Growing Closer
1086 Words
Episode 2
The next morning, Grace woke up earlier than usual.
She didn’t know why at first. Maybe it was the cool breeze slipping through her window, or the faint sound of birds outside. But deep down, she knew the real reason.
John.
She sat up slowly, brushing her hair away from her face. “Why am I even thinking about him this much?” she murmured to herself.
Grace wasn’t the type to get distracted easily. She was focused, quiet, and usually kept to herself. But ever since that unexpected encounter, something inside her had shifted.
After getting ready, she picked up her books and headed out. As she walked across campus, her eyes unconsciously drifted toward the basketball court.
And there he was.
John.
He was practicing again, moving with energy and confidence. The ball bounced rhythmically against the ground as he dribbled, spun, and shot.
Grace paused for a moment, watching him.
“Focus, Grace,” she whispered, forcing herself to keep walking.
But just as she turned away—
“Hey!”
She froze.
That voice.
She turned back slowly, and sure enough, John was jogging toward her, holding the basketball under his arm.
“Good morning,” he said, slightly out of breath but smiling as always.
“Good morning,” Grace replied, trying to sound calm.
“I was hoping I’d see you,” he said.
Grace blinked, surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah,” John said casually. “I mean, I still owe you that proper conversation after nearly knocking you over yesterday.”
She laughed softly. “You’ve already apologized.”
“True,” he said, stepping closer. “But I think we can do better than just apologies.”
Grace raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” John said with a grin. “Like maybe… walking you to class?”
She hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Okay.”
⸻
They walked side by side along the pathway.
At first, the silence between them felt slightly awkward—but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that held possibility.
“So,” John began, “what kind of books do you usually read?”
Grace smiled. “Mostly romance… and a bit of drama.”
John chuckled. “So you like emotional stories?”
“Yes,” she said. “Stories that feel real.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t read much, but I like real things too.”
Grace glanced at him. “What does that mean?”
John shrugged. “I don’t like pretending. If I care about something—or someone—I’m real about it.”
Grace felt her heart skip slightly.
She quickly looked away. “That’s… good.”
⸻
As they approached her lecture hall, Grace slowed down.
“This is my stop,” she said.
John nodded. “Alright.”
There was a pause.
“See you later?” he asked.
Grace hesitated again—but this time, her answer came quicker.
“Yes.”
John smiled. “Good.”
⸻
Throughout the day, Grace found it hard to concentrate.
Her professor’s voice faded into the background as her mind replayed the morning conversation.
“If I care about someone… I’m real about it.”
What did he mean by that?
She shook her head. “I’m overthinking again,” she whispered.
⸻
Later that afternoon, Grace returned to the mango tree. It had quickly become her favorite place on campus—not just because it was quiet, but because it now held a memory.
She sat down and opened her book, trying to focus.
But just a few minutes later—
“Hey, book girl.”
Grace smiled before even looking up.
“Hi, John.”
He sat beside her, placing the basketball on the ground. “So, what are we reading today?”
She showed him the book. “Still Pride and Prejudice.”
He leaned closer, peeking at the pages. “Looks serious.”
“It is,” she said. “But it’s also beautiful.”
John watched her as she spoke, noticing how her eyes lit up when she talked about something she loved.
“You really enjoy this, don’t you?” he said.
Grace nodded. “Stories make me feel… understood.”
John smiled softly. “I get that.”
She looked at him, surprised. “You do?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Basketball does that for me.”
Grace laughed. “Basketball and books… that’s an interesting combination.”
“Opposites attract, right?” he teased.
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
They both laughed.
⸻
Time passed quickly as they talked.
They shared small details about their lives—
Grace talked about her love for writing and her dream of becoming an author.
John talked about his passion for engineering and his goals for the future.
“Sounds like you have everything planned out,” Grace said.
John shook his head. “Not everything. But I’m trying.”
She nodded. “That’s enough.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “What about you?”
Grace hesitated. “I don’t know… sometimes I feel like my dreams are too big.”
John frowned slightly. “Why would you think that?”
“Because not everyone succeeds,” she said quietly.
John leaned closer, his voice firm but gentle. “Grace, if you love it, it’s not too big.”
She looked at him, surprised by his sincerity.
“Don’t doubt yourself,” he added.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The air between them felt different—deeper.
⸻
As the sun began to set again, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Grace realized something.
She felt comfortable with him.
Not just a little comfortable—but truly at ease.
And that scared her.
Because she knew what it meant.
She was starting to care.
⸻
“I should go,” she said softly.
John nodded. “Yeah… me too.”
He stood up, then hesitated.
“Grace?”
She looked up. “Yes?”
“I’m glad I met you.”
Her heart skipped.
She smiled gently. “Me too.”
⸻
That night, Grace lay in bed again, staring at the ceiling.
But this time, she wasn’t confused.
She understood what was happening.
She was slowly letting someone into her world.
And for the first time in a long time…
She wasn’t afraid of it.
- Writer
