Story – The magic of Late Afternoon

Story serial – Part – 3
The magic of Late Afternoon
A Quiet Afternoon Together (Episode> 8-10)

After class, Sophie and Adrian walked back home together. As soon as Sophie rang the doorbell,
soft meow… meow… sounds came from inside.
Laltu and Bintu. It felt like they had been waiting just for her.
The moment she stepped in, they rushed toward her.
Sophie picked them up in her arms, gently stroking them with affection.
“Missed me, didn’t you?” she whispered softly.
Then she turned to Adrian — “You freshen up. I’ll be back.”
Still holding the kittens, she walked into her room.
A few moments later —
“Adrian… come.” “Lunch is ready.”
Adrian stepped in. For a moment… he paused.
Sophie stood there in a soft yellow dress,
light floral patterns dancing across the fabric.
She looked… effortlessly graceful.
Adrian couldn’t look away.
Sophie noticed.
A soft smile curved on her lips —
“Adrian…
you’re not supposed to stare like that while eating.”
He looked away, slightly embarrassed.
“Finish your meal quickly,” she added gently.
“Then get some rest.”
A brief pause—
“After that… we’ll work on assignment.”
Adrian nodded silently.
But inside — something felt different.
Something… warm.
The wall clock struck nine. Sophie glanced at it and said —
“Looks like you’re not going back to your room tonight. Stay here after dinner.”
Adrian hesitated.
“I can go back, Sophie.”
She looked at him calmly —
“I didn’t say you can’t go. I said… you should stay tonight.”
Adrian paused.
Sophie said — “But—”
Adrian — “But what?”
Sophie leaned closer, a playful smile on her lips.
Then she whispered softly near his ear —
“Separate rooms.”
They both burst into laughter.
Still laughing, Adrian said — “Why not the same room?”
Sophie raised an eyebrow — a spark of mischief in her eyes.
“Oh… so much courage. I thought you were shy, Adrian. But—”
“But what?”
Sophie shook her head teasingly.
“No… I shouldn’t say it. You might get even more desperate.”
Adrian smiled, a little embarrassed.
“Come on, Sophie… tell me.”
Sophie gently tapped his head with her fist —
“The ‘but’… is your head—and my head.”
She laughed out loud.
From the next room, her mother’s voice came —
“Sophie! Are you studying or just laughing?”
Sophie quickly replied — “Studying, Mom!”
Then she turned back to Adrian — “You keep studying.
I’ll go manage her.”
With that, she hurried out of the room.
Adrian sat there… smiling to himself.
Soft morning light filtered through the eucalyptus leaves,
spreading gently across the college campus.
Students slowly filled the pathways,
their footsteps bringing the place back to life.

Sophie and Adrian walked in together.
Sophie glanced at him with a soft smile —
“So… you slept well last night?”
Adrian nodded.
“Yeah. I really did.”
“But I couldn’t sleep a bit.”
Adrian turned, surprised.
“Why?”
Sophie smiled faintly —
“Every time I was about to fall asleep…
it felt like you were knocking on my door—
calling my name.”
Adrian paused.
“And if I actually did that… what would you do?”
Sophie stopped for a second — then laughed—
“I’d scream. Loudly. ‘Help! Someone save me!’”
She burst into laughter.
A voice came from behind—
“Good morning, Sophie.”
She quickly turned.
“Good morning. How are you, Keniel?”
“I’m good.”
Then he looked at Adrian —
“Good morning, Adrian.”
“Good morning,” Adrian replied.
Keniel said with a smile, “Isn’t Adrian enough to protect you, Sophie?”
Suddenly the scene changed.

• To be continued – story (Episode> Part -4 > 10 – 12)