Chapter Two – The Rooftop Encounter
1044 Words
Salomi walked across the school field, scanning the crowd for her friend Ailany. They had agreed to meet there since Ailany was still watching her boyfriend’s practice. Salomi didn’t really want to go, but she needed the flash drive Ailany had borrowed. Her entire report for tomorrow was saved on it.
“Hi, Salomi!” a few boys called out as she passed.
She gave them a small smile and kept walking, cheeks warming. She had grown used to the attention—being beautiful came with it—but embarrassment still crept in whenever people openly greeted her. Plenty of men liked her, but Salomi never allowed any of them to court her. She only had one reason: her first love.
Sometimes she wondered if what people often said was true—that once you fall in love, it doesn’t matter whether the person is with you or not. Just loving them was enough to stay loyal and faithful.
“There you are.” Salomi reached Ailany and held out her hand. “Where’s the flash drive? I’m in a hurry.”
Ailany grinned, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “You should’ve seen yourself earlier. Blushing like crazy while boys were greeting you.”
Salomi frowned. “And what’s funny about that?”
“When will you ever get used to it? If I were you, I’d be proud?”
“Tss. Proud of what? I’ll only be proud if I nail my report tomorrow. So—” she smirked, hand still outstretched, “—help me be proud.”
“Fine, fine.” Ailany laughed and handed over the flash drive. “Good luck tomorrow. Do your best.”
Salomi thanked her and immediately turned away, walking briskly across the field. She was halfway when a shout rang out.
“Watch out!”
The warning came too late. A baseball slammed into her forehead, knocking her off balance and sending her crashing to the ground. Pain throbbed across her skull as she clutched her head.
“Salomi! Are you okay?” Ailany shouted from afar.
She waved her off with a nod, still dizzy.
A man rushed over. “Miss! Sorry! Are you alright? Do you need to go to the clinic—”
Before he could finish, Salomi’s fist connected with his jaw. Gasps rippled across the field.
“Are you stupid?” she snapped and punched the man in front of him. “You saw the ball hit me and that’s what you ask?”
“I… I’m sorry. I was just concerned,” he muttered, standing and wiping the blood from his lip.
“If you were really concerned, you’d make sure no one got hit in the first place.”
Another voice cut in. “Don’t blame him. I was the one who threw it.”
Salomi turned. The man standing before her had sharp almond-shaped eyes, thin lips, and a proud nose. Handsome, yes—but his arrogance immediately soured her impression.
“So, it was you.” She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have something to say? Don't you want to apologize?”
“Why should I apologize? You could’ve avoided it if you’d been watching where you were going. Part of this is your fault too.”
“Oh, really?” she said icily. “Then accept my apology like this.”
Her foot shot out in a swift taekwondo kick, catching him off guard and sending him stumbling back. Murmurs erupted around them, but Salomi ignored the stares.
She walked over to him and crouched slightly, her expression softening. “Sorry for the misunderstanding. Here.” She pressed a band-aid into his hand.
He looked at her strangely before giving a small smile. “Thanks… But are you sure you’re okay? Your forehead looks red.”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “I have to go.”
As she walked away, the man shouted, “Hey! Where do you think you’re going?”
Salomi raised her middle finger without looking back.
Inside a taxi minutes later, she rubbed her sore head. “That ball hurt like crazy. Felt like my skull cracked,” she muttered to herself.
When the taxi pulled up to the hospital, she paid the driver and hurried inside. Relief washed over her when she stepped into her father’s room, only to freeze in surprise at the sight of her mother.
“I thought you had work?” she asked.
“I filed for leave,” her mother explained. “I won’t go back until your father’s surgery is done.”
Salomi handed over a basket of fruit, then glanced at her father.
“What happened to your forehead?” he asked with concern.
“Nothing, Dad. I’m fine,” she said with a reassuring smile.
Her gaze drifted to the black notebook on the bedside table. “Why is this still here?”
“Theodore left it behind. Since he hasn’t returned, I think you should take it to him. He’s in the cardiothoracic ward.”
Curiosity sparked in Salomi. She agreed quickly. “Okay, I’ll bring it to him.”
After some directions from a nurse, she found herself standing before room 1411. She knocked, but no one answered.
“He’s not there,” the nurse from earlier said kindly. “Theodore usually goes to the rooftop around this time.”
“Thank you.”
Salomi stepped onto the rooftop, the fading sunset washing everything in gold and rose. Sitting on a long bench, gazing at the horizon, was a young man.
Her breath caught when he turned. His eyebrows were thick and dark, his round eyes striking, his nose sharp, and lips pale but perfectly shaped. Even his simple, faded haircut seemed to suit him.
“Are you… Theodore?” she asked hesitantly.
He stood slowly and approached, his expression calm yet gentle.
“Miss, are you okay?” he asked.
Her heart skipped, her pulse racing faster than she expected. She blinked rapidly, trying to steady herself. The last time she had felt this way was years ago—when she first met her childhood love.
And now, for the second time in her life, it is happening again.
She didn’t like it. Not one bit.
- Writer
