Yura sat on the edge of the school bleachers, the autumn breeze tousling her hair. Her eyes were fixed on the soccer field below, but her mind was miles away, lost in a memory that seemed both distant and close at the same time. The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, but she didn’t move. It was as if the world around her had paused, leaving her with just the sound of her own heartbeat and the soft rustle of leaves.

It had been years since those high school days, years since she and Ericson had been inseparable. Back then, everything had seemed so simple. The days were filled with laughter, whispered secrets between classes, and stolen glances across crowded hallways. They had been the perfect pair, two souls destined to be together, or so they had believed.

Ericson had been different from the others. He wasn’t the typical heartthrob or the star athlete, but there was something about him that drew Yura in from the very first day of school. His quiet confidence, the way he would always be there when she needed him, made her feel safe. They had met in their first year, sitting next to each other in English class, exchanging nervous smiles. From that moment, everything had changed.

They had spent hours together after school, walking home side by side, talking about everything and nothing. Yura had loved how he listened, how he made her feel understood, even when the world around her seemed to be a blur of noise and confusion. It was during one of those walks that Ericson had finally confessed his feelings.

"I think... I think I like you, Yura," he had said, his voice barely above a whisper. She had smiled, a rush of warmth flooding her chest.

"I like you too," she had replied, and with those simple words, their journey together had begun.

The days that followed were full of shared moments, first dates, and late-night conversations. They had made promises to each other, promises of forever. But as high school came to an end, life began to pull them in different directions. College, new friends, new experiences—they both found themselves caught up in the whirlwind of change.

Yura had tried to hold on, tried to keep their relationship alive, but Ericson had become distant. He had new friends, new interests. And she? She had been left behind, still clinging to the memories of their time together. They had grown apart without even realizing it, the gap widening with each passing day until one day, there was no more Ericson at all.

Now, sitting alone on the bleachers, Yura felt the weight of those lost years. She thought about the boy she had once known so well, the boy who had held her hand under the stars, the boy who had promised to always be there. But promises, it seemed, were easier to make than to keep.

A familiar voice broke through her thoughts.

"Yura?"

She looked up, her breath catching in her throat. Standing at the bottom of the bleachers was Ericson, as if time had never passed at all.

Yura’s heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with Ericson. For a moment, it felt as though the years hadn’t passed at all. The boy she had once loved, the boy who had shared her dreams and fears, was standing right there in front of her. But something in his gaze was different now—more distant, uncertain.

"Ericson?" Her voice trembled, unsure of how to greet him, unsure of what to say.

He took a few slow steps up the bleachers, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. His hair was longer than she remembered, falling over his forehead in messy waves. The years had shaped him, but there was still a familiar warmth in his smile, though it seemed forced, almost as if he too was unsure of what this moment meant.

"Hey," he said quietly, his voice low and a little hesitant. "I didn’t think I’d find you here."

Yura nodded, feeling the awkwardness settle between them. "I come here sometimes," she said, though the truth was, she hadn’t been back in years. But seeing the place again, where they had spent so many afternoons together, had brought her memories rushing back.

Ericson stood beside her, but neither of them spoke for a few moments. They both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, wondering how to bridge the gap that had grown between them over the years.

"How have you been?" he finally asked, breaking the silence. His words seemed genuine, but there was a hint of hesitance that made Yura wonder if he truly wanted to know.

"I’ve been... good," she replied, forcing a smile. "Just the usual. College. Work. You know how it goes." She paused, then added, "And you? How’s life?"

Ericson shifted his weight slightly, glancing down at his feet before looking back at her. "Same here. Been busy. A lot of changes... you know how it is." His words were vague, and Yura could sense that he wasn’t telling her everything. But she didn’t press him for more. After all, they had grown apart, hadn’t they?

A soft breeze swept through the air, rustling the leaves on the trees below, and Yura could almost hear the echoes of their laughter from years ago. The times they had spent together seemed so far away now, yet so close at the same time. The girl she had been back then—the girl who had believed in the forever of their love—was almost a stranger to her.

"Do you... do you ever think about high school?" Yura asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.

Ericson looked at her, his expression softening. "I do. A lot more than I expected. I guess... I guess we were happy, weren't we?"

Yura nodded, her heart aching with the weight of the unspoken truth. They had been happy. But sometimes happiness wasn’t enough. Life had a way of changing things, of pushing people apart even when they didn’t want it.

"I’ve missed you," Yura said quietly, the words almost a whisper.

Ericson’s gaze dropped to the ground, and for a moment, she thought he might not answer. But then he sighed and met her eyes again. "I missed you too, Yura. More than you know."

The words hung in the air between them, both a comfort and a burden. The past was still there, lingering in the background, and Yura realized how much she had never truly let go.

But as much as she wanted to reach out, to pull him back into her world, she knew it wasn’t that simple. Time had passed, and with it, things had changed. And no matter how much they both might wish for the past, there was no going back.

"Maybe..." she began, but her voice trailed off. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. Maybe she had been hoping for some kind of closure, some way to make sense of what had happened between them. But all she felt now was the uncertainty of a future they couldn’t predict.

Ericson seemed to sense her hesitation. "Maybe we can catch up sometime," he suggested softly, as if testing the waters. "If you’re up for it."

Yura didn’t know what to say. She wanted to say yes, to pretend like nothing had changed, to pretend they could pick up right where they left off. But the truth was, she wasn’t sure if they could.

"Maybe," she said quietly, giving him a small, uncertain smile. And for the first time in a long while, she wondered if that was enough.

The next few days passed in a blur for Yura. She couldn’t stop replaying the encounter with Ericson in her mind—his face, the way he had spoken, the way it felt to stand beside him after so many years apart. It was as if a door had been opened, and all the memories they had shared were rushing back, flooding her thoughts when she least expected it.

But as much as she thought about him, Yura couldn’t bring herself to reach out. There had been too much time between them, too many changes that couldn’t be undone with a simple conversation. She had moved on, hadn’t she? Her life had gone in a different direction, one that didn’t include Ericson. So why did she feel so unsettled?

One evening, as Yura sat in her room, her phone buzzed. She picked it up, her heart racing a little as she saw the message. It was from Ericson.

Ericson: Hey, I was thinking about our conversation the other day. Maybe we could grab coffee sometime? Catch up properly?

Yura stared at the screen for a moment, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She hadn’t expected him to reach out so soon, but a part of her couldn’t deny that she was curious. What did he want? Was this just a polite attempt to reconnect, or was there more to it?

She typed a quick reply, unsure of what else to say.

Yura: Sure, that sounds nice. When are you free?

She hit send before she could overthink it. Almost immediately, his response came through.

Ericson: How about this weekend? Saturday afternoon?

Yura smiled to herself, a mixture of excitement and nervousness creeping up. It had been so long since they’d spent time together. Would it be awkward? Would the connection they once shared still be there, or would it be like meeting a stranger?

She quickly typed back, confirming the time.

Yura: Saturday works for me. Let’s do it.

As the weekend approached, Yura couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation. She found herself picking out clothes more carefully than usual, wondering what Ericson would think of her. She hadn’t seen him in years—had she changed? Had he?

Saturday afternoon arrived, and Yura found herself walking into the small café they had agreed upon, her heart racing. The familiar scent of coffee and pastries filled the air as she scanned the room for Ericson. It didn’t take long before she spotted him sitting at a corner table, looking as though he hadn’t aged a day. He was dressed casually, but there was something different about him—something more polished, more... adult.

When their eyes met, Yura felt a flash of recognition, mixed with a deep uncertainty. She hesitated for a moment before making her way over to his table.

"Hey," she greeted him softly, a nervous smile tugging at her lips.

Ericson stood up, a grin spreading across his face as he pulled out the chair for her. "Hey, Yura. You look... you look great," he said, his voice warm.

Yura felt a blush creeping up her neck, though she wasn’t sure why. They had once been so comfortable around each other, but now, the distance between them felt almost palpable.

"Thanks," she replied, sitting down. "It’s good to see you again."

Ericson sat back down, taking a sip of his coffee before speaking again. "I’ve been meaning to reach out for a while. I guess... life kind of got in the way, huh?"

Yura nodded, her eyes flicking to the window for a moment, avoiding his gaze. "Yeah, a lot’s changed. For both of us, I guess."

There was an awkward pause, neither of them quite sure where to begin. The silence hung between them, but Yura could feel it—there was a certain tension in the air. It was the same old Ericson, the same boy who had once held her hand, but now he felt like a stranger.

"So, what have you been up to?" she asked, trying to fill the silence, but even as she spoke, she realized that she wasn’t really sure what she wanted to hear.

Ericson shrugged. "Same old. I’m working now, trying to figure out what’s next. You know how it is. What about you? College, I assume?"

Yura smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Yeah, I graduated last year. I’m working too. It’s all a bit overwhelming sometimes, but... you just keep going."

They spoke about their lives, the small things, the surface-level details. The more they talked, the more Yura realized that despite the familiarity, they were no longer the same people. Their worlds had changed, their priorities had shifted, and what had once been a deep connection now felt like a fragile thread, barely holding them together.

After a while, the conversation turned to memories—those moments from high school that they had once cherished so deeply. They laughed about old inside jokes, reminiscing about the times they’d stayed up late talking on the phone or spent hours walking around the neighborhood.

But even as they laughed, something was missing. The spark, the easy closeness they had once shared, was gone. It had been replaced with polite conversation and half-formed smiles. The truth was, they had both moved on, in different ways.

As the coffee cups grew empty and the sun began to set outside, Yura felt a quiet sadness settle over her. They had shared something special once, something that had meant the world. But now, sitting across from him, she realized that some things—some people—were just meant to be a part of your past. And as much as she wanted to hold on to the past, she knew it was time to let go.

When the conversation finally died down, Ericson looked at her with a soft, almost apologetic expression.

"Maybe we were just... a chapter in each other’s lives, huh?" he said quietly.

Yura met his eyes, her heart aching with the truth of his words. "Yeah," she whispered. "Maybe we were."

And for the first time in a long while, Yura felt a sense of peace. The past was behind her. It was time to move forward.