The distance coming closer

The Winter Gathering — Hostel Common Room

The last day of exams brought an energy that Evanna couldn’t ignore.

Laughter bounced off the hostel walls.

Suitcases lay half-packed in rooms.

Some kids had already left for home.

For those still stuck in the building, the warden had organized a small gathering in the common room before winter vacations officially started.

There were fairy lights strung sloppily over windows.

A Bluetooth speaker blaring old songs with too much bass.

And a few seniors handing out cups of hot chocolate in mismatched mugs.

Evanna wasn’t planning to stay long.

She preferred the quiet of her room and her books.

But Aria and Maya dragged her down, laughing about how they never got to have fun.

She sat on the edge of a couch, mug warm in her hands, watching everyone talk and dance in groups.

And then she saw him.

Adrian.

Leaning against the far wall, sleeves pushed up, hands in his pockets.

The bruises on his knuckles had healed.

The mask was nowhere in sight.

He wasn’t laughing.

But he wasn’t brooding either.

He was just watching, eyes scanning the room until—

They landed on her.

And he didn’t look away.

---

Later That Night — Hostel Balcony

The gathering died down as curfew crept closer.

Evanna slipped out for air, mug still in hand, the cold breeze biting at her fingers.

She found him already there.

Leaning over the railing like he owned the night.

“Thought you’d left,” she said.

He glanced at her, eyes catching in the low light.

“Nah. Nowhere to go.”

There was something in his voice—quiet but not sad.

Just truth.

Evanna walked over, stood beside him.

Neither spoke for a moment.

The silence between them was easier now.

“You’re not leaving for winter break?” she asked.

Adrian shook his head.

“Got nothing waiting for me there.”

Evanna looked at him then.

Really looked.

The boy everyone called trouble.

The boy who wore masks long before he ever put one on his face.

“You could’ve told me,” she said softly.

He smirked. “Didn’t think you cared.”

“I didn’t,” she lied.

He saw through it.

But he didn’t call her out.

Instead, he reached into his pocket and held something out.

A lighter. Old and scratched.

“You wanna see a trick?” he asked.

Evanna arched a brow but nodded.

And he did it—flipping the lighter open and sparking a flame, twisting his fingers so the fire flickered in strange patterns.

It was stupid.

And kind of reckless.

But it made her smile.

“You’re such a showoff,” she muttered.

He grinned.

And it was real.

Not the smirk he gave everyone else.

But something softer.

Something just for her.

---

Later, as they said goodnight…

“Hey,” he called as she turned to leave.

Evanna glanced back.

Adrian’s voice was low.

“Thanks… for seeing me.”

For a second, she forgot how to breathe.

Then she gave him a small nod.

And walked away before she could say something she wasn’t ready to admit.

The Morning They Left for Winter Break

Suitcases dragged across the hostel floor.

Voices echoed through the halls—some loud with excitement, others heavy with relief.

Everyone was going home.

Everyone except Adrian.

And Evanna wasn’t sure why it made her chest feel tight.

She stood by the hostel gate, waiting for the school van that would take her to the station.

Her backpack was slung over one shoulder.

She could already hear Maya and Aria laughing in the distance, calling her to hurry.

But she wasn’t ready to leave.

Not yet.

Adrian was there too, sitting on the low wall near the entrance, cigarette unlit between his fingers.

He wasn’t looking at her, but he wasn’t ignoring her either.

Evanna took a breath.

Walked over.

“You sure you’re not going?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Told you. No point.”

She hesitated.

The van horn honked once—impatient.

But her feet stayed planted.

“Well… try not to burn the place down,” she said, trying for casual.

Her voice almost didn’t hold.

Adrian looked up then, dark eyes meeting hers.

And there was something there—something she wasn’t ready for.

“No promises,” he said, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.

But before she could answer, Maya yelled again.

She gave him one last look, turned, and walked away.

And as the van pulled out of the gate, Evanna glanced back just once.

Adrian was still sitting there, cigarette still unlit, watching her go.

Evanna’s Home — Winter Break

The city was quieter here.

Not like the hostel, with its constant buzz of students and clatter of routine.

Here, the silence was softer.

Safer.

Evanna stood in front of her family’s house, suitcase by her side, as her mom came out to greet her.

Warm arms wrapped around her shoulders.

Familiar.

Comforting.

“You’ve lost weight,” her mother scolded gently. “Do they not feed you in that hostel?”

Evanna smiled faintly. “They do. I’m fine.”

Inside, the house smelled like cinnamon and old wood.

Her room was just the way she left it—books neatly stacked, sunlight pouring through the window.

Safe.

Predictable.

But when she lay on her bed that night, staring at the ceiling, her mind didn’t stay there.

It drifted back.

To a boy sitting on a hostel wall, cigarette in hand, looking like he belonged to no one.

---

At Dinner

“So, how was school?” her father asked over chapati and sabzi.

Her brother was too busy scrolling on his phone to listen.

“Fine,” Evanna said automatically.

Her mom smiled. “Meet anyone interesting?”

Evanna paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth.

And for a moment, Adrian’s grin flashed in her head.

The lighter trick.

The words “Thanks for seeing me.”

“No,” she lied.

“Just the usual.”

But later, when she was alone in her room again, she found herself doodling flames in the margins of her notebook.

Evanna’s Bedroom — Late Night

The house was asleep.

Her mom’s soft snoring drifted from down the hall.

The clock on her desk ticked softly in the dark.

Evanna lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, blanket pulled up to her chin.

She was trying to sleep.

Trying to quiet her thoughts.

But her mind kept circling back to him.

Tap… tap… tap.

She froze.

Eyes snapping to the window.

Tap… tap… tap.

It wasn’t the wind.

It was too deliberate.

Too real.

Heart pounding, she slid out of bed and padded quietly to the window.

Fingers trembling, she unlocked it and pushed it open—

And there he was.

Adrian.

Perched on the narrow ledge outside her first-floor window like it was nothing.

Dark hoodie, hair messy, his usual cocky grin pulling at the corner of his mouth.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed, trying to keep her voice low.

He shrugged, like climbing into someone’s window in the middle of the night was the most normal thing in the world.

“You weren’t answering my calls.”

“You don’t call me,” she shot back.

“Exactly,” he said. “So I came.”

She stared at him, disbelief and panic fighting in her chest.

If her dad woke up—if anyone saw him—

“Are you insane?” she whispered harshly. “How did you even get here?”

He tilted his head toward the street.

“Bus. Then I walked.”

Like it was nothing.

Like it wasn’t miles away from the hostel, like it wasn’t the middle of the night.

“Why?” she asked.

And she hated how soft her voice sounded then.

Adrian’s gaze softened.

He leaned in closer, elbows on the windowsill.

“I didn’t want to be alone tonight.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

The world was silent around them.

Just his breath in the cold night air, visible between them.

Evanna bit her lip, conflicted.

Then she stepped back.

Just enough to let him climb in.

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