The afternoon breeze blew softly, like careful footsteps trying not to disturb anyone. The branches swayed gently, reflecting the orange light of the setting sun.
Ando and Dina stood on the road near Dina's house. The same place where they had first met. The residential complex had not changed much, reminding Dina of that afternoon.
"I fell here back then," Dina pointed to where she was standing. "Do you remember?"
Ando tried to remember. A fleeting image of a girl with an injured knee passed through his memory. He nodded hesitantly, not entirely sure.
"The sky was orange that afternoon too. Just like today," Dina said again.
Ando turned toward her. "You were crying, right?"
Dina scoffed with a smile. "Yeah. Of course, that's the part you remember."
Ando smiled in amusement.
A soft silence followed, the kind of silence that was not awkward, but instead felt comfortable. The wind passed through once again, blowing Dina's loose hair. Ando looked at her affectionately.
Dina spoke softly, her voice blending with the gentle breeze.
"Now we're here again, but I'm not crying anymore."
Ando smiled. A full, warm smile.
"Good. Because I won't let you cry."
Dina lowered her head for a moment, taking a long breath. "It took a long time, but I'm really happy I finally got to meet Alfa again."
"If I weren't Alfa, would you still want to be my girlfriend?" Ando asked, half teasing, half serious.
"Even if you weren't Alfa, I'd still like you, Do," Dina answered seriously, without any embarrassment. "You probably know that I've liked you for a long time."
Ando replied just as seriously. "No. I didn't know. In fact, I think you were the one who already knew that I'd liked you for a long time."
They laughed together, laughing at how ridiculous they had been.
"Our situation was complicated back then. Neither of us dared to be honest about it," Ando said softly. He held Dina's hand. "I guess it really had to happen this way. You met me when you fell. And I met you again when I was the one who fell."
Dina looked at him. "Fell? When?"
"Fell in love."
Dina gently pushed his shoulder, but her cheeks grew warm, and Ando laughed.
In front of them, the sun was almost touching the horizon, spilling its last orange light before turning copper-red. The afternoon was slow and peaceful, and it felt like the perfect ending for two teenagers holding each other's hands tightly.
"Let's go back," Ando suggested. "It's getting cold."
Dina nodded. "Okay. But wait."
"Why?"
Dina looked at him mischievously. "Can I ask you to carry me?"
Ando laughed, but he turned around, facing away from Dina.
"Come on, get on," he said while extending his hands behind him, ready to carry Dina.
For a moment, Dina felt déjà vu. "Are you sure you're strong enough?" she teased.
"I think so." Ando grimaced, pretending to be unsure. "Come on, just get on. It'll be Maghrib before you know it," he urged.
Dina climbed onto Ando's back while laughing. Ando also smiled widely.
That second sunset closed their story.
And opened whatever would come next.