As he decided to accompany Esiah, they walked a long way together, observing that they weren't the only ones; students from several other schools were also heading home, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Esiah glanced up at Theos, her eyes bright with anticipation.

  "Hey, are you free tomorrow, Saturday?" she asked, her voice slightly tinged with hope.

  "Yeah, I am!" Theos replied, smiling at her eagerness. They agreed to meet the next day, both feeling a spark of excitement at the prospect of spending time together. To avoid an awkward situation, Theos dropped her off on the way to his apartment. Later, Esiah learned that her father had sent Sebastian to pick her up, and they'd just missed each other.

  After arriving at the building where he lived, Theos stepped into the mini-market. It was a small, brightly lit shop with shelves stocked with essentials, mandated by government regulations so that every building could withstand a crisis for at least a month or two. He picked up a few refreshments, the smell of freshly made snacks wafting through the air, before heading back to their apartment.

  "I'm home!" he announced, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet space.

  "Welcome back!" his sister Louise called from the living room.

  Theos placed a bag on the table. It contained ice cream, and the bag was made from a special biodegradable material that could even be eaten—an innovation that made food packaging feel more sustainable and exciting.

  "Thank you, Louise," he said, chuckling as she hurried off to grab the ice cream from the table. While he headed up to his room, she stored what she wouldn't eat in the fridge, eagerly unwrapping her ice cream bar as she flopped onto the sofa.

  In his room, Theos launched his terminal and scanned for information about why his school had released them early that day. Aside from the fact that all the schools had done the same, he couldn't find anything substantial. His curiosity piqued, and with his schedule turned upside down, he decided to move everything forward. He began replaying a game Mahito had lent him, finally beating his previous record. However, the scene he couldn't remember still eluded him; it felt like a fleeting dream. Frustrated but tired, he eventually gave up as time slipped away.

  As the evening grew late, he left his room and grabbed an ice cream from the fridge before heading to the living room, where Louise was still glued to the screen, seemingly lost in the animated chaos. He moved close to her, though she didn't appear to be really following the show—it was just background noise, filling the silence.

  "Hey, what's happening?" Theos asked, flopping down next to her on the couch.

  "Nothing much," she replied absentmindedly, her eyes glued to the screen.

  The door clicked open, and they both knew it could only be their mother.

  "Mmm," they murmured in unison, still focused on the projection.

  "I'm back," announced their mother, her voice cheerful.

  "Welcome back!" they replied at the same time, breaking into smiles.

  "So, how's it going?" she asked as she passed through the living room, her eyes scanning the scene.

  "Nothing's going on," Theos replied, and Louise nodded in agreement.

  "I understand. I'm going to take a bath, then we'll have dinner."

  Louise jumped to her feet and commanded the projection to stop. She and Theos moved into the dining room, which opened onto the kitchen, and began to set the table. Their mother joined them shortly after, having prepared dinner in the morning, so all that remained was to serve it—an important function of their preservation device. It was a light but rich meal.

  "Thank you for the meal," they chorused after finishing.

  "I'm going out tomorrow," Theos announced casually.

  Louise watched him closely. If he was mentioning it in front of their mother, he must be seeking permission.

  After a brief silence, she hesitantly asked, "Can I come?"

  "No!" Theos replied, his tone more abrupt than intended.

  "Out to where?" their mother interjected, a curious eyebrow raised.

  "A friend invited me."

  "Okay, but stay safe and don't be late. There's been a strange atmosphere since this morning, and I've heard rumors at work about a curfew request," she warned, concern etched on her face.

  "I'll be careful," Theos assured her, his mind racing. "But does a curfew have anything to do with the fact that all the schools had to ask students to go home?"

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  "I don't know much about it. Let's wait and see," she replied, a hint of worry in her voice.

  "Alright!"

  After their brief discussion, the entire family left the dining table. As Theos made his way out, he felt a blend of excitement and nervousness fluttering in his stomach. The thought of the day ahead with Esiah kept his mind racing.

  On Saturday morning, after enjoying a quick breakfast, he prepared himself meticulously for their outing. He sent Esiah the coordinates of where they would meet, anticipation coursing through him. As he had hoped, she arrived by car at the appointed time, her smile lighting up his day. Theos had planned their itinerary carefully, checking out various places of interest, and everything unfolded smoothly.

  Their first stop was shopping. With Esiah's ID card inserted into a terminal, her data was processed, and a virtual model of her appeared on the screen, showcasing the clothes she had chosen. Theos felt a blush creep onto his cheeks—seeing a digital version of Esiah in trendy outfits was almost too much to handle, like witnessing a live fashion show in front of the person he admired. They continued to explore different shops, laughter bubbling between them as they shared thoughts and dreams.

  — Theos, you know, I wanted to tell you something; Esiah began, her voice a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

  — I wanted to thank you for agreeing to come with me today, but that's not all…" She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly as she took a discreet breath, trying to gather her thoughts.

  Sensing her anxiety, Theos remembered a quieter spot nearby that would be perfect for a more serious conversation.

  — Wait, come with me; he said, gently taking her hand. She tried hard to hide her embarrassment but couldn't help a small smile as she followed him.

  "Where are we going?" she asked, glancing around at the bustling streets, wondering if passers-by might think they were a young couple.

  "I know a quiet corner where we can chat. I have something to tell you too," he replied, his heart racing with excitement.

  Her pulse quickened as they made their way through the city streets, and soon they arrived at a charming little spot along a riverbank, a lush expanse of grass surrounded by trees that provided a refreshing escape from the concrete jungle.

  — This is where I often come to catch my breath. I only recently discovered it, he explained, gesturing to the serene surroundings.

  Esiah inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling her lungs. "It's true that the air is pure here," she said, a smile spreading across her face.

  — Yes; he agreed, feeling a sense of pride. — It's my little paradise. I found it when…

  — It's not important; he interrupted himself, Esiah eyes sparkling with curiosity.

  — Theos, I wanted to tell you… Her voice trailed off, the words caught in her throat, as if the weight of her feelings was too much to bear.

  — Esiah, I brought you here because I wanted to talk to you too!" he blurted out, his nerves bubbling to the surface.

  But I'd rather not discuss what happened this morning because it might spoil the mood, so I'll take the initiative.

  — What did you want to talk to me about? she asked, her expression shifting to one of curiosity.

  The wind picked up, swirling around them, as if nature itself was urging him on.

  —It's simple—no complicated strategies or anything. I just want to tell you how I feel.

  —Is that true, Theos? she asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

  —Would you repeat that, please? he asked playfully, a grin creeping onto his face.

  —I'm asking you if you'll go out with me! I love you!" she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

  —Why are you crying? Was that too sudden? he asked, his heart racing, unsure how to interpret her tears.

  —No, I'm just happy. Don't mind me; she replied, her smile radiant even through her tears.

  Relief flooded over him, and he took a step closer, feeling emboldened. —Theos, I wanted to tell you that I'm madly in love with you too. —His voice was steady, but inside, he was a whirlwind of emotions.

  Phew, it was a risky bet, yet he felt sure of himself. He panicked slightly when she began to cry again, fearing he had upset her.

  —Tell me, is it possible for you to take me in your arms?" she whispered, her eyes searching his.

  —Yes, of course!" He stepped closer, wrapping her in his arms. It was a funny sight, knowing she wasn't his size, but everything felt right in that moment.

  —I feel great. Can we stay like this for a while?" she murmured, snuggling against him. "You know, Theos, I'm so surprised. I love you too, and I have since we first met."

  Theos chuckled softly, feeling the warmth of their embrace. It was strange but beautiful—perhaps this was what love felt like. He realized he had feelings for her that were sincere and impulsive.

  As the minutes passed, he wished this moment could last an eternity, even as he sensed that reality would soon come crashing back in.

  —Is it getting late? she finally asked, breaking the spell that had enveloped them.

  They were officially a couple now, but they couldn't afford to linger too long. As they walked back, the world around them faded into a soft blur of colors and sounds, the excitement of their new relationship blooming like spring flowers.

  —Yes! Esiah replied, her heart racing at the thought of returning home. She didn't want this magical day to end; she just wanted to go home, sleep, and wake up in a world where they were together.

  As they approached an intersection, the car that was supposed to take her home was still there, waiting patiently.

  —Do you want me to walk you home? Theos offered, not quite ready to part ways.

  —Sebastian!" Esiah exclaimed, her expression shifting to one of apprehension.

  Sebastian, the man in the black suit who usually accompanied her, leaned against the car with an air of cool detachment. Theos didn't feel threatened by him; he was just a little tired, like someone who would do anything for his employer.

  —Maybe next time; Theos said, a shiver running through him as he recalled the earlier unease of their surroundings.

  —See you tomorrow! she replied, her voice bright but tinged with a hint of reluctance.

  —Yeah, I'll probably see you tomorrow; he replied, forcing himself to smile as their paths diverged.

  Back at home, it was afternoon. As he opened the door, he was greeted by his personal welcoming committee.

  —Big brother, where have you been? Is it getting late? Louise exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern.

  —You were supposed to come home early; the school called for the next tutor meeting; she added, her voice dripping with mock seriousness.

  —Louise, your big brother is allowed to go out once in a while! Are you pouting now? he teased, ruffling her hair.

  —How about a game later? he suggested, a grin spreading across his face.

  —YES! she beamed, her previous concerns forgotten. Theos liked that much better.

  —In the meantime, let me rest a little. He headed straight to his room, flopping onto his bed, fatigue washing over him.

  —I'm exhausted.

  Before drifting off to sleep, he thought about sending Esiah a message to check if she made it home safely, but exhaustion pulled him under before he could type a word.

  And so, the story begins…