A little brighter, a little better

Cynthia stepped out of her house, the cool morning air brushing against her skin. The sky was painted in soft hues of pink and orange as the sun began to rise, casting a gentle glow over the quiet neighborhood. Despite her usual morning routine, today felt different. After the arcade outing, her thoughts had been dominated by Tian and their shared moments.

After getting dressed and grabbing her backpack, Cynthia headed downstairs. Surprisingly, her mom was in the kitchen, sipping her coffee and reading the newspaper. Cynthia's smile faltered slightly, but she greeted her anyway, "Morning, Mom."

"Good morning," her mom replied with a curt nod, barely glancing up before resuming her reading. Cynthia walked into the kitchen, reaching for an apple.

"Not going to work today?" Cynthia asked, glancing at her mother as she peeled the fruit.

"I will be leaving at noon," her mother replied, her tone indifferent.

Conversations between the mother-daughter pair had been like this for years—more like exchanges between acquaintances rather than family. Her mother, Elena, had been this distant for as long as Cynthia could remember. Despite her efforts as a child to bridge the gap, Cynthia had long since given up trying to foster a closer relationship.

As she bit into the apple, Cynthia couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Her mother's curt responses and lack of interest in her life had become a painful routine. The indifference had built a wall between them, one that seemed impossible to tear down. Every interaction was mechanical, devoid of warmth and affection. It was like they were strangers sharing the same space, their conversations devoid of any real connection.

After a few more moments of silence, Cynthia finished her apple and headed out the door. As she stepped onto the front porch, she was surprised to see the familiar silhouette of Tian in front of her house.

"Tian?" Cynthia called out, her voice a blend of excitement and nervousness the instant she saw him. His brown orbs met her hazel ones, and Tian felt all the excuses he had rehearsed slip from his mind. He wasn't even sure why he was here or what he was supposed to say to her, but when he had woken up this morning, the thought of coming here just felt right.

"Hey, Cynthia," he responded, his voice warm and slightly breathless. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady his racing heart. "I thought I'd walk you to school today. Would that be okay with you?"

Cynthia's smile widened, her nerves easing a little as she tightened her hold on the bag straps "I- yes, of course, Tian.", she paused for a moment before adding slowly, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'd love that."

Tian, whose ears worked exceptionally well when it came to her, couldn't help but widen his smile after hearing her words. There was something about Cynthia's voice that always seemed to captivate him, a melody that played on repeat in his mind, and with those sweet words, it did something that he couldn't quite describe.

"You know, you have a way of making everything seem better," Tian said softly, glancing at her with genuine warmth. His brown eyes sparkled with unspoken affection, as they started walking side by side, "I mean, it was supposed to be a simple walk to school but your appreciation genuinely made me so happy."

They continued walking, the morning sun casting long shadows on the sidewalk. The air was crisp, filled with the promise of a new day. Cynthia could feel her heart beating faster, as her cheeks flushed after hearing his first sentence. Something about it was just so…so nice and…romantic.

"So, how was your weekend?" Tian asked, diverting the direction of the conversation to keep it light. He glanced at her, his eyes softening as he took in her shy smile. "It was nice.", she answered, "I completed like half of our monthly assignments. What about you?"

"Fine for me as well," Tian replied, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "But I especially liked Friday, you know, the outing to the arcade."

Cynthia felt a warm flush spread across her cheeks at the mention of their recent outing. Her heart fluttered as she remembered the playful competition and the hug that had left her feeling a mix of excitement and heart-fluttering feelings.

"Oh, really?" she responded, trying to keep her voice steady. "What…did you like about it?"

Tian shifted his backpack on his shoulder, his gaze steady on hers. "Well, it was just fun to hang out with you..", seeing her gaze darting to him, he continued, "..Nia and Ryan, everyone. I liked our time at the arcade."

"Same here.", Cynthia replied, with a cheeky grin on her face as she darted her gaze back to the way.

As they walked, Cynthia marveled at the stark contrast between her interactions with Tian and her mother. With her mom, every conversation felt like walking on eggshells, careful, always trying to avoid triggering any indifference or criticism. But with Tian, it was different. He made her feel seen, heard and appreciated. Their conversations were filled with genuine interest and warmth, something she desperately craved but seldom experienced at home.

Tian's presence was like a breath of fresh air, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of her household. His playful teasing and genuine interest in her life made her feel valued. She felt a pang of longing for what could be, a relationship where she felt cherished and understood.

Perhaps it was because her mind was occupied with these thoughts, that she barely registered the sudden pause in their conversation. Tian had stepped aside to answer a call from his father, leaving her momentarily adrift in her world. The morning seemed to blur into a soft haze as her thoughts took over, making everything else fade into the background.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp tug on the strap of her bag, snapping her back to reality. Her heart skipped a beat as she registered the situation—Tian's firm grip on her bag, his other hand coming to rest protectively on her waist. She barely had time to process the movement before she noticed a motorcycle zooming dangerously close behind her, almost brushing against her. The narrowness of the sidewalk had created a precarious situation.

With a swift, instinctive motion, Tian pulled her closer, his body leaning against the wall to shield her from the potential impact. Cynthia found herself pressed against him, their proximity causing her breath to hitch. She could feel the rapid thudding of her heart, the sudden adrenaline rush mixing with the already intense feelings she had been trying to navigate.

"Damn these pieces of shit," he muttered, his gaze fixed on a motorcycle roaring past them on the street. His expression tightened, a mixture of annoyance and concern evident on his face.

The loud rumble of the motorcycle seemed to pierce the tranquil morning, disrupting the peace they had briefly enjoyed. Tian's cursing added a sharp edge to the moment, reflecting his irritation at the reckless behavior of the biker.

Cynthia's attention snapped back to the present as Tian's hand instinctively tightened on her bag strap, his protective stance evident. The sudden intensity in his demeanor, fueled by both annoyance and a sense of responsibility, made her heart flutter for a different reason this time.

She glanced towards the biker, who was now speeding away, oblivious to the disturbance he had caused. Tian's jaw was clenched, his eyes following the biker's path with a hint of anger lingering in his gaze.

"Are you okay?" Tian's concern shifted back to her, his voice softer now as he turned his attention back to Cynthia, who had to look up at him to nod. "Yes, I am fine."

His hand remained on her waist, holding her securely as he glanced back to make sure the motorcycle had sped off. "That was close," he muttered, his brows furrowed with worry.

"Thank you," Cynthia said softly, her voice barely audible over the pounding in her chest. The reality of the situation slowly sank in—he had just saved her from what could have been a nasty accident. The thought of how quickly he had reacted, how protectively he held her, made her feel both flustered and incredibly grateful.

Tian's grip on her waist loosened slightly, but he didn't completely let go. "Silly, I just couldn't let anything happen to you," he said, his tone earnest and filled with a mix of relief and lingering concern.

Their closeness, the way he held her, the look in his eyes—all of it made Cynthia's heart race. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, the butterflies in her stomach intensifying. The overwhelming blend of emotions made her head spin slightly but in the best way possible.

She just managed to give him a small, shaky smile, unable to comprehend any reply.

He slowly returned her smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "I'm just glad you're okay."

As they slowly pulled apart, the moment hung between them, charged with unspoken feelings. Cynthia adjusted her bag, still feeling the lingering warmth of his touch. The near-miss with the motorcycle had been a sudden jolt, but it had also brought them closer—both literally and emotionally.

"Shall we keep going?" Tian asked, his hand still hovering protectively near her.

Cynthia nodded, her heart still fluttering from the unexpected moment. "Yeah, let's go."

As they approached the school gates, Cynthia couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of closeness with Tian, a sense of trust and security that went beyond their usual interactions. Perhaps she has started to come to terms with the fact that, as long as Tian was by her side, things would always seem a little brighter, a little better.