The bus rattled down the city streets, its windows fogging slightly with the breath of tired passengers. Ren sat quietly by the window, his head resting against the glass, fast asleep. His bag was crumpled on his lap, chest gently rising and falling. The seat beside him was occupied by a girl in a black hoodie and a mask, her head lowered. Quietly, almost unnoticed, her hand reached into Ren's coat pocket and slipped out his phone. She glanced around and then tucked it into her sleeve.
The next stop came. Without a sound, she stood and exited the bus, disappearing into the crowd.
A moment later, a boy slid into the now-empty seat beside Ren. Tall, headphones in, sipping on something warm from a thermos—he was clearly lost in his own world. His name was Noah.
As the bus hummed along, Ren stirred awake. Still groggy, he reached for his pocket to check the time—but it was empty. Confused, he checked his other pockets, then his bag. Panic began to rise in his chest.
His eyes slowly moved to the boy next to him. Could it be him? he wondered. But he doesn't look like that kind of person... or does he? Torn between politeness and suspicion, Ren hesitated. But in the end, he leaned in slightly and waved a hand in front of the boy's face.
"Hey... hello?"
Noah blinked and pulled out one of his earbuds. "Yeah?" he replied, eyebrows raised.
Ren forced a polite smile. "Have you seen my phone?"
Noah's expression sharpened slightly. "And why would I look at your phone?"
The tone was just sharp enough to irritate Ren. He frowned. "I don't know! I just woke up and it's missing. You're sitting right next to me, so I just thought—"
"You thought what?" Noah snapped, voice rising. "That I stole it? Seriously? You don't even know me. I have my own phone, alright?"
Their argument caught the attention of the older man seated behind them. He leaned forward with a scowl. "Hey! Take your drama somewhere else. Some of us are trying to get home in peace."
Ren flushed with embarrassment. At the next stop, he got off the bus without another word. Noah, still annoyed, also stepped out and glared at him before walking off in a different direction.
The city was massive and unfamiliar. Ren had only just moved here today, and now, phone gone and no idea where to go, he was completely lost. For the next hour, he tried asking passersby for help—to borrow a phone, to call his sister—but no one stopped. The air grew colder. Snow began to fall.
By 8 o'clock, the sidewalks were covered in white. Noah, now wrapped in a warm coat and sipping coffee, walked slowly under his umbrella. He was just heading home when his eyes caught on a shivering figure hunched over on a bench.
That guy... isn't that...?
He stepped closer. There, curled up on the bench, head buried in his arms, was Ren.
Noah coughed loudly to get his attention. "Hey."
Ren looked up, his face pale and blurry-eyed. "Who...?"
Noah frowned. He doesn't even recognize me? "Can't see?"
Ren tried to stand but stumbled. Noah caught him, steadying him by the shoulders. The moment he touched him, he realized—Ren was burning up with fever.
"What the hell are you doing here in this snow? Trying to die or what?" Noah scolded, half-angry, half-worried.
Ren's lips curved into a weak smile. "So... it's you."
Noah ignored the words. "What's your address?"
Ren's response was barely audible. "I don't know…"
Noah tried again. "Your name?"
"Re... Ren."
Noah asked again for his address. No answer. Ren's body began to slump, barely staying upright.
Noah cursed under his breath, running a hand through his snow-dusted hair. He stared at the boy for a moment. What am I supposed to do with this guy now?
With a frustrated sigh, he hailed a cab and half-carried Ren inside. As the cab pulled away from the snowy street, Noah muttered under his breath, "That idiot... left me no choice."
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