LOGIN“Honey, your phone keeps lighting up,” Hannah said as she placed a bowl of popcorn on the table.Nihan glanced at her phone.The messages came from the reunion group chat she had recently joined. It had been active all day. Some of her former classmates had already greeted her and tried to start conversations.Nihan had not replied.She knew who most of those people were, but she did not truly know them. Yet they were suddenly acting as if they had always been close.She picked up her phone and read the latest messages.Everyone was excited about the reunion.Their excitement only made Nihan more nervous.She muted the group chat and turned her attention back to the television. The two hockey teams were about to enter the rink.“Undefeated so far, the team that dominated its bracket and earned its place in the semifinals, the Edmonton Dreams!”The players skated onto the ice with confidence.Even through the television, Nihan could feel their powerful energy. Her heart began pounding
It was almost noon when Calix and Fred reached Oakridge.Calix had decided to drop Fred off at the university before heading to the rink.Fred had slept through the entire seven-hour drive, snoring softly without changing his position once. Calix found it impressive that anyone could remain so still for that long.He reached over and shook Fred awake.Fred shot upright and hit his head against the car ceiling.“Whoa!” He rubbed the top of his head as he looked around. “We’re already here? That felt like one second.”Calix shook his head in amusement.“Thanks for the smooth drive, bro.”Calix opened the trunk so Fred could collect his bags. But just as Fred was about to leave, a message on his phone stopped him.“Who is it?” Calix asked, wondering if Nihan had contacted him.Fred clicked his tongue.“My partner for one of my classes. She sent me a very long email explaining how unprofessional it was for me to leave school while we still have an unfinished project.”He scrolled through
Calix woke to the sound of soft rustling.He slowly opened his eyes and found Nihan searching through the bedside table.Her eyes widened when she realized he was awake.“You still have fifteen minutes,” she whispered. “Go back to sleep, Calix.”“What are you doing?”“I’m looking for my small bag. I packed breakfast for you and Fred to eat on the road.”Calix watched her slow, sleepy movements and pressed his lips together.She had forced herself out of bed before four in the morning just to prepare his breakfast.He reached for her wrist and gently pulled her toward him.A surprised sound escaped Nihan as she fell back onto the bed. Calix wrapped his arms around her from behind, preventing her from getting up again.“It’s your day off,” he whispered near her ear. “You should be sleeping.”“I only need to pack the food. It won’t take long.” She tried to move, but his arms tightened around her. “Then I’ll send you and Fred off.”Calix stared at the back of her head.How could anyone be
Calix had to leave.Deep down, Nihan had always known she would eventually have to face that reality. But she had become so comfortable having him beside her that a foolish part of her had begun to believe he would stay forever.As though time had stopped.As though Manhattan no longer existed.“Wait, Nihan. It isn’t what you think.”Calix’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.She looked at him and forced a smile.“It’s okay. I understand. Your life is in Manhattan.” She lowered her gaze. “I’ll return there too someday, once I find a job.”Calix sighed.Before Nihan could react, he pushed the driver’s seat back, lifted her from the passenger seat, and settled her on his lap.Her eyes widened as he held her firmly in place.“Calix,” she whispered, her face burning as she glanced outside.The car windows were not tinted, and they were still parked near the center where she worked.“Someone might see us.”“You won’t listen unless I make you stay still.”Nihan stared at him.“I’m only ret
“Should I send him a direct message?” Carmen asked excitedly while Courtney and Mary encouraged her.Nihan silently groaned.Why did they always have their breaks at the same time? More importantly, why were Carmen’s friends here again? Didn’t they have anything better to do, or was interfering in other people’s lives their full-time job?“Several people have messaged me asking whether we’ll have a special guest,” Carmen continued. “A lot of our former classmates are hockey players or hockey fans, so I think he would be perfect.”Despite herself, Nihan became curious.Who were they talking about?“That would be amazing!” Courtney exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to meet him.”“And since he isn’t playing right now, he might respond,” Mary added. “You have a lot of followers, don’t you?”Carmen tucked her hair behind her ear with a smug smile.“I just reached one hundred thousand.”Courtney and Mary immediately began praising her.“Then he’ll definitely notice you.”“With that many follow
Calix had never felt this peaceful in his entire life.Living with Nihan’s family had shown him what a real family was supposed to feel like.Hannah and Jerry treated him as their own son, even though they had known him for less than a month. Fred treated him like an older brother, constantly asking for hockey advice or dragging him into whatever strange activity had caught his attention.Fred could be a menace at times.Calix could only imagine what would happen if Fred and Zayla ever met. The two of them together would create absolute chaos.For everyone’s safety, that meeting could never happen.Calix had even learned how to bake and knit, two things he had never imagined himself doing. Surprisingly, he enjoyed them.Whenever Nihan came home from work and smiled as she ate the sweets he had made, Calix wanted to bake for her again. That simple happiness on her face made every effort worthwhile.He had just finished gardening with Jerry. Fred was out playing hockey with his friends,







