“Do you have water? I’m thirsty.”

“Yeah. It's here,” he looked around and seemed to realize something.

“Oh. It's in my bag at the station,” he told her, unable to fulfil her need.

And then the realization hit the bot of them!

“Shit!” they said in unison.

They hurried back to the station, half walking, half running.

“What is the time?” she asked him. He looked at his watch and yelled with whatever breath left in his lungs, “1:35am. If we hurry, we might be able to make it.”

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” she cursed as he pulled her along in high speed.

They ran as fast as they could, with she almost falling twice. But being too inside the town, it was a little difficult to find their way back, especially in their panic state of mind. They rushed to the entrance, through the lobby and into the platform. But they could see no train.

“Did we miss it? Did we miss it?” she asked, catching her breath.

“We missed it…” she heard him say. Turning around she saw him standing a little far looking at the clock. It was 2.10am. They were ten minutes late.

She waited outside the metro looking up at the sky. 

“Here,” he handed her water as soon as he approached. 

“Thanks,” she said as she accepted the bottle.

“How are you so chill?” he asked as he watched her gulp down half the bottle in one go.

“Look,” she said as she gave him back the bottle, “I have already missed my train. There is no point in talking about it. So, we’ll just kill five more hours and go by the same morning train!”

“Do you want to wait in the station or ‘explore’ again?” he asked as he air-quoted. 

“We’ll go to the left from the junction this time,” she replied with a smile.

“Good choice,” he smiled back.

They took the left turn from the junction. Except the town being quieter, nothing seemed different. He watched her from the corner of his eyes. She was lost in thoughts and smiling to herself.

“Why are you not scared of being alone with a stranger in an unknown town?” he suddenly asked her.

“Normally, I would have been. But with you, I don’t really feel scared,” she shrugged her shoulders.

“Is it because you think I can protect you?” he gently bumped her shoulder with his.

“No. Pfft,” she stifled a laugh, “It's because I know that you won’t be able to hurt me.”

“What do you mean I ‘won’t be able to’ hurt you?” he asked feeling a little insulted.

“I am a Karate black belt. Are you?” she asked him.

His face fell and he replied, “No…”

“I rest my case,” she smiled to herself.

“I have a question!” she said as they walked a little further.

“Didn’t you ask the last question?” he asked her.

“Did I? I really can’t remember,” she placed her forefinger on her chin. He laughed and said, “Alright. Give me the seventh question.”

“Seventh, is it?”

“Seventh. Yes.”

“So,” she began, “When and how was your very first kiss?”

She saw him smile as soon as she said it. Amused, she asked, “What?”

He said, “You were definitely the one who asked the sixth question as well.”

Frowning a little she said, “I volunteer to ask questions because all of your questions are boring,” she folded her arms and faced away from him.

Instead of being offended, he found it funny. He said, “That might actually be true. Alright. I’ll tell you.”