NEW ENCOUNTER
1124 Words
chapter 2
John arrived at the restaurant a little early, choosing a corner table away from the crowd. He sat quietly, observing the ambient bustle around him, but his thoughts were distant, focused on one thing: why was he always feeling so different whenever he was with Lily? He struggled to grasp what "love" could possibly mean. To him, it was just another unsolvable equation, something he couldn’t break down into logical parts.
As he pondered, he saw a couple across the room. They seemed happy at first, talking and laughing. Then, suddenly, the girl’s smile vanished. She rose, her voice raised in anger, and slapped the boy across the face, exclaiming, “How could you?” before storming off. The incident pulled John out of his thoughts, deepening his confusion. "If love is so powerful, why does it turn to hate so quickly?" he mused.
Moments later, Lily entered the restaurant with a friend by her side, a girl whose presence seemed to capture everyone’s attention. She was strikingly beautiful, with an intriguing aura that drew the gazes of nearly every person in the room. Yet, John barely noticed her as he sat there, still absorbed in his musings on love and relationships.
Lily approached John, smiling warmly as she introduced her friend, Alara, a girl with a deep passion for coding. Alara was a natural at programming, confident in her skills and eager to prove herself. She looked at John with a glimmer of competitive spirit in her eyes. “So, Lily tells me you’re one of the best at coding. But I bet I could outcode you,” she challenged, her voice teasing but earnest.
John, drawn out of his introspection by the competitive spark in her words, looked at Alara with a hint of interest. “Oh? A challenge, then?” he replied, with a slight smirk.
They settled into a friendly coding competition right at the table, with Lily cheering them on. Alara tried her best, her fingers flying across her laptop keyboard, but John outpaced her easily, his skills honed through years of dedication. After a few rounds, it was clear who the winner was. Alara, though defeated, was impressed by John’s skill. He didn’t seem to revel in his victory, however; he simply smiled gently and offered a few coding tips, helping her improve her approach. Alara couldn’t help but admire him, captivated by his talent and kindness.
To John, this was just another competition, and while he enjoyed teaching her, he didn’t feel any connection beyond that. Still, the way Alara looked at him hinted at a budding admiration.
As Alara left, John and Lily decided to spend more time together. Lily led John to various spots around the city, introducing him to places he had never explored before. Despite being in college, John was unfamiliar with many areas, having always spent his time indoors, immersed in his coding. He marveled at how much he had missed.
As they walked, he observed Lily closely, feeling something he couldn’t quite define. Lily, noticing his distant look, asked, “What are you thinking about, John?”
He shrugged, smiling slightly. “Just... how strange everything feels. I’ve spent my whole life trying to solve problems, but love? I don’t even know where to start.”
Lily chuckled softly. “Maybe love isn’t something you can solve, John. It’s not an equation; it’s more like... an experience. You have to feel it to understand it.”
As they walked, a girl suddenly bumped into John. He turned to see her looking somewhat flustered. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she stammered. “You’re the guy who sits near me in class, right?”
John nodded, though he barely recognized her. “I guess… I didn’t really notice.”
The girl laughed. “Yeah, you’re always so absorbed in your work. But it’s nice to officially meet you. I’m Kaia.”
Kaia introduced herself to Lily as well, and the three shared a few light-hearted conversations. Kaia flirted with John playfully, though he remained mostly oblivious to her subtle advances. Lily, however, noticed and felt an unfamiliar pang of jealousy, though she kept it hidden with a polite smile.
As the night wound down, John treated them both to some snacks, quietly watching how Lily and Kaia enjoyed the evening. Despite not fully understanding the feelings bubbling inside him, he felt a quiet happiness.
Eventually, Kaia said goodbye, leaving John and Lily alone once more. Lily took him to a quiet, secluded place where they could gaze up at the stars. They lay on the grass, staring at the sky, a peaceful silence settling between them.
John turned to Lily and said, “Thanks for today, Lily. I’ve seen places I hadn’t even thought about visiting, and… I’ve felt things I can’t explain.” He sighed, frowning slightly. “But… love still confuses me. I don’t get it. Is it really something that just… happens?”
Lily smiled softly, choosing her words carefully. “Sometimes, love sneaks up on us, John. It’s not always logical or easy to understand. It’s something we just... know, deep down.”
After a quiet moment, John spoke again, this time with a hint of sadness. “My dad… he told me yesterday that he’s planning to marry again. I guess he deserves happiness, but… I don’t know if I can ever love anyone like I loved my mom.”
Lily reached over, placing a comforting hand on his. “As long as he’s happy, maybe that’s enough. It doesn’t mean you have to stop loving your mom.”
Just then, Lily’s phone buzzed, the screen showing an unknown number. She seemed hesitant, but John urged her to answer. She stepped aside to take the call, her face changing as she listened to the voice on the other end.
“So, you think you can run from me?” a deep voice spat. “You can’t just leave like that. I pulled you out of a pit, and you think you can turn your back on me? You’re still my wife.”
Lily’s expression hardened as she whispered back, barely containing her anger. “I have nothing to do with you anymore. You manipulated me, took advantage of my family’s situation. I’ll never be yours.”
The voice on the other end grew colder. “You’ll regret this, Lily. No one leaves me.”
Shaken, Lily ended the call and took a moment to compose herself before returning to John, who sensed the tension but chose not to press her. They continued gazing at the stars, but a shadow lingered over Lily, a past she had tried to leave behind that was now threatening to resurface.
- Writer
