes still came back to her. Her red hair was tied neatly behind her head, emphasizing the sharp lines of her cheekbones and jaw. Definitely German. What stood out most, though, was the way she was dressed. Everything was black: the top, the blazer, the pants, even her shoes. It suited her perfectly.
"Do I look beautiful?" she asked again, voice calm, almost testing.
"Yes..." I answered.
She smiled, just a little.
"Who are you?" I asked before I could stop myself. I felt like I knew her but I couldn't place exactly how.
"Someone who wants to know you," she replied easily.
"Why?" I asked.
"Why not?"
"Okay. Tell me your name then. And what are you doing out here all alone?" I pressed.
"I was here waiting for you." She skipped over the first part like it meant nothing.
That shut me up for a second. She wasn't giving me anything real, and yet I couldn't stop asking her more question.
"Why were you waiting for me?"
"Because I want to know you."
Really? Wasn't that exactly what I was trying to do?
"I'm also trying to understand you. If you'd let me. What's your name?"
"What do you want to call me?" she countered.
"By your real name?" I replied, half-laughing, half-serious.
She ignored my question. "How are you finding Germany? Liam?" she asked instead.
"It's good..." I started to answer, but then paused. "Hold on! How do you know my name?"
She'd just called me by my name. something I hadn't told her.
"How do you think?"
Was she trying to be mysterious on purpose? And the worst part was that was exactly the kind of thing I craved. I'd always been drawn to people who kept their walls up, who made me chase after answers, who were mysterious. But this... this was a bit much, even for me.
I glanced over my shoulder, just to be sure the group was still there. They were. In fact, Christo was watching us, actually. Our eyes met, and he smiled knowingly before throwing me a wink. Olga, on the other hand, had curled up and fallen asleep.
"So, how are you, Liam? Any trouble settling in at the university?"
"I'm fine," I said, still not letting it go. "But seriously! Where did you get my name? And how did you know I am a student?"
She kept staring at me, and I had to admit, it was making me feel uneasy. Maybe she'd been watching me, trying to do something bad. I figured I could handle her myself if it came to that, but my brain still kicked into overdrive, ticking off possible plans. Stand up, call for help, run, fight.
She didn't break eye contact. Then, slowly, she started to smile. The smile grew until she was laughing loudly. Soft at first, then full and easy until her blue eyes shone with tears. I found her laugh as melodious.
"What? What's so funny?" I asked, baffled.
She doubled over, clutching her stomach like it was hurting badly. "Ha... ha...look at your face. You look... terrified."
I blushed. "I don't look terrified." Embarrassment pricked at the back of my neck.
"You thought I was stalking you, didn't you?" she managed between laughs.
"No, I wasn't," I lied.
"Yes, you were."
"I wasn't."
"Really?"
"Okay, fine. Yes, I thought you were stalking me." I admitted, feeling ridiculous. "But how did you know my name?"
She paused, still breathing a little hard, then spoke more calmly. "It's pretty simple. I heard you earlier. Your conversation with your friends. You all sounded like students. I am a student too."
Okay, I hadn't thought she could have overheard our conversation. That was the obvious answer. But then I caught something. She was also a student. But where?
"So, you are also a student too? Where do you study?" I asked.
"Why do you ask?" she shot back.
Here we go again.
"Because I want to get to know you. Like you said."
"All in due time, Liam. All in due time."
"At least tell me your name, come on." I probably sounded like I was begging by now.
"I'll tell you the next time we talk."
"When?" Was she actually planning to meet me again?
"You'll find out soon enough."
"That's it?" I asked, frustrated. She was being vague on purpose, and she knew it.
"For now," she said, and then we just kept staring at each other.
Neither of us spoke. The coals had burned down to almost nothing, and in the dim glow I thought I caught something in her expression.
Longing? Maybe. Though honestly, I wasn't even sure what longing was supposed to look like.
"See you soon, Liam," she said finally, staring directly into my eyes.
"Wait! At least give me your number. Or your name. Anything," I pressed, maybe too urgently.
By then, the coals were all but ashes, and the clearing was swallowed by darkness.
"Don't worry, Liam. We will meet soon." I heard her whisper right by my ear.
I fumbled my phone out of my pocket, switched on the flashlight, and aimed it toward my right and then where she had sat.
But the spot was empty.
I turned the beam left, then right. Nothing. She was gone. Just like that. I thought of searching her, but I gave up the idea. I had no reason to find her.
I got up and headed back to the shelter.
Everyone has passed out. Only Christo was awake, leaning back slightly, like he'd been waiting for me to finish whatever I was doing.
"So... did you finish talking to her?" he asked the moment I reached the shelter.
"I haven't even started," I muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"I kept asking about her name and all that," I said, shrugging. "But she wouldn't tell me anything."
Christo raised an eyebrow. "Did you at least get her contact info? You did, right?"
"Not really," I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. Yeah, I knew how bad it probably looked.
"So... what did you even talk about for so long, then?" he pressed, leaning forward a little.
"Nothing," I said. "We just... talked around in circle without really saying anything."
Christo stared at me, blinking slowly, clearly trying hard to process it. I understood, though. I'd probably react the same if he had fumbled an opportunity like that.
"You're hopeless, my friend," he said at last, a grin tugging at his lips.
"I guess so," I admitted. There was no other way to put it. She had this... magnetic pull. I couldn't explain it, and I'd never felt drawn to someone like her before.
"Don't worry," Christo said, grinning. "There are plenty of girls around."
I laughed lightly. "Yeah, I guess." But not like her.
"Shall we head back?" he asked.
"Um... sure," I said.