Moon between us

A Place for Two

The next evening, Swastika told herself she was not going to the hill because of Kai.

She repeated it while washing dishes.

She repeated it while changing into her favorite light pink cardigan.

And she repeated it again while walking up the familiar path with her notebook tucked under her arm.

It was ridiculous.

She had gone to the hill every night long before Kai appeared. So if he happened to be there again, it would mean absolutely nothing.

At least, that was what she wanted to believe.

The sky was painted deep blue as the sun disappeared completely. Small stars began to appear one by one.

When Swastika reached the top of the hill, she immediately spotted him.

Kai was already there.

He sat on the same patch of grass from last night, knees pulled up slightly, staring out at the city lights.

For some strange reason, seeing him there made her chest feel lighter.

“You came,” Kai said without turning around, as if he had somehow sensed her arrival.

Swastika crossed her arms. “I always come here.”

“Sure,” he replied with a grin. “Keep telling yourself that.”

She rolled her eyes and sat down a short distance away.

Tonight felt less awkward than yesterday.

Not comfortable exactly—but easier.

Kai glanced at the notebook in her hands.

“More dramatic writing?”

Swastika quickly held it close to her chest.

“Still not allowed.”

“Wow,” Kai said, pretending to be offended. “No trust at all.”

“We met yesterday.”

“A strong point.”

A soft laugh escaped her before she could stop it.

Kai noticed.

“There it is,” he said.

“What?”

“That laugh.”

Swastika frowned. “What about it?”

“It’s nice.”

Her expression immediately changed.

She looked away toward the city, pretending to focus on the lights below. But inside, she felt warmth creep into her face.

Kai leaned back onto the grass.

“So,” he said, “tell me something about yourself.”

Swastika thought for a moment.

“There’s nothing interesting.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It’s true.”

Kai shook his head. “Everyone is interesting if you ask the right questions.”

“Oh? Then ask.”

He looked thoughtful, as if carefully choosing.

“What are you afraid of?”

Swastika blinked.

“That’s your first serious question?”

“You said ask.”

She sighed.

The wind moved softly through the grass around them.

After a long pause, she answered honestly.

“Being forgotten.”

Kai turned to look at her properly.

The teasing expression on his face disappeared.

“Why?”

Swastika hugged her knees slightly.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Sometimes it feels like people come and go too easily.”

Kai was quiet for a moment.

Then he nodded, as though he understood more than she had said.

“That’s a real fear,” he murmured.

Swastika glanced at him. “What about you?”

Kai looked back up at the stars.

“Leaving,” he answered.

She frowned. “Leaving what?”

“Places. People. Things I get attached to.”

His tone was lighter than the words themselves.

Swastika noticed it immediately.

There was something hidden in that answer.

Something he wasn’t ready to explain.

But she didn’t ask.

Not yet.

Instead, she pulled a piece of candy from her pocket and held it out.

Kai stared at it.

“What’s this?”

“Peace offering,” she said.

“For what?”

“For calling my writing dramatic.”

Kai laughed and accepted it.

“Thanks.”

They sat there sharing candy, city lights glowing beneath them like scattered jewels.

For the first time in a long while, Swastika didn’t feel the usual heaviness she carried around.

Being here felt...easy.

Like the hill had changed somehow.

Or maybe not the hill.

Maybe it was simply the company.

After a while, Kai stood up.

“I should go before my family starts wondering if I got kidnapped.”

Swastika smiled.

As she began packing her notebook, Kai hesitated.

“Same time tomorrow?”

This time, she answered faster.

“Maybe.”

Kai shook his head.

“You really like that word.”

“It keeps life interesting.”

He grinned. “Goodnight, Swastika.”

“Goodnight, Kai.”

As she watched him walk away down the path, Swastika touched the cover of her notebook thoughtfully.

Tonight, when she opened it, she wrote only one sentence.

Some places stay the same until the right person changes them.

And for the first time, she didn’t cross the sentence out.

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