Chapter 3: A Moment I Didn’t Expect

The silence between us didn’t last forever.

At some point during the ride, he shifted slightly beside me before speaking, his voice calm and casual, as if we had already been in conversation.

“Do you know any app that can convert a PDF to Word on a phone?”

The question caught me off guard.

Not because it was strange, but because it was so… normal.

There was no hesitation in his tone, no attempt to make it sound like anything more than what it was. He didn’t try to get my attention, didn’t look at me any longer than necessary. If anything, it felt like he would have asked anyone sitting in my place.

I turned slightly toward him, meeting his profile more than his eyes.

“No,” I answered simply.

And that was it.

No follow-up question. No effort to continue the conversation.

He just nodded lightly, as if my answer was enough, and returned to whatever he had been doing before.

For a brief moment, I found myself almost… surprised.

Most guys would have used that as an excuse to start a conversation, to keep talking, to turn something simple into something more. But he didn’t.

He didn’t try.

And strangely, that stood out more than if he had.

The rest of the ride continued quietly.

We didn’t speak again, and I didn’t expect us to. I kept my gaze outside, watching the scenery pass by, letting my thoughts drift without holding onto anything in particular.

Yet, every now and then, I became aware of him again.

Not because he was doing anything noticeable, but simply because he was there. Present. Calm. Unbothered.

And somehow, that presence lingered.

The day itself went by quickly.

Activities, conversations, movement, it all blended into one continuous flow. I interacted with people, smiled when needed, played my role effortlessly, just like I always did.

And him?

He was the same.

Social. Easygoing. Talking to everyone, laughing, moving from one group to another without difficulty. If anything, he seemed even more approachable than what people had said.

Which only made him more difficult to understand.

By the time we got back on the bus, the energy had changed.

People were quieter now. Tired. The excitement from earlier had faded, replaced by a calm exhaustion that settled over everyone.

I took my seat again, not thinking much of it.

Until he sat next to me.

Again.

This time, I didn’t react.

Or at least, not visibly.

I simply adjusted slightly, giving him enough space, my attention drifting elsewhere as I let the silence return between us.

It didn’t take long before I noticed a shift.

He leaned back.

Then, slowly, without asking, without warning…

He rested his head on my lap.

For a second, I froze. Completely.

My body tensed, my mind trying to catch up with what had just happened.

Was he serious?

I looked down at him, half expecting him to move, to realize what he had done and correct himself.

But he didn’t.

His eyes were already closed.

As if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I should have said something.

I should have told him to move.

I should have pushed him away.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I stayed there.

Still. Silent.

Watching him.

Up close, he looked… different.

Softer.

His features, usually sharp and expressive, seemed more relaxed now. Peaceful, even. There was no trace of the confidence or ease he carried when he was awake, no hint of the social energy that made him blend so effortlessly with others.

It was strange seeing him like that.

Without realizing it, I found myself studying him.

The shape of his face. The slight movement of his breathing. The way his hair fell naturally, soft and curled.

And before I could stop myself…

I moved.

My fingers brushed lightly against his hair.

Just once.

Then again.

It was soft.

Softer than I expected.

And for a brief moment, I let myself forget everything else.

The noise around us, the people, the distance I usually kept between myself and others.

All of it faded.

Until reality came back.

He was younger.

The thought hit me instantly, sharp and clear, cutting through the moment without hesitation.

And just like that, everything shifted.

My hand stopped.

I pulled it back slowly, almost as if I had done something I wasn’t supposed to.

What was I even doing?

This wasn’t me.

This wasn’t what I allowed.

I didn’t get close like this. I didn’t let moments like this happen, especially not with someone who didn’t fit into the boundaries I had set for myself.

And yet…It had happened so easily.

Too easily.

I looked away, forcing my attention elsewhere, trying to regain the control I felt slipping, even if just slightly.

But even then…I couldn’t completely ignore the quiet weight of his head resting on my lap.

And that bothered me more than it should have.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***