The day moved slowly for Sam. Even after breakfast, he found himself lost in thought, the remnants of last night still lingering in his mind. He had never allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of anyone before—yet Mahiru had seen him at his absolute worst, and she hadn't left.
As he walked to college, the familiar routine of students chatting and moving about felt distant. He wasn't sure if it was because he was still exhausted or if something inside him had shifted.
"Maybe both."
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Mahiru: Are you feeling better today?
Sam hesitated before replying.
Sam: Yeah. Just… thinking a lot.
Mahiru: Don't overdo it. Thinking too much is bad for your health (´･ᴗ･ ` )
A small smile touched his lips. Even through text, Mahiru had this way of pulling him out of his own head.
Mahiru, on the other hand, was staring at her phone, waiting for Sam's reply. Though she tried to act casual, she couldn't help but feel a little anxious. Last night had been intense, and she wanted to make sure Sam was truly okay.
As her class started, she forced herself to focus, but every now and then, her thoughts drifted back to Sam.
"How can I help him heal?"
The question weighed on her. She knew she couldn't erase the past, but she wanted to be someone who could make his present and future a little brighter.
---
During lunch, Sam sat with his usual group of friends, though he was quieter than usual.
"Yo, Sam, what's up? You look like you just had some sort of life-changing revelation," one of his friends joked.
"Something like that," Sam muttered, stabbing his food absentmindedly with his fork.
His friend raised an eyebrow. "Wait… don't tell me. Is it about a girl?"
Sam tensed slightly, and his reaction did not go unnoticed.
"Wait, what?! YOU have a girl?!" another friend exclaimed, leaning forward with interest.
"Since when?!"
Sam sighed. "It's not—ugh, whatever."
His friends erupted in noise, teasing him and demanding details. Sam just shook his head, but despite the annoyance, he couldn't help but feel a little warmth in his chest.
"Yeah… maybe things are changing."
---
After college, Sam found himself walking towards Mahiru's apartment without even thinking. He stood in front of her door, debating whether to knock.
Before he could decide, the door opened, revealing Mahiru with wide eyes.
"Sam? What are you doing here?"
For a second, he didn't know what to say. Then, with a deep breath, he admitted,
"I just… wanted to see you."
Mahiru's eyes softened. "Come in."
As Sam stepped inside, a sense of peace settled over him. Maybe today was just another day. Maybe his wounds wouldn't heal overnight. But as long as Mahiru was by his side, he knew he'd be okay.
----