Yes...
The person I had noticed from across the restaurant was actually him.
For a few seconds, I couldn't understand what I was feeling.
Was I happy?
Nervous?
Surprised?
Or maybe all three at the same time?
I had just been thinking about him a few minutes ago, and now he was actually sitting in the same restaurant.
What kind of coincidence was this?
I looked at my senior.
He had noticed him too.
Then, from across the restaurant, he looked in our direction and recognized us.
He smiled and raised his hand.
I automatically smiled back.
A few seconds later, he stood up along with his friend and walked toward our table.
"Hey!"
I smiled.
"You're here?"
He laughed.
"Apparently."
"I honestly didn't expect to see you here."
I shook my head.
"Neither did I."
His friend greeted us, and my senior introduced himself properly.
Soon, all four of us were standing around the table.
For some reason, I suddenly became very conscious of myself.
I was the only girl sitting with three boys.
I didn't know why, but I felt slightly nervous.
Maybe because I wasn't expecting this situation at all.
My senior noticed my expression and casually said,
"Relax. You're looking like you're attending an interview."
I laughed.
"Nothing like that."
His friend smiled.
"Don't worry, we're normal people."
I immediately replied,
"That's exactly what suspicious people say."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Slowly, the awkwardness I felt at the beginning started disappearing. I realized that none of them were making me feel left out or uncomfortable. We were just sitting there, talking and laughing like we had known each other for much longer. At one point, my senior made some silly joke and all three of us started laughing, while he just looked at us and smiled. I don't know why, but seeing him there with us felt strangely familiar. Maybe because after waiting for so many years, I had never imagined that one day we would actually sit at the same table, sharing food and laughing together like normal friends.
And suddenly,He looked at me and asked casually,
"So... what are you both doing here?"
My senior answered before I could.
"Dinner."
He smiled.
"Obviously."
Then he looked at me.
"I mean, why this sudden dinner?"
I laughed.
"I invited him."
"Today's treat is mine."
He raised his eyebrows.
"Birthday?"
"No."
"Some special occasion?"
"No."
He looked at my senior again.
"Then?"
My senior leaned back in his chair and smiled.
"True friends don't always need a reason."
"Sometimes they just make plans and go out."
I smiled.
"Exactly."
"It's just nice to spend some time with a good friend who always supports you and motivates you."
I looked toward my senior while saying that.
He smiled.
But when I looked back at him...
his expression was slightly different.
For just a second...
I felt like I noticed something.
Was that jealousy?
Or was I imagining it?
I immediately pushed the thought away.
Don't overthink.
Please.
---
His friend started talking about college.
My senior joined the conversation.
Soon, all four of us were discussing professors, assignments, practicals and the never-ending workload of medical college.
At one point, his friend asked,
"How do you both know each other?"
Before I could answer, my senior said,
"We're friends from college."
He smiled.
"Yeah. I've heard a lot about him."
I looked at my senior.
"You've heard a lot?"
He laughed.
"Nothing bad."
"Don't worry."
Everyone laughed.
The waiter came to check whether we wanted anything else.
My senior looked at me.
"Anything?"
I shook my head.
"I'm full."
He smiled.
"Finally."
"What?"
"You complained about being hungry for the entire trip."
I immediately looked at him.
"Please don't remind me."
He laughed.
"You were actually hungry?"
I nodded.
"Very."
"That's why I brought you breakfast."
His friend looked at him.
"You brought her breakfast?"
He simply shrugged.
"She hadn't eaten."
I became quiet for a second.
I didn't know why...
but hearing him mention that in front of everyone made me feel slightly embarrassed.
My senior noticed and changed the topic.
"So, what are you guys doing after this?"
His friend replied,
"Probably heading back."
He looked at me.
"What about you?"
"Hostel."
"Same."
---
Eventually, we asked for the bill.
I immediately reached for my wallet.
"My treat."
My senior stopped me.
"You've already decided that."
"I know."
"So let me at least help."
"No."
"I invited you."
"And I'm paying."
He laughed.
"Fine."
"Today you win."
I smiled proudly.
"I always win."
My senior shook his head.
"That's a very dangerous amount of confidence."
Everyone laughed.
After the bill was paid, we stepped outside.
The night air felt completely different from the warm restaurant.
The streets were still busy.
Cars passed by.
People were walking around.
The city lights reflected on the road.
For a few moments...
we simply walked together.
My senior and his friend were talking about something.
I walked slightly behind them with him.
He suddenly asked,
"So..."
"You enjoyed dinner?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good."
There was a short silence.
Then he said,
"I didn't expect to meet you today."
"Me neither."
"Maybe it's actually a good coincidence."
I looked at him.
"Maybe."
He smiled.
We continued walking.
Then my senior suddenly turned around.
"You two coming?"
I nodded.
"Yes!"
We quickly caught up.
---
After walking for a while, we reached the place where our cabs would separate.
His friend checked his phone.
"My cab is here."
He looked at me.
"Nice meeting you."
"You too."
My senior shook his hand.
They said goodbye.
Then it was his turn.
He looked at me.
"I guess I'll see you later."
I smiled.
"Yeah."
"Take care."
"You too."
He took a few steps away...
then suddenly turned around.
"Wait."
I looked at him.
He walked back.
"I forgot something."
"What?"
He smiled.
"I still haven't received those camera pictures."
I laughed.
"Oh!"
"I completely forgot."
"You promised."
"I know."
"I'll send them."
"When?"
"Soon."
He smiled.
"I'll wait."
Then his friend called him from the cab.
He waved.
"Bye."
"Bye."
I watched him leave.
For some reason...
I kept looking until the cab disappeared.
My senior stood beside me quietly.
Then he suddenly said,
"You're thinking too much again."
I looked at him.
"What?"
He smiled.
"Nothing."
"Let's go."
We started walking toward our cab.
But my mind was already somewhere else.
That evening had started as a simple dinner.
Then he appeared.
Then we all sat together.
Then there were those strange little moments I couldn't stop replaying.
His questions.
His expressions.
The way he noticed everything.
And especially...
the way his voice had changed when he asked why I was having dinner with my senior.
I opened my phone while sitting in the cab.
There was a new notification.
I looked at the screen.
It was from him.
I opened it.
And after reading the message...
my smile slowly disappeared.
Because he wasn't asking about the pictures.
He wasn't asking about college.
He wasn't even saying goodnight.
He had sent me a question that made me stare at the screen for several seconds...
"Can I ask you something about your senior?"
And suddenly...
I had a feeling that tomorrow's conversation was going to be very different.