15. 37 CARS❌BUS✔

Jace walked up the steps to their apartment, the aroma of freshly bought noodles wafting from the bags in his hands. As he reached the door, he could hear the sound of Alina’s voice filtering through the thin walls, bright and cheerful. A smile tugged at his lips—despite everything, she still managed to find joy in the little things.

When he entered, he found Alina sitting cross-legged on the couch, her laptop open in front of her, surrounded by notes and papers. She was on a call with her club members, animatedly discussing the upcoming Literacy Event. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Jace couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride watching her in her element.

“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Alina was saying, her voice full of excitement. “We could have a book exchange corner, and maybe even a panel with some local authors! What do you all think?”

A chorus of agreement followed from the other side of the call, and Alina’s face lit up even more. She was in her zone, her earlier sadness seemingly forgotten as she dove into planning the event she was so passionate about.

Jace quietly set the takeout bags on the kitchen counter and began unpacking the noodles. He took out two bowls and carefully divided the steaming noodles, the savory aroma filling the small apartment. As he worked, he stole glances at Alina, who was still deeply engrossed in her conversation. Her energy was contagious, and it was hard not to smile seeing her so happy.

“Okay, I’ll start working on the flyers tomorrow,” Alina chirped. “And don’t worry about the decorations—I’ve got that covered. We’re going to make this event the best one yet!”

Jace finished preparing their dinner and walked over to Alina, placing a bowl of noodles on the small table in front of her. The moment the bowl hit the table, the scent caught Alina’s attention, and her eyes widened in delight. She quickly finished her sentence on the call.

“Alright, everyone, I’ve got to go. Dinner’s here!” she announced, her tone cheerful and a bit rushed.

The members on the other end chuckled, knowing all too well about Alina’s love for food. “Enjoy, Alina!” one of them said with a laugh. “We’ll catch up tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll bring back some ideas tomorrow!” Alina promised before hurriedly ending the call. She closed her laptop and turned to Jace, her eyes shining with gratitude as she eagerly reached for her bowl.

“Thanks, Jace! You’re the best,” she said with a grin, grabbing her chopsticks and twirling them in the noodles.

Jace settled down beside her with his own bowl, a soft smile on his face. “You seemed really into it. The event’s coming together well?”

“Yeah!” Alina said between bites, her enthusiasm evident. “Everyone’s got such great ideas, and I really think this could be our best event yet. I just hope everything goes smoothly.”

“It will,” Jace assured her. “You’ve put a lot of work into this, and it shows. I’m sure everyone’s going to love it.”

Alina beamed at him, her earlier worries about Caelan momentarily forgotten in the warmth of the moment. She loved how supportive Jace was, always knowing exactly what to say to make her feel better.

As they ate, Alina shared more details about the event, her excitement bubbling over. Jace listened intently, happy to see her so animated and engaged. The earlier heaviness of the evening had lifted, replaced by the comforting routine of dinner and conversation.

When their bowls were empty, Jace leaned back with a contented sigh. “That was good. I needed that.”

“Me too,” Alina agreed, her voice lighter now. “Thanks for bringing dinner, Jace. You always know how to make things better.”

Jace chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately. “That’s what big brothers are for, right?”

Alina smiled, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for her brother. No matter what happened, she knew she could always count on him to be there for her, to lift her spirits when she was down, and to share in her joys when things were going well. And for that, she was incredibly thankful.

The morning sun peeked through the curtains as Alina hurriedly gathered her things, her mind racing with the tasks that lay ahead. Her small apartment was a whirlwind of activity as she stuffed her books, notes, and laptop into her bag. Today was another busy day filled with classes and more preparations for the Literacy Event, and she was already running late.

"Where are my keys?" she muttered to herself, rummaging through the cluttered kitchen counter. Finding them beneath a stack of papers, she grabbed them, slung her bag over her shoulder, and dashed out the door, barely pausing to lock up behind her.

As she reached the bus stop, slightly out of breath, she noticed a familiar figure standing a little way off. It was Caelan, his tall frame unmistakable even from a distance. Her heart skipped a beat, and before she knew it, her hand instinctively lifted to wave at him. But the memory of their last interaction quickly came rushing back, and she froze mid-motion, her expression shifting into a frown instead. She let her hand drop to her side, hoping no one had noticed.

But Caelan had noticed. He had seen the brief flash of recognition in her eyes, the almost-wave that she quickly masked with a frown. Amusement danced in his grey eyes, but he hid his smile, maintaining his usual composed demeanor. He found her reaction endearing—her conflicting emotions clearly written on her face, even if she tried to hide them.

The bus pulled up with a slight screech, and Alina boarded quickly, hoping to find a quiet seat near the back where she could gather her thoughts. But as she walked down the aisle, she felt a presence close behind her. To her utter surprise, Caelan slid into the seat beside her, his expression unreadable.

Alina blinked, momentarily stunned. "Is the earth rotating wrong today?" she thought to herself. Here was Caelan, the enigmatic billionaire who was usually surrounded by luxury, riding a bus like any ordinary person. The situation felt surreal.

She glanced at him sideways, trying to gauge his mood, but his face gave nothing away. Caelan seemed perfectly at ease, as if this was something he did every day. The contrast between his polished appearance and the mundane setting of the bus was almost comical, and Alina had to bite back a comment about it.

Meanwhile, parked near the bus stop, Caelan's sleek white Mustang gleamed under the morning sun. Will and Hope, who were usually tasked with driving Caelan around, stood beside it, exchanging puzzled looks. They had checked the car thoroughly—it was in perfect condition, as always. There was absolutely no reason for Caelan to leave it behind and board a bus, especially considering his collection of 34 luxury cars.

"Why do you think he’s taking the bus?" Hope asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Will shrugged, equally baffled. "Who knows? Maybe he felt like slumming it today."

Hope rolled her eyes. "Caelan? On a bus? That’s not slumming it—that’s practically unheard of."

"Well, whatever the reason, it looks like he’s having fun with it," Will said, nodding toward the bus as it pulled away from the stop.

Hope sighed, still perplexed. "I just don’t get it. But then again, when do we ever understand what’s going on in that head of his?"

As the bus trundled along its route, Alina sat stiffly in her seat, acutely aware of Caelan’s presence beside her. She stole another glance at him, trying to make sense of why he would choose to ride the bus when he had so many other, far more luxurious options.

Caelan caught her look and turned to face her, one eyebrow slightly raised in a silent question. "Is there something on your mind, Miss Martin?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.

Alina shook her head quickly, her cheeks flushing slightly. "No, it’s just… I didn’t expect to see you here," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual.

He didn’t respond immediately, letting a comfortable silence settle between them. Finally, he spoke, his tone almost teasing. "Sometimes, it’s good to change the routine. You see things from a different perspective."

Alina bit her lip, not sure how to respond to that. She couldn’t argue with his logic, but she still found it hard to believe that someone like Caelan would willingly give up his usual comforts. Despite the oddness of the situation, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of calm sitting next to him, as if the world outside the bus didn’t matter.

For the rest of the ride, they sat side by side in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The city passed by in a blur of colors and sounds, but inside the bus, time seemed to slow down. Alina’s initial tension gradually eased, replaced by a quiet curiosity about the man beside her.

As the bus approached her stop, Alina gathered her things, preparing to get off. She gave Caelan one last, lingering look before she stood up. "Well, I guess I’ll see you around," she said, her voice still tinged with uncertainty.

Caelan nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Have a good day, Miss Martin."

With that, Alina stepped off the bus, feeling like she had just experienced something far more significant than a simple morning commute. As she walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was on the verge of changing in ways she couldn’t yet understand.