Chapter 7: Late-Night Conversations
1033 Words
The days following their tutoring sessions passed more quietly than before.
Although Midnight still appeared as serious and reserved as ever, something had changed between him and Sabrina.
Their conversations were no longer filled only with arguments.
Instead, they had become... comfortable.
Neither of them mentioned the night Sabrina had seen the old leather notebook in the library.
It remained an unspoken secret between them.
And somehow, that silence built trust.
---
On Wednesday afternoon, Sabrina arrived at the library carrying two cups of coffee.
Midnight was already waiting at their usual table, surrounded by textbooks and neatly organized notes.
She placed one cup in front of him.
"I brought your favorite."
Midnight looked at the drink.
"I never told you my favorite."
"You didn't."
"Then how did you know?"
Sabrina smiled proudly.
"The café near campus knows you always order black coffee without sugar."
Midnight blinked.
"You asked them?"
"I was curious."
For a brief moment, he didn't know what to say.
No one had ever paid attention to such a small detail about him.
"...Thank you," he said quietly.
"You're welcome."
They settled into their tutoring session.
---
An hour later, Midnight looked over Sabrina's practice problems.
"This answer is correct."
Sabrina grinned.
"I got it?"
"You got all of them."
She jumped from her chair in excitement.
"Yes!"
Several students turned toward them.
Embarrassed, Sabrina lowered her voice.
"Sorry."
Midnight couldn't stop the tiny smile that appeared on his face.
"You've improved."
"That's because of my amazing tutor."
"You studied."
"I also had a good teacher."
Midnight looked away.
Compliments still made him uncomfortable.
---
When they finished studying, they stepped outside.
The evening sky glowed with shades of orange and purple as the sun slowly disappeared behind the buildings.
"It's beautiful," Sabrina whispered.
Midnight looked up.
"I usually don't notice sunsets."
"I know."
"You do?"
"You spend most evenings inside your office."
He gave a small nod.
"That's true."
Sabrina leaned against the railing overlooking the campus garden.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You usually do."
She laughed.
"Why are you always working?"
Midnight remained silent for a while.
Finally, he answered.
"If I stop..."
He paused.
"I start thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
His eyes drifted toward the horizon.
"...Things I'd rather forget."
Sabrina didn't push him for more.
Instead, she stood quietly beside him.
Sometimes, silence was enough.
---
That evening, a sudden rainstorm swept across campus.
Students hurried for cover.
"Oh no!" Sabrina exclaimed.
"I forgot my umbrella."
Midnight opened his own.
"I'll walk you to the dorm."
She looked at him in surprise.
"Really?"
"It would be irresponsible to let my student walk home alone."
Sabrina smiled knowingly.
"So it's because you're responsible?"
"Yes."
"Not because you're worried?"
"No."
She laughed.
"You keep telling yourself that."
Together, they walked beneath the umbrella.
It was small, forcing them to stand close together.
Their shoulders brushed with every step.
Neither of them mentioned it.
The rain fell steadily around them, creating a peaceful rhythm.
After several minutes, Sabrina spoke softly.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Midnight glanced at her.
"If you want."
"When I first met you..."
He waited.
"I thought you were the scariest person on campus."
He raised an eyebrow.
"And now?"
She smiled.
"I think you're just misunderstood."
His footsteps slowed.
Misunderstood.
No one had ever described him that way before.
Most people simply accepted that he was cold.
No one had tried to understand why.
Except Sabrina.
---
They reached Sabrina's dormitory just as the rain began to slow.
She turned to face him.
"Thanks for walking me home."
"It was on the way."
She laughed.
"No, it wasn't."
Midnight realized she was right.
His dormitory was in the opposite direction.
He had walked her home without even thinking about it.
"...Good night."
"Good night, Midnight."
She waved before disappearing inside the building.
Midnight stood there for another moment before turning to leave.
As he walked back through the damp campus paths, he replayed their conversation in his mind.
"You're just misunderstood."
Those words stayed with him.
---
The next evening, Midnight found himself unable to concentrate.
He sat alone in his office, staring at the same page for nearly ten minutes.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
It was one of the organization officers.
"President, are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You've been reading the same report upside down."
Midnight looked down.
The officer was right.
The report was upside down.
"...I see."
The officer smiled nervously.
"Maybe you should get some rest."
After the officer left, Midnight leaned back in his chair.
What was happening to him?
Why couldn't he stop thinking about Sabrina?
Her smile.
Her laughter.
The way she believed in people.
Even him.
He shook his head.
No.
This was only because they spent time together.
Nothing more.
It had to be.
---
Later that night, Midnight decided to take a walk around campus.
The grounds were quiet.
Only a few lights remained on.
As he passed the library, he noticed someone sitting on a bench beneath a streetlamp.
Sabrina.
She was reading a novel while sipping hot chocolate.
She looked up and smiled.
"I thought I might find you here."
"You were looking for me?"
She nodded.
"I figured you were still awake."
Midnight sat beside her.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence felt peaceful.
Comfortable.
Unlike the awkward silence they had shared during their first meeting.
Sabrina closed her book.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I think you're smiling more."
Midnight frowned.
"I don't smile."
"You do."
"No."
"You smiled three times today."
He looked at her in disbelief.
"You counted?"
She grinned.
"Maybe."
For the first time in years...
Midnight laughed.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't dramatic.
Just a quiet, genuine laugh.
Sabrina's eyes widened.
"There it is!"
He immediately cleared his throat.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She laughed with him, and for a brief moment, the weight Midnight had carried for so long seemed lighter.
Neither of them realized it yet.
But the friendship they had built was slowly turning into something deeper.
Something neither of them could stop.
Something that would soon change both of their lives forever.
- Writer
