Independence

Paul adjusted his glasses. “We can never achieve instant results in physics. There’s a certain rhythm and pathway to yield results. You can’t change that by just pausing halfway.”

Blake looked sheepish. “I’m just saying…”

They ended things on a sour note. As Paul turned around, Miranda waved at him smilingly. “It’s been some time since we last met, neighbor.”

They walked home side by side. Miranda intentionally avoided talking about what had happened and chatted idly with him. “Thanks for your help the last time. I’ve been making smooth progress through my exercises.”

Paul didn’t take the credit. “You were the one who picked up that knowledge quickly. Have you visited Dr. Young in the last few days?”

With her hands behind her back, Miranda stared at the stones beneath her feet as she slowly walked ahead. “I didn’t. We only talked over the phone several times. She’s recovering well and can return to college after a couple of days.”

Paul nodded. “That’s great. Dr. Young has always taken her teaching responsibilities very seriously. She must be itching to return to her job after being away.”

The sky turned darker. Someone was wobbling toward them on a bicycle.

It just so happened Miranda stepped on an uneven tile and stumbled. She was unable to regain her balance and was about to bump into the incoming bicycle.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

At that instant, Paul reached out and grabbed her slender wrist. With a tug, he pulled her toward him and avoided the reckless bicycle rider by a hair.

“Are you alright?” Through Miranda’s sleeve, Paul grabbed her wrist tightly with his warm hand. Summer clothes were usually thin, and Miranda could feel the warmth he radiated. Her ears burned bright red.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

They were so close to each other that they could feel each other’s breath. Upon realizing that, Miranda took a step back.

9/3

Paul also regained his senses and let her go. After that, they enacted the walk back in silence. When they arrived, the bad each other goodie and entered their respective apartments

As Miranda closed the door, what happened excise regard in the mind. She couldn’t belp but hone in on the details–Paul’s warm fingers, bis mint- scented breath, and his deep gan….

Lowering her bead, she rubbed her wrist. It felt warm, as though it had been scorched.

Paul was sweating from the walk back from the lab and the quarrel earder felt uncomfortable. After changing into slippers be get ready for a bath

Out of habit, be picked up his phone to order takeout first.

Accidentally, he saw a pop–up notification on the app. It was an advertisement for a pair of reddy bear slippers priced at 9.00 dollars

Stunned, he recalled that was the exact pair of slippers Miranda bad west when he’d gone to her apartment.

Her toes were small and round, and her feet were fair against the dark- colored slippers.

The earlier scene resurfaced in his mind. He could hold her wrist with ende one band. And her wrist seemed even fairer than her feet

Soon, it was Sunday. The sun burned brightly in the middle of a blue sk surrounded by white clouds

Ingrid chose a simple emerald frilly dress embellished with yellow flowers She looked cultured and pure in it. Then, she spent an entire hour putting on perfect makeup.

Her roommate staying on the bunk bed above hers teosed, “You usually steep in on weekends. Why are you up so early? You’ve even dressed up lenee the man who’s going on a date with our campus belle.”

+15 BONUS

The kiss Ingrid and Hansel had shared at the college’s entrance had been brought up on the college forum. Now, everyone at the National University of Technology knew she was taken.

Another roommate remarked, “Who else if not Mr. Johnson? Ingy, it’s your birthday today. He must’ve prepared a surprise for you, huh?”

Ingrid put on a pair of sunflower stud earrings. She was looking forward to that too. However, she said, “I’m not sure. He might have, I guess.”

Her roommate was about to probe further when Ingrid checked her watch and anxiously picked up her purse. After changing her shoes, she called out, “Let’s talk when I’m back. I’m heading out!”