The Thought

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THE DAY AFTER the summer festival seemed especially bland. After all the insane light shows, thrilling music, and the general party atmosphere, a lazy day at home seemed too ordinary. However, a little bit of ordinary was still appreciated. Sometimes, moving along at a slow yet comfortable pace could help us open our eyes to see the bigger picture.

I was counting down the minutes until I could finally start preparing myself to head out. Jules and I had arranged to meet after her work ended for dinner. Other than that, Harr's birthday was coming up soon and that meant that I needed to start hunting for gifts. Additionally, it was quite coincidental but Xavier's birthday was only a few days after Harr's. Jules might not have said anything but judging by their recent interactions, it was safe to assume that she might want to get something for Xavier as well.

With nothing much to do while waiting for her work to end, I turned to my drawing pad, idly doodling away to kill time. The graphite tip of my pencil flew across the slightly textured white paper, tracing the outline of a face before moving to the hair and finally the details such as facial features.

Leaning against my palm with my elbow against the table, my eyes lazily trailed after wherever my pencil grazed. However, once I filled in the eyes and completed the rough sketch, I stopped short.

The tip of the pencil broke, a slightly darker spot resting on the right corner of the drawing's eye. Leaning back against my seat, I dropped the pencil once I realized who I had been absentmindedly drawing. It wasn't a perfect capture like a photograph would be but it was close enough to figure out with just one glance.

Instantly, I reached out to crumple the paper, tossing it into the bin over my shoulder with a grimace of disgust. The disdain was not so much for the drawing which turned out well but rather who I had been drawing without even realizing.

Even after a day, the dainty necklace still felt heavy around my neck.

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"Are you ever on time?" Those were the first words Jules asked the moment she laid eyes on me. She wore a cheeky grin, her finger still poised on her phone screen, probably in the middle of scrolling through her social media feed.

I pulled out a chair at our table, ungracefully plopping myself right opposite Jules.

"You know that you're asking the impossible from me," I playfully retorted.

"Figured."

For once, Jules had been the one to decide on what to eat. She had selected a casual dining restaurant that sold reasonably priced food, all of which looked amazing for its cost. They offered an assortment of East Asian cuisine from multiple cultures, some of the dishes humbly familiar in my eyes.

"I think I'll get the ramen. I've been craving for a good bowl of noodles for the longest time." Flipping the menu shut, I grinned at the thought of a bowl of piping hot broth. I could already imagine the smell of the thick pork bone soup before even seeing the dish and that alone was enough for me to salivate. "What about you?"

Jules pursed her lips, squinting slightly at the menu. She spoke without even looking away from the list of dishes.

"I think the bibimbap looks good. My favorite bibim store closed down recently and I'm still on the hunt for a good replacement."

Nodding, I waved at the waiter before placing our orders.

Once he walked away towards the kitchen, I reached for my bag.

"Oh! That reminds me. I actually got something for you yesterday but didn't get the chance to give it to you."

Pulling out the small paper bag that held the earrings, I stretched across the table, placing the gift into Jules's outstretched hands. She took it with a dubious look, eyebrows and lips quirked into a slight frown.

"I told you to stop buying things for me so randomly. I do appreciate it, of course, but you don't have to waste your money like that."

"Nah," I waved off her words, "I like to buy gifts for my friends. You know that. It simply reminded me of you."

Gently, she peeled off the piece of tape that held the opening of the bag shut. She pulled out the earrings after that, lips slightly parted as she admired the accessory. In the light, the glass balls glittered and shone, reflecting the light and making it dance in a small rainbow.

"It's beautiful!" She exclaimed, bringing it closer to her face so as to take a better look.

I nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Although, Xavier was the one that picked out the color."

The mention of Xavier sent Jules's face into a blushing spree. Her eyes darted away from the earrings for just a split second onto me before returning to the accessory. Yet, knowing Jules, she was merely pretending to examine the earrings. I could practically hear her heart thundering just from knowing that Xavier had a hand in picking out a gift for her.

Beneath my shirt, the matching necklace that I wore around my neck felt cool against my skin. I couldn't bear to take the beauty off, especially since it was boasted to be stainless on the packaging of the earring. Since it was by the same seller and of similar design, that meant that the necklace could also probably be worn in water just like the earrings. Hence, there wasn't a need for me to take it off.

However, for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to let Jules see the necklace now that I had passed her the earrings. A part of me felt guilty for reasons unknown. I tried my best to not let that show.

Our food arrived shortly after, two servings of delectable dishes which had an aroma that wafted over even from a distance away. It didn't take us long to finish our food, an even shorter time taken to settle the bill.

We left the restaurant with full bellies after, our cravings satisfied.

"Harr's birthday is coming up soon, right?" Jules asked, adjusting the straps of her bag on her shoulder. "What are you planning to get him?"

"Hmm..." I tapped at my chin. "He's really obsessed with plants lately and paired with his love for reading, I was thinking of maybe getting him some books about botany. Maybe I'll throw in some of his favorite snacks as well. I'll probably add more things to the list if I chance upon something he might like."

Jules nodded. "You're pretty thorough with your presents. I'm sure he will like whatever you get him. Plus, it's the thought that counts."

We stopped by a bookstore, the bell at the door chiming softly when we entered. Immediately, a burst of cold air caressed my face, rushing out to meet the hot summer air outside. The corridors of the mall weren't air-conditioned and that created a huge temperature difference in and out of each individual store. It was a huge relief to be in someplace cool after suffering through the sweltering summer heat.

"The thought, huh?" Grinning, I tucked my hands into the pockets of my shorts. "Well, then you should probably get something for Xavier too. His birthday is just three days after Harr's, you know?"

At the mention of Xavier's name, Jules stiffened. That familiar rosy blush colored her cheeks again before she cleared her throat, acting as aloof as she could manage.

"Oh?" She simply said, turning away to idly glance through some of the books on the display shelves. "Is that so."

Chuckling to myself, I started to browse through the wide selection, casually picking out a few titles that caught my eye. "Yes. And since you guys seem to be on friendly terms, I'm sure that you would like to pick out something for him as well?"

Jules pursed her lips tightly shut. "It's only because I'm working with him!" she exclaimed. "Don't take this the wrong way."

I hummed under my breath, slightly swaying to the song in my head. "Sure," I chirped.

Despite that, Jules looked through the shelves diligently. Her eyes raked over the different books and CDs available on sale, stopping when it came to rest on a CD that belonged to the same band that performed at the festival. Gingerly, she picked it up before running her fingers down the song list at the back of the album, softly murmuring to herself in satisfaction.

I hid behind a random book that I picked up, disguising my smirk. Jules already owned that same CD, hence there was no need for her to own a second. Knowing how Xavier enjoyed the songs by that band, it was obvious that Jules planned on gifting him that disc. However, I kept my thoughts to myself, careful not to alarm Jules.

Despite the hard front that she put up, her interior was filled with a soft personality that cared deeply for the people around her. Jules might've said that she had no choice but to befriend Xavier for their work but I had no doubt that it wasn't the case. She and Xavier were compatible and even she might've noticed that.

Turning to the cashier, I paid for a few books that Harr might be interested in. Jules followed soon after, handing the CD over to the cashier to be scanned. We left the bookshop with our purchases, moving on to other stores available in the mall. All the while, Jules kept a watchful eye out for presents for Xavier. Her eyes roamed the shops and display shelves with great care, often lagging behind when something caught her eye.

When the day ended, Jules looked delighted with her purchases. She hurried back that night, bags tight in her hands, dismissing her early departure saying that there was something she "had to do".

The twilight drizzled silver moonlight on her departing figure. Even after she disappeared into the dark night, she left a shadow in her wake, her silhouette still bright and clear from the area where she curved the corner. Perhaps the reason why she left such a world-defying trail was that there was a determination that followed her; the sweet vision of budding love following a youth.

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