Ryan Walker used to think evenings were the part of the day where momentum quietly gave up and let exhaustion take over, which was probably why he had wasted so many of them doing absolutely nothing and calling it rest.
This evening felt different.
The sky had already begun to soften into that calm shade between afternoon and night as Ryan and Ben walked back toward the hostel, their footsteps unhurried, the campus noticeably quieter now that most classes were done. The rush from earlier had faded, replaced by smaller groups of students lingering on benches or drifting toward dinner plans with no real urgency.
Ben stretched his arms overhead and let out a dramatic sigh. "I declare this day moderately successful."
Ryan glanced at him. "That's a strong statement."
Ben nodded seriously. "I attended all my classes, didn't embarrass myself publicly, and ate an actual meal. By my standards, this is impressive."
Ryan smiled faintly. "You set very reasonable goals."
Ben stopped walking for a moment and looked at him carefully. "You're enjoying this."
Ryan hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I think I am."
Ben resumed walking, hands tucked behind his head. "Good. Because you were honestly kind of exhausting before."
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "I was?"
Ben glanced sideways. "You were always somewhere else, even when you were right next to me. Like your brain was already arguing with tomorrow."
Ryan considered that quietly as they reached the hostel building.
Inside, the familiar sounds of dorm life greeted them, doors opening and closing, muffled conversations drifting through the halls, and the occasional burst of laughter echoing off the walls. Ryan paused briefly in the corridor, then headed toward their room, feeling oddly grounded by the routine.
Ben flopped onto his bed the moment they entered and stared at the ceiling. "I'm not moving for at least ten minutes."
Ryan dropped his bag on his desk and sat down, pulling out his notebook without rushing. He flipped through the pages, scanning his notes from the day, surprised to find that they actually made sense.
He leaned back slightly, letting the quiet settle.
In his previous life, this would have been the moment he reached for distractions, scrolling aimlessly or finding excuses to avoid thinking. Now, the stillness felt less threatening.
Ben opened one eye. "You're doing that thing again."
Ryan glanced at him. "What thing?"
"The quiet focus thing," Ben said. "It's unsettling."
Ryan chuckled. "I'll try to be more chaotic."
Ben closed his eye again. "Thank you."
After a few minutes, Ben sat up abruptly. "Food."
Ryan looked up. "Already?"
"I burned calories existing," Ben replied. "Let's go."
They headed out again, this time toward a small food stall near the edge of campus that Ben insisted was criminally underrated. The line was short, the atmosphere relaxed, and Ryan found himself enjoying the simple act of standing there without feeling impatient.
As they waited, Ryan noticed a familiar figure a few steps ahead.
Elena stood near the counter, her posture relaxed in a way that felt different from earlier, like the day had worn down some of her caution. She turned slightly, noticing them, and her expression brightened just enough to be noticeable.
"Hey," Ryan said, stopping beside her.
Elena smiled. "Hi."
Ben waved enthusiastically. "Look at this. A reunion."
Elena laughed softly. "Are you two just following me around now?"
Ryan shook his head. "Pure coincidence."
Ben leaned in. "Mostly."
They ordered and found a small table nearby, the hum of conversation around them blending into background noise. The food was simple, warm, and satisfying in a way that did not demand commentary.
"This place is nice," Elena said after a moment.
Ben nodded. "I discovered it accidentally while being lost."
Ryan smiled. "That tracks."
They ate slowly, talking about nothing important, drifting from food preferences to the strange habits of professors and the shared confusion of new schedules. Elena spoke more freely now, her comments thoughtful but relaxed, and Ryan found himself listening carefully, not because he felt obligated, but because he genuinely wanted to.
At one point, Elena hesitated, then asked, "Do you always take notes like that?"
Ryan glanced at her. "Like what?"
"Carefully," she said. "You actually pause before writing."
Ryan considered it. "I think I used to write just to feel busy. Now I try to write when something makes sense."
Elena nodded slowly. "That's nice."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "I write everything and hope understanding catches up later."
Ryan laughed. "Bold strategy."
After dinner, they lingered a little longer than necessary, the conversation stretching comfortably before naturally winding down. Eventually, Elena glanced at the time and gathered her things.
"I should head back," she said.
Ryan nodded. "Yeah."
They walked together toward the intersection where their paths split, the campus lights flickering on one by one, casting soft pools of light across the pavement.
At the steps, Elena slowed. "Today was… good."
Ryan smiled. "It was."
She hesitated briefly, then added, "I'm glad we're in the same classes."
"So am I," Ryan replied.
Ben cleared his throat loudly. "I will respectfully stand over there."
Elena smiled, then waved and headed off toward her dorm.
Ryan watched her go, then exhaled slowly.
Ben rejoined him. "You're not overthinking it."
Ryan glanced at him. "I'm not?"
Ben shook his head. "Nope. That's new."
Back in the room, the evening settled into a calm rhythm. Ryan organized his desk, not obsessively, just enough to make it feel usable, then sat down with his notebook again. He reviewed his plans for the next day, making small adjustments, choosing not to overload himself.
Ben lay on his bed scrolling through his phone. "You're building habits."
Ryan nodded. "Slowly."
Ben smirked. "Look at you, being functional."
Ryan leaned back in his chair, letting the quiet fill the space.
He did not feel the need to rush, to prove anything, or to chase outcomes. The day had unfolded naturally, shaped by small choices and steady attention rather than force.
As the lights dimmed and the sounds of the hostel softened, Ryan realized that evenings no longer felt like something to escape.
They felt like a place to stay.
And for the first time, he was content to let the night arrive at its own pace.