As I was ordering my stuff in my room I realized “ AHHHH I dont have any more noodle soups for the rest of the week, how I forgot!” Let’s see the store closes at 8 pm, and it is 8:15pm.

"Hmm, I guess I should head to the store on 7th Avenue. It's just three blocks away," I muttered to myself. I had to seize this opportunity. What else would I eat at the office tomorrow for breakfast? Or worse, lunch. "Yeah, I need to go now."

I still have time. Grabbing my jacket, I went down the stairs and I rushed out into the streets.

Once inside the store, I went straight for the noodles, fixating on the shelf as I grabbed two bags—enough to last the next two weeks. My head hung low as I stared at them in my basket. Was this really it? Was I destined to eat instant noodles for the rest of my life?

“Ely? Ely! It's me, Maria! Long time no see!” a voice calls from the checkout.

I look up and see Maria, a friend from high school. We used to be close, but she went off to university, and we lost touch. I wonder what she’s doing here.

“Maria… hello,” I reply, feeling the awkwardness sink in. She’s not the shy, quiet girl I remember. Now, she's beaming, her smile bright and confidence radiating from her.

I hand her the cash, still processing this unexpected reunion.

"My shift ends in 20 minutes! Do you want to wait? I’d love to catch up!” she says, her positivity contagious.

I hesitate for a moment, but her genuine excitement softens me. "Sure," I say, realizing I could use the company.

Twenty minutes flew by before Maria’s cheerful voice broke through my thoughts.

“Ely, I’m done! Let’s go. I just got my paycheck. Want to grab dinner at a restaurant?”

I stood there, stunned. How could she be so casual about spending money? Didn’t she need it for something else? How could she afford to just throw it around?

“Haha, no thanks, I’ve got food,” I said, lifting the bag of instant noodles I had just bought.

Maria laughed, her voice light and carefree. “Ely, that’s not food! Come on!”

I sighed but followed her obediently. We ended up in a small restaurant on a clean, cozy street. It wasn’t fancy, but it was leagues above what I could afford. The warm lighting and the smell of real, fresh food made my stomach grumble.

“Maria... What are you doing here, anyway? Weren’t you supposed to be at university?”

She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Yeah, all my classes are online this semester, so I’m staying at my parents' place to save money and working part-time.”

“But... won’t this dinner eat up your paycheck?” I blurted out, feeling guilty. She worked hard for her money, and here she was about to spend it all in one night.

Maria waved her hand dismissively. “Pfft, don’t worry about it! It’s just one night, and besides, I’m not exactly scraping by. I got a scholarship when I got into university, so most of my expenses are covered.”

I couldn’t help but grin, the tension in my shoulders easing. “So, I can order whatever I want?” I asked, my eyes lighting up with excitement.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Sure!” she laughed.

As I sat there, watching her vibrant energy fill the room, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Not because of her scholarship or her success, but because of her attitude. She was so... alive. Full of hope and happiness. How had she changed so much? I used to be the one full of life, while Maria was the quiet one. But now, it was like our roles had flipped. I had to know her secret.

“Maria!” I blurted, and she looked at me, startled.

“What... What happened? How did you change so much?” I fumbled for the right words, hoping I didn’t sound rude. “I mean, you’re so... different now.”

Maria blushed, the color rising to her cheeks. “Oh, you mean after high school? Well... I guess a lot has changed since then.”

She paused, and for a moment, her eyes softened “I met someone in the university. We’ve been together for a while now, and... I am not sure about transition but it made my days of white and black become a river of colors.”

Her words hit me like a wave, and I felt a drop of sweat run down the side of my face. Happiness? From a relationship? The thought lingered, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that, maybe, she had something I’d been missing all along.

Nah, she’s just happy because she doesn’t have real responsibilities... If she did, even with a boyfriend, she wouldn’t be this carefree.

“Hahaha, you’re joking, right? People change because they want to be better, not because of someone else.”

Maria’s expression softened but didn’t lose its brightness. “I didn’t change because he told me to. It just... happened. A normal transition.” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Don’t tell me you don’t have a boyfriend yet?”

“I did!” I replied, feeling a surge of pride.

She laughed, clearly unconvinced. “The guy from 6th grade doesn’t count. You hung out for two days and didn’t even kiss.”

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. “It was his fault for being such a jerk!”

“But come on, you can’t just end a relationship over one mistake.”

“Yes, I can, and I did! So it counts, alright? Let’s drop the whole couple talk.” My voice was sharper than I intended, and I could see Maria’s smile falter for a second.

“Okay, okay,” she said, raising her hands in surrender. “Look, the food’s here.”

The shift in conversation was welcome. We ate and chatted about old shows we used to binge-watch back in high school. The laughter came easier, and for a moment, it felt like old times—simple, carefree.

After the meal, I leaned back in my chair, patting my stomach. “Thanks, Maria. I never thought I’d eat chicken this year,” I said with a laugh. She laughed too, probably thinking I was joking.

Then, her eyes sparkled like she’d just thought of something brilliant. “Oh! I remember now. My boyfriend has a friend who lives near here. Well, not too close—next city over—but he’s got a car. I could set you up with him! He’s a real gentleman, I swear. How about a date?”

A date? The idea felt foreign, like a luxury I couldn’t afford. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve got too much going on”

“But even with work, you’ve got free days,” she said, waving off my excuse.

“Yeah, which I use to clean my apartment, wash clothes, and refill my water gallons.”

“Water gallons? Oh, come on, forget that for one day. You’re going, no matter what! What day works for you next week?”

“Maria, I said no.” My voice was firm, but the temptation was there. A nice dinner, someone new... It wasn't the worst idea.

She leaned in, her grin mischievous. “He’ll take you to an even nicer restaurant than this. You’ll love it.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of her persistence. “Alright, fine. Next Friday, I’m free. But if he can’t make it, don’t push it, okay?”

“Deal! Next Friday, you’re meeting him. His name’s Joseph.”

As I returned to my apartment, I noticed a figure lingering outside the door next to mine. Some old creep, I thought. But, as I took a closer look, I realized it was a guy I’d never seen before. Now that I think about it, that apartment had been vacant for a while. Guess he's the new tenant. His clothes and the way he stood in the unlit hallway only added to the creep vibe to him.

I tried to brush it off, but we locked eyes for a second. Not good. I debated in my mind saying hi, maybe introducing myself out of courtesy. But before I could react, he quickly slipped inside his apartment. I shrugged it off, heading into my own place. No point in overthinking it, and enter my apartment

“ What a weirdo.” I sigh.