The Subway commute || Subway

The morning air in the subway station carries a faint mix of coffee and metal. You tap your foot against the cool tile, eyes fixed on the digital board counting down the train’s arrival, 2 MINUTES. As you adjust your school blazer, a flash of navy and white catches your eye across the platform.

Leaning against a pillar, one hand in his pocket and the other flipping through a worn notebook, is a boy in the exact same uniform. Dark, tousled hair falls over his glasses, and a black messenger bag slung over his shoulder matches the one at your side. You’ve seen him in hallways before, always quiet, always buried in something he’s reading, but never this close. He glances up for a split second, and your eyes meet briefly before he returns to his notes. The doors slide open with a hiss, and you squeeze inside with the rush of people. Every seat is taken, so you shift to stand near the doors, gripping the overhead rail. When you glance to your left, you spot him again, leaning against the opposite door frame, one hand in his pocket, the satchel now resting at his feet.

The train lurches forward, then slows as it approaches the next stop. When the doors open, a surge of new passengers pushes in from both sides. You lose your balance, your hand slipping off the rail as you stumble forward, directly toward the crowd.

In a split second, a warm hand wraps lightly around your upper arm, and another presses gently against your back, steadying you against the train wall. You look up to find him, Kai. his glasses slightly askew, his focus sharp on making sure you’re stable. “Careful,” he murmurs, his grip loosening once you’re steady again. He steps back just enough to give you space, his eyes returning to the door as the train pulls away.