The Way You Breathe

The evening sky was a pale gray, not raining, yet not clear either. Cloud stared at his phone, scrolling through a list of part-time job openings, none of which somehow felt right. "Café server, full-time," he muttered. "But I have classes in the afternoon. Can't do it." A gentle breeze brushed his face, carrying the scent of damp earth left behind by the afternoon rain. He exhaled and sat down on a nearly empty bench in the campus garden. In the distance, the laughter of children was faint, soon turning into cries. Reflexively, Cloud turned his head. Near the fountain, a man in a suit was crouched down, looking worried, while a small child cried loudly in his arms. The man looked exhausted, and for some reason, Cloud felt a strange urge to approach. "Excuse me..." The man turned. His gaze was calm but sharp, like a spring; clear and deep. "Can I help?" Cloud asked hesitantly. The child continued to cry, hiding their face with tiny hands. Cloud crouched in front of them, smiling softly. "Hey there, why are you crying? I have a strawberry candy, do you want one?" The child paused, sniffled, and looked up. Cloud opened the candy wrapper and placed it in the child’s hand. "But promise me, no more crying." The child nodded slowly, and for the first time, the cries stopped. The man remained silent for a while before finally speaking softly, "Thank you." "You're welcome. Is he your child?" "Nephew." Cloud smiled faintly. "Cute. What’s he afraid of?" "Strangers," the man replied shortly. They both stood up. "Your name?" the man asked. "Cloud." A small smile appeared on the man’s face. "Cloud. I’m Air." Cloud froze, "Air?" "Yes," Air looked at the sky, now fading in color. "Funny, isn’t it? Air and Cloud meet on a cloudy day like this." Cloud chuckled softly, but for some reason, the name stuck in his mind. ── ┄ The next day, Cloud sat in class, glancing at his phone. An unknown number sent a message: "This is Air. Thank you for yesterday. I need help again. You’re still looking for a part-time job, right?" Cloud replied quickly: "I am. But I’m not sure I can do anything too heavy since I also have classes." Another message appeared: "Don’t worry. I just need someone to watch my nephew for a few hours each afternoon." Cloud read the message over and over. "Watch a child, huh? Hmm… maybe I can do that." ── ┄ That afternoon, Cloud went straight to the address Air had sent. A large, modern apartment, too fancy for an ordinary person, Cloud knew Air was not ordinary man. As soon as the door opened, Air appeared, still wearing a black shirt almost identical to the one he wore the day they met. "Come in," he said briefly. Cloud stepped in carefully, taking in the minimalist interior, tidy, but cold and empty. Mio, the little boy from yesterday, sat on the carpet, arranging blocks. "Hey, Mio," Cloud greeted softly, bowing slightly. "Do you remember me?" The child looked at him for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "He remembers you," Air said from behind, his tone almost relieved. The first few hours went smoothly. Cloud told stories, drew pictures, and even sang softly with Mio. The child’s laughter was warm, the first free sound since his mother’s passing. Air watched from the kitchen, holding a cup of tea, but his eyes never left the two of them. It had been a long time since his apartment felt so alive. When Cloud said goodbye, Air simply said, "Same time tomorrow." Cloud nodded in agreement. "Okay. But… can I ask something?" Air turned. "What is it?" "You’re always this serious, huh?" Air looked at him for a few seconds, then gave a faint smile. "Maybe if you come more often, I can learn not to be so serious." That night, after returning to the orphanage where he lived, in his small room, Cloud gazed at the sky through the window. Rain fell gently, tapping the roof in a soft rhythm. He looked at his reflection in the glass and smiled faintly. "Air and Cloud, huh… I think I just met someone who’s going to change my days."