The moment I opened his message...
my heartbeat became a little faster.
Him: "Hey... are you free this weekend? I was thinking... maybe we could meet if you're available."
I stared at the screen for a few seconds.
Then I dramatically threw my phone onto the bed.
"Oh, come on!"
"Why does this always happen to me?"
I covered my face with my pillow and started talking to myself.
"Seriously?"
"The one weekend I already have plans..."
"Now he asks me to meet?"
"Destiny really loves making my life complicated."
After complaining to myself for almost five minutes...
I finally picked up my phone.
I didn't want to cancel my dinner with my senior.
He had always been there whenever I needed someone.
And this dinner wasn't just a casual outing.
It was my way of thanking him.
So I replied honestly.
"Actually... this weekend I'm already going out with my senior. We made the plan a few days ago, so I'm not free. I'm really sorry."
A few minutes later...
his reply came.
"Oh... that's completely okay."
"We can always meet some other time."
"Enjoy your dinner."
Reading his reply made me smile.
There wasn't even a hint of disappointment.
Just understanding.
I immediately replied,
"Thank you."
After that...
our conversation slowly shifted to college life.
He asked how my anatomy practicals were going.
I complained about hostel food.
He laughed and said,
"Medical college survives on bad food and sleepless nights."
I replied,
"Don't remind me."
We kept talking for another twenty minutes.
Nothing extraordinary.
Just small conversations.
But somehow...
those little conversations had slowly become my favorite part of the day.
Finally...
we wished each other good night.
After putting my phone aside...
I immediately called my best friend.
She answered on the first ring.
"What happened now?"
I dramatically sighed.
"My life is officially a daily soap."
She started laughing.
"What did destiny do this time?"
I explained everything.
How he had invited me.
How I already had plans with my senior.
And how I had to refuse.
She laughed so hard that I had to move my phone away from my ear.
"I swear..."
"Only your life can have this much drama."
"I know!"
"I finally got a chance to meet him..."
"And now I had to say no."
She laughed again.
"It's okay."
"You can always meet him another day."
"But on these weekend...
"Go and enjoy your dinner with your senior."
"You literally planned this to thank him."
"He deserves it."
I nodded.
"You're right."
She smiled.
"And please..."
"For once..."
"Stop overthinking."
I laughed.
"I'll try."
We talked for a little longer before hanging up.
That night...
I fell asleep surprisingly quickly.
---
Finally...
the weekend arrived.
After finishing all my assignments and hostel work..
I opened my wardrobe.
"What should I wear?"
For the next twenty minutes...
I changed outfits three times.
Finally, I chose something simple but elegant.
Nothing too fancy.
Just comfortable.
After getting ready...
I looked at myself in the mirror.
"Okay..."
"This works."
I picked up my phone, wallet, and room key before walking downstairs.
The moment I stepped outside the hostel...
I saw him.
My senior was already waiting near the entrance.
He looked at his watch.
Then smiled after seeing me.
"I thought you'd be at least ten minutes late."
I laughed.
"I wanted to surprise you."
"It definitely worked."
A cab arrived a few moments later.
He opened the door for me.
"After you."
I smiled.
"Thank you."
During the ride...
The cab slowly moved through the busy city roads. Since it was the weekend, the streets were more crowded than usual. Some families were shopping, children were enjoying ice cream, and couples were walking hand in hand. I quietly looked outside the window, watching the city pass by. Somehow, after the peaceful trip, even the traffic felt different today.
After a few minutes, my senior broke the silence.
"So... how are your anatomy practicals going now?"
I sighed dramatically.
"They're slowly becoming easier, but honestly, sometimes I still get confused."
He laughed.
"Everyone does in the beginning. Even I was scared during my first anatomy practical."
I looked at him in surprise.
"Really? You?"
He nodded confidently.
"I wasn't born intelligent, you know."
I couldn't stop laughing.
"That's hard to believe."
He smiled.
"Believe it. Every medical student struggles at some point."
Those words were strangely comforting.
we talked more about college life, exams, professors, and the trip.
The atmosphere felt relaxed.
Comfortable.
Like talking to an old friend.
Around twenty minutes later...
our cab stopped outside a beautiful restaurant.
Warm yellow lights decorated the entrance.
Soft music could already be heard from inside.
It looked peaceful.
Almost magical.
We walked inside.
After looking around...
my senior smiled.
"Your choice is actually really nice."
I immediately shook my head.
"No..."
"I can't take the credit."
"A friend recommended this place."
He laughed.
"Well..."
"Tell your friend they have good taste."
We both laughed before taking our seats.
A waiter handed us the menu.
I smiled.
"Today's treat is completely mine."
"So order whatever you want."
He closed the menu dramatically.
"Then I'll order the most expensive thing."
I widened my eyes.
"Please don't."
He burst into laughter.
"I'm joking."
"You should've seen your face."
I playfully rolled my eyes.
"You're impossible."
"I've heard that before."
We both laughed.
After placing our order, we had to wait for almost fifteen minutes.
Instead of using our phones, we simply kept talking.
"So..." he asked.
"If you ever get one month of holidays after MBBS, where would you go?"
I thought for a moment.
"I think... somewhere peaceful."
"Maybe Disneyland."
"Or Korea."
He smiled.
"Interesting."
"What about you?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"I'd probably just sleep for an entire week."
I laughed so loudly that even the waiter smiled while passing our table.
"You really sound like a medical student."
"I am one."
The food arrived after some time.
Between every bite...
he kept making terrible jokes.
Some were actually funny.
Some were so bad...
that I couldn't stop laughing anyway.
For the first time in many days...
I wasn't thinking about studies.
Or exams.
Or overthinking.
I was simply enjoying the evening.
few moments later, I became a little serious.
"Can I say something?"
He looked at me.
"Of course."
I smiled softly.
"I know today's dinner is just a small thing..."
"But thank you."
He looked confused.
"For what?"
"For always helping me."
"For practicals."
"For explaining things."
"And especially..."
"For bringing breakfast that day."
He smiled warmly.
"You know..."
"Friends don't keep count of these things."
"I never expected anything in return."
"I was just doing what any good friend should."
I looked at him for a few seconds.
Somehow...
those simple words made me respect him even more.
Then...
while reaching for my glass of water...
my eyes casually wandered across the restaurant.
A few tables away...
I noticed someone sitting with his back facing us.
The hairstyle.
The posture.
Even the shirt.
Everything looked strangely familiar.
I blinked once.
Then again.
My heart skipped a beat.
No...
It couldn't be...
But the more I looked...
the more it felt like...
him.
And suddenly...
I wasn't sure whether destiny was playing another game with me...
or whether this dinner...
was about to become something I would never forget...