As Snow walked back from her class, lost in thought, she suddenly collided with someone.
Apologetic, she turned to face the person, and her eyes widened in surprise.
It was Julian, the British lady she had met briefly before.
"Julian!" Snow exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile.
Julian's eyes sparkled with recognition, and she approached Snow with a warm smile.
"Hi, do you still remember me?" she asked, her British accent charming.
Snow's eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. "Yeah, I do. You...I sprayed coffee on you the last time, didn't I?" Snow's voice was laced with amusement.
Julian chuckled, her laughter musical. "Yeah, it's a very awful way for us to meet. I'm sorry about what happened that day." Her apology was sincere, and Snow waved her hand dismissively.
"No, no, no, it's okay. I was just trying to catch a phrase or something," Snow said, downplaying the incident.
Julian's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Nice. Mind if I work with you?" she asked, pulling out her laptop.
Snow shrugged. "Sure, sure. I'd love some company."
As they worked together, Julian asked Snow about her course. "So, you're...?" she trailed off, curiosity etched on her face.
"I'm a business admin student," Snow replied, her eyes lighting up with interest.
Julian's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, that's good. I'm an engineering student." Her tone was filled with admiration.
Snow's face lit up with fascination. "That's awesome. I've always thought that those in engineering have hot brain cells," she said, her voice filled with humor.
Julian laughed, her laughter infectious. "Eh, yeah, you're not really far from that. It's a great course, and I really love it."
As they continued working and chatting, Julian suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I forgot to ask you your name the last time," she said, looking sheepish.
Snow smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "No, no, no, you didn't forget. I told you my name is Snow, and you said yours was Julian."
Julian's face turned red with embarrassment. "Oh my gosh, I totally forgot. I'm so sorry."
Snow's smile was reassuring. "It's fine, it's fine. It's not everyone that catches on quickly."
Julian playfully pretended to be offended. "Yeah, I'm a bit offended, but..."
Snow laughed, her voice filled with amusement. "I'm so sorry if you feel a bit offended. I was just joking, you know."
As they packed up their things and started walking, their conversation flowed easily, covering everything from their courses to their interests.
The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over them, and Snow felt a sense of camaraderie with Julian that she hadn't experienced in a while.
***
As Snow and Julian worked together, they strolled past the medical building.
Julian's eyes lit up as she spotted two familiar figures emerging from the building. "Hey, Leo!" she exclaimed, waving enthusiastically.
Snow followed her gaze and saw Leo and Violet standing outside the medical building.
She smiled, surprised to see them together. "Leo," she said, walking over to join them.
Julian approached Leo, asking, "Hey, Leo, what are you doing here?" Leo replied, "I actually came here to help Violet with something."
Snow chimed in, "Hey, Violet! I didn't expect to see you by the medical building. I thought you were an engineering student, Leo." Leo smiled, "I actually came here to help Violet."
Violet, however, seemed less enthusiastic about the encounter. "Snow, can we go back to the hostel?" she asked, her tone hinting at a desire to escape the gathering.
Julian, sensing an opportunity, suggested, "No, no, no, you don't need to go just yet. How about we all catch up and grab some drinks or do something together?"
Leo's face lit up. "Sounds great. Do you agree, Snow?" Snow nodded, "Yeah, yeah, I don't have anything else planned, so let's go."
The group's attention turned to Violet, who was staring at them with a mixture of reluctance and resignation. "If you guys want to go, count me out of it," she said, turning to leave.
Leo and Snow quickly caught up to her, persuading her to join them. "Come on, V, don't be like that. Let's just go and get some coffee. It won't hurt, it's just coffee," Leo said, his tone soothing.
Violet's expression turned stubborn. "I don't want to hang around that girl. I don't know, I just don't like her," she said, her eyes flicking towards Julian.
Snow's curiosity was piqued. "Why don't you like her? She's lovely," she asked, her tone innocent.
Violet's eyes flashed with a devilish glint. "Just one coffee, and then we're heading back to our hostels," she said, her tone firm.
Snow and Leo exchanged a knowing look, and Snow nodded. "Yes, yes, just one coffee. I didn't get why she should be the one buying it, though," she said, her tone playful.
Leo chuckled. "Do you want to buy?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Violet's expression turned determined. "Of course, I would," she said, her tone confident.
As they walked over to join Julian, she asked, "Are you guys ready?" The group nodded in agreement, with Violet adding, "Just to be clear, just one coffee."
Julian smiled, "Okay, yeah, just one coffee." And with that, the group set off together.
Julian turned to Snow and said, "I had no idea you knew Leo."
Snow smiled and replied, "We've known each other for a while. He's my ex."
Julian's eyes widened in surprise. "No way, you guys dated?"
Snow nodded, and Julian's eyes sparkled with interest. "That means Leo is single right now," she said, her tone casual.
Violet coughed slightly, trying to get everyone's attention before the waiter arrived with their coffee.
Once they were alone again, Julian continued, "Well, ever since I was a foreign student in Leo's high school, I've had a crush on him. He was always my ideal type back then, and he was the hottest boy in school."
Violet's eyes rolled, and she muttered under her breath, "Not that hot." Snow tried to tap her to stop, but Leo was too busy choking on his coffee to notice.
Julian asked, oblivious to the tension, "I'm sorry, did you say something, Violet?" Violet shook her head, "No, no, darling, I didn't."
Julian smiled, her eyes locked on Leo. "I think I'm going to ask him out soon." Violet's face turned red with jealousy, and she coughed, trying to interrupt.
Leo, sensing the awkwardness, tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "So, Julian, do you still keep in touch with some of your classmates from back in school?"
Julian nodded, "Yeah, I saw Grace not that long ago, and some of the others. Everyone's doing well, some in college, some not."
Violet, still seething with jealousy, suddenly stood up. "I think the coffee is done. We should all get going now."
Julian looked disappointed. "That was short. Do you guys want to hang out again?"
Snow and Leo exchanged a glance, and Snow said, "Yeah, thank you so much for the coffee."
Violet's eyes flashed with a message that only Snow could see: "Let's get out of here, now." Snow laughed inwardly, thinking, "Violet is so damn jealous."
As they left the coffee shop, Violet quickly walked ahead, leaving the others behind.
Before Julian could even whisper goodbye, Violet was already gone. Snow smiled, amused by the drama, and followed Violet out of the coffee shop.