As I am ordering my stuff in my room, I realize, “AHHHH, I don’t have any more noodle soups for the rest of the week, how did I forget!” Let’s see, the store closes at 8 p.m., and it’s 8:15 p.m.

  “Hmmm, I guess I should head to the store on 7th Avenue. It’s just three blocks away,” I mutter to myself. I have to seize this opportunity. What else would I eat at the office tomorrow for breakfast? Or worse, lunch. “Yeah, I need to go now.”

  I still have time. Grabbing my jacket, I go down the stairs and rush out into the streets.

  Once inside the store, I go straight for the noodles, fixating on the shelf as I grab two bags—enough to last the next two weeks. My head hangs low as I stare at them in my basket. Is this really it? Am I destined to eat instant noodles for the rest of my life?

  “Ely? Ely! It’s me, Maria! Long time no see!” a voice calls from the checkout.

  I look up and see Maria, a friend from high school. We used to be close, but she went off to university, and we lost touch. I wonder what she’s doing here.

  “Maria… hello,” I reply, feeling the awkwardness sink in. She’s not the shy, quiet girl I remember. Now, she’s beaming, her smile bright and confidence radiating from her.

  I hand her the cash, still processing this unexpected reunion.

  "My shift ends in 20 minutes! Do you want to wait? I’d love to catch up!” she says, her positivity contagious.

  I hesitate for a moment, but her genuine excitement softens me. "Sure," I say, realizing I could use the company.

  Twenty minutes fly by before Maria’s cheerful voice breaks through my thoughts. “Ely, I’m done! Let’s go. I just got my paycheck. Want to grab dinner at a restaurant?”

  I stand there, stunned. How can she be so casual about spending money? Doesn’t she need it for something else? How can she afford to just throw it around?

  “Haha, no thanks, I’ve got food,” I say, lifting the bag of instant noodles I just bought.

  Maria laughs, her voice light and carefree. “Ely, that’s not food! Come on!”

  I sigh but follow her obediently. We end up in a small restaurant on a clean, cozy street. It isn’t fancy, but it’s leagues above what I can afford. The warm lighting and the smell of real, fresh food make my stomach grumble.

  “Maria... What are you doing here, anyway? Weren’t you supposed to be at university?”

  She smiles, her eyes twinkling. “Yeah, all my classes are online this semester, so I’m staying at my parents' place to save money and working part-time.”

  “But... won’t this dinner eat up your paycheck?” I blurt out, feeling guilty. She works hard for her money, and here she is about to spend it all in one night.

  Maria waves her hand dismissively. “Pfft, don’t worry about it! It’s just one night, and besides, I’m not exactly scraping by. I got a scholarship when I got into university, so most of my expenses are covered.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  I can’t help but grin, the tension in my shoulders easing. “So, I can order whatever I want?” I ask, my eyes lighting up with excitement.

  “Sure!” she laughs.

  As I sit there, watching her vibrant energy fill the room, I can’t help but feel a pang of envy. Not because of her scholarship or her success, but because of her attitude. She’s so... alive. Full of hope and happiness. How has she changed so much? I used to be the one full of life, while Maria was the quiet one. But now, it’s like our roles have flipped. I have to know her secret.

  “Maria!” I blurt, and she looks at me, startled.

  “What... What happened? How did you change so much?” I fumble for the right words, hoping I don’t sound rude. “I mean, you’re so... different now.”

  Maria blushes, the color rising to her cheeks. “Oh, you mean after high school? Well... I guess a lot has changed since then.”

  She pauses, and for a moment, her eyes soften. “I met someone in university. We’ve been together for a while now, and... I’m not sure about the transition, but it made my days of black and white become a river of colors.”

  Her words hit me like a wave, and I feel a drop of sweat run down the side of my face. Happiness? From a relationship? The thought lingers, and I can’t shake the feeling that maybe she has something I’ve been missing all along.

  Nah, she’s just happy because she doesn’t have real responsibilities... If she did, even with a boyfriend, she wouldn’t be this carefree.

  “Hahaha, you’re joking, right? People change because they want to be better, not because of someone else.”

  Maria’s expression softens but doesn’t lose its brightness. “I didn’t change because he told me to. It just... happened. A normal transition.” She tilts her head slightly, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Don’t tell me you don’t have a boyfriend yet?”

  “I did!” I reply, feeling a surge of pride.

  She laughs, clearly unconvinced. “The guy from 6th grade doesn’t count. You hung out for two days and didn’t even kiss.”

  I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. “It was his fault for being such a jerk!”

  “But come on, you can’t just end a relationship over one mistake.”

  “Yes, I can, and I did! So it counts, alright? Let’s drop the whole couple talk.” My voice is sharper than I intended, and I can see Maria’s smile falter for a second.

  “Okay, okay,” she says, raising her hands in surrender. “Look, the food’s here.”

  The shift in conversation is welcome. We eat and chat about old shows we used to binge-watch back in high school. The laughter comes easier, and for a moment, it feels like old times—simple, carefree.

  After the meal, I lean back in my chair, patting my stomach. “Thanks, Maria. I never thought I’d eat chicken this year,” I say with a laugh. She laughs too, probably thinking I’m joking.

  Then, her eyes sparkle like she’s just thought of something brilliant. “Oh! I remember now. My boyfriend has a friend who lives near here. Well, not too close—next city over—but he’s got a car. I could set you up with him! He’s a real gentleman, I swear. How about a date?”

  A date? The idea feels foreign, like a luxury I can’t afford. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve got too much going on.”

  “But even with work, you’ve got free days,” she says, waving off my excuse.

  “Yeah, which I use to clean my apartment, wash clothes, and refill my water gallons.”

  “Water gallons? Oh, come on, forget that for one day. You’re going, no matter what! What day works for you next week?”

  “Maria, I said no.” My voice is firm, but the temptation is there. A nice dinner, someone new... It’s not the worst idea.

  She leans in, her grin mischievous. “He’ll take you to an even nicer restaurant than this. You’ll love it.”

  I sigh, feeling the weight of her persistence. “Alright, fine. Next Friday, I’m free. But if he can’t make it, don’t push it, okay?”

  “Deal! Next Friday, you’re meeting him. His name’s Joseph.”

  As I return to my apartment, I notice a figure lingering outside the door next to mine. Some old creep, I think. But, as I take a closer look, I realize it’s a guy I’ve never seen before. Now that I think about it, that apartment has been vacant for a while. Guess he’s the new tenant. His clothes and the way he stands in the unlit hallway only add to the creep vibe to him.

  I try to brush it off, but we lock eyes for a second. Not good. I debate in my mind whether I should say hi, maybe introduce myself out of courtesy. But before I can react, he quickly slips inside his apartment. I shrug it off, heading into my own place. No point in overthinking it, and enter my apartment.

  “What a weirdo,” I sigh.