Part 1: Pictured Past
Travis
The cafeteria was its usual chaotic mess—voices overlapping, trays clattering, and some awful pop song playing from someone's phone. I was halfway through my fries when Seth, sitting across from me, casually dropped a bomb. "Ivan and I are together."
I froze, a fry still in my hand. My eyes flicked to Seth, then to Ivan, who, as expected, looked completely unbothered, sipping his drink like this was the most normal thing in the world. Next to me, James blinked. "Wait… like, dating?"
Seth raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. What else would I mean?"
James exhaled, setting his sandwich down. "Man, I knew it. You two have been acting weirdly in sync lately." I shrugged. "Honestly, not that surprising."
Seth smirked. "Really? Thought you guys would be more shocked."
James leaned back in his chair with a dramatic groan. "Nah, I just think it's unfair. Everyone's pairing up, and here I am, still single as ever. Where's my love story?"
I snorted. "You act like you're the only one. I haven't been in a relationship either, and you don't see me whining about it."
"Yeah, but you don't even try," James shot back. "You just sit there, existing."
"Existing is underrated," I said, popping another fry into my mouth.
Finally, Ivan looked up from his drink. "Maybe you should lower your standards." James gasped, clutching his chest. "Wow. Betrayed by my own friends."
Seth chuckled. "Hey, at least now you know." James shook his head and sighed. "If I hadn't already suspected this, I might've actually been shocked. I might've even dropped my sandwich." He took a big, exaggerated bite. "That would've been tragic."
"Truly," I said dryly. The conversation drifted after that, but I kept thinking—it was nice, seeing things work out for people. Even if James was still being very dramatic about it. Just as he started up another rant about his nonexistent love life, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
Hey, Travis. Can you sub for me at the event?
I was supposed to take photos, but I can't make it.
Sorry for the short notice!
I sighed. Great. I hadn't planned on doing anything today, but saying no felt like too much effort. Grabbing my bag, I stood up. James frowned. "Where are you going?"
"I got asked to cover a department event. They need someone to take photos," I said, already slinging my camera strap over my shoulder.
Seth raised an eyebrow. "And you just agreed? Just like that?" I shrugged. "Didn't really have a reason to say no." James groaned dramatically. "Man, I wish I had your attitude. If someone asked me to do extra work, I'd just pretend I was busy."
Ivan, without even looking up, said, "You already do that." James gasped, clutching his chest like he'd been mortally wounded. "Unbelievable. Betrayed twice in one day." I just shook my head, amused. "Anyway, I'll catch you guys later."
With that, I turned and walked off, already flipping through my camera settings. This wasn't how I planned to spend my afternoon, but at least it gave me something to do. Sitting around with nothing going on always made the day feel longer.
As I headed to the event, I thought about how weirdly things had worked out. Back in high school, I never really imagined where we'd all end up, and yet, somehow, we all landed in the same university—just in different departments.
I ended up in Photography. It was something I'd always liked, but I never considered it as a serious path until now. James, on the other hand, went for Business Administration—not surprising, since it was practical and gave him the most career options. And then there were the so-called lovebirds, Seth and Ivan.
Seth got into Architecture, which made sense. He had an eye for design, always sketching out buildings and coming up with ideas for cool structures. Ivan, meanwhile, ended up in Fine Arts, completely in his element with paint and canvases. It suited him. He never liked rules much, and art let him do things his own way.
Thinking about it now, everything kind of fell into place. We all took different paths, but somehow, we were still in each other's lives. Funny how that worked out.
Seeing them all in the same place, even if they weren't in the same classes, made Travis feel a little lighter. Life after high school wasn't as disconnected as he thought it would be. They could still hang out, still be the same idiots whenever they had time.
And somehow, that was enough to make me feel a little lighter. Maybe even a little happy.
The venue was packed. Students from different departments moved around, chatting and laughing, while professors stood in small groups, deep in their own conversations. Banners hung from the ceiling, and booths lined the walls, each one showcasing different projects and achievements from over the years. The air buzzed with energy—people talking, cameras flashing, the occasional announcement crackling through the speakers.
I adjusted the strap of my camera and scanned the crowd, already planning my shots. Before I could even take my first picture, someone called my name.
"Travis!" I turned to see one of my classmates hurrying toward me, looking slightly out of breath.
"You got the memo, right? You're covering this for the school paper today?" I nodded. "Yeah."
They let out a relieved sigh. "Good. Just make sure to get everything—speakers, activities, the crowd, all of it. You know the drill."
"Got it," I said simply. I didn't need any more instructions. Without another word, I lifted my camera and started working.
Moving through the crowd, I snapped shots of everything—the lively conversations, the booths displaying projects, the guest speakers standing at the front of the hall. The camera was an extension of me, and as I worked, I barely had to think. It was routine, natural.
Every now and then, a group of students would stop me, asking for photos. I wasn't the type to say no, so I took a few shots, letting them check the preview before moving on. Some thanked me, some just laughed and ran off to their next stop. It was all the same to me. My job was to capture the event, and that's exactly what I did.
After about an hour, the weight of the camera started to get to me. My neck ached from carrying it, my feet were sore from walking, and the heat from the packed venue was making me feel sluggish.
Deciding I needed a break, I found an empty bench off to the side and sat down, rolling my shoulders. The event was still in full swing, but for now, I just let myself breathe, watching everything unfold from a distance.
With a tired sigh, I wiped the sweat off my forehead. Man, this is exhausting. I leaned back slightly, ready to zone out for a bit, when something—or rather, someone—caught my eye.
Across the venue, near one of the booths, stood a guy who looked oddly familiar. I frowned, sitting up straighter and glancing around to get a better view. The crowd shifted, and for a brief moment, I saw him clearly.
He was smiling. Not just any smile, either. It was warm, effortless—the kind of smile that pulled you in without even trying. His features were delicate but striking, like he belonged in a painting rather than a crowded event hall. The way the light hit him, soft and natural, made the whole scene look almost unreal, like something straight out of a photograph.
Without even thinking, I lifted my camera and pressed the shutter. Click.
I lowered the camera and checked the preview. The shot was perfect—better than anything I'd taken all day. The lighting, the composition, the expression on his face—it all just worked. And for some reason, I couldn't look away.
A strange feeling bubbled up inside me—excitement, maybe. Curiosity. I wanted to show him the photo, maybe even ask for his name.
But when I looked back up, he was gone. I blinked, scanning the crowd. No sign of him. I quickly stood, slinging my camera over my shoulder as I walked toward the booth where he had been standing.
The booth owner looked up as I approached. "Hey," I said, trying to sound casual. "Do you know the guy who was just here?" The owner tilted his head. "Which guy?"
"The one with the—" I paused, realizing I didn't even know how to describe him. The really pretty one? The guy with the perfect smile? Yeah, that wasn't going to help. "Uh, the one who was smiling. He was standing right here a minute ago."
"Oh." The owner nodded. "Yeah, I saw him. He's not from our department, though. I think he's in the Department of Arts and Design."
"Arts and Design, huh…" I muttered. That didn't help much. That department was huge, and I didn't even get a name. I sighed, stepping back and glancing around one last time. He was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it was just a chance encounter, someone I'd never see again. But even as I went back to my work, a small part of me kept hoping.
For the rest of the event, I kept glancing through the crowd, hoping to catch another glimpse of that familiar face. But no matter how many times my eyes searched, the boy never appeared again.
By the time everything wrapped up, I packed up my camera and headed home. I should've been thinking about the photos I took, the long day I had, or even how sore my feet were from walking around so much. But instead, all I could think about was that smile.
Back in my room, I settled in front of my laptop, transferring all the pictures from my camera. I went through them one by one, picking out the best shots and adjusting the colors where needed. It was routine work—something I had done plenty of times before. But my mind kept drifting. That boy. That smile.
I frowned, leaning back in my chair. There was something familiar about him, like I'd seen him somewhere before. But no matter how much I tried to remember, I kept coming up blank. The more I thought about it, the more frustrating it became, like trying to recall a dream that was already slipping away.
After a while, my head started to ache. "Ugh…" I sighed, rubbing my temple. This is pointless.
I forced myself to focus back on editing, letting my hands do the work while my thoughts wandered. My fingers moved quickly, finishing up the last of the adjustments. Once I was done, I saved the files, shut my laptop, and stretched. Finally. Now I could rest.
I climbed into bed, ready to put the whole thing out of my mind. But even as I closed my eyes, that face lingered in my thoughts. And then—something felt off.
The usual firmness of my mattress was gone. Instead, I felt something soft beneath me. Grass. A cool breeze brushed against my skin, carrying the faint scent of flowers. Slowly, I opened my eyes.
Above me stretched a bright, endless sky. Around me, a vast field of grass and wildflowers swayed gently in the wind. The air was crisp, fresh, almost unreal. Everything felt peaceful, too peaceful. Then, I noticed someone sitting beside me. A blurry figure. Smiling at me.
"You're finally awake," the boy said, his voice light and familiar. "Did you sleep well?"
I blinked, my mind still sluggish. "What…?" I sat up, looking around in confusion. "Where am I?"
I turned back to him, frowning. "Who are you?"
The boy let out a soft chuckle. "You should already know my name by now."
He smiled again, like he found my confusion amusing. "I told you already. My name is—"
But before he could finish, everything around me started to fade. Suddenly, the blaring sound of my alarm yanked me back to reality. My eyes flew open, my heart pounding as I sat up in bed.
I ran a hand through my hair, still caught in the strange daze of the dream. "What was that…?" I muttered to myself. I tried to hold on to the details, to remember his name—but just like the dream itself, it was already slipping away.
**********
The day passed by quickly. After class, I met up with my friends at our usual café. We talked about school—assignments, upcoming exams, and bits of gossip from other classes—but I wasn't really paying attention. My mind kept drifting somewhere else.
It didn't take long for the others to notice.
"Hey, you good?" James asked, giving me a look like he knew something was up. I forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
But they weren't convinced. Seth, always the observant one, leaned in slightly, his expression serious. "Are you sure? You've been quiet today."
I sighed, setting my coffee down and running a hand through my hair. "I don't know… I just can't focus. Everything feels off."
"Why?" Ivan asked, his tone shifting from casual to curious.
I hesitated. I wasn't sure if I should even bring it up, but I couldn't shake the thought of that face from yesterday. "I keep thinking about this guy I saw at the event," I admitted.
I pulled out my phone and opened the photo I had taken of him, then showed it to the group. I watched their reactions, hoping someone would recognize him. Ivan took a look, squinted for a second, then blinked in surprise. "Oh, that's Hiro."
My heart skipped a beat. "Hiro?" Ivan nodded like it was nothing. "Yeah, he's in my class. We're in the same year. He's a cool guy." For a moment, I felt frozen. The name echoed in my head, and a strange, nervous feeling settled in my stomach. I wanted to ask more—who he was, what he liked, why he was at the event—but I held back. I didn't want to seem too eager. Hiro… What a nice name.