“Taj, did you do it on purpose?” Rowan asked, half-serious, already laughing.

“What exactly?” Taj tried to dodge the question.

“All right, I’m not judging, but I’ve never seen you do something like this. Taj, you? Really?” she pressed, laughing harder.

What Rowan was asking about, Taj understood. There was some truth in it. 

In fact, he had never done anything like this before. 

“And he laughs! You barely laugh unless it’s with me. You should do it more. It could be good for you two to be friends, ha-ha, so fun. Seriously, he seems nice. I told you, I met him when I needed to repeat a course I skipped when I suspended my studies.” Rowan suddenly stopped talking.

“Oh, I earned some money, and I am back. Stop with the look. See, whoa, you need someone else to laugh with you, as you’re gloomy, too gloomy,” she added.

Taj said nothing. 

Rowan continued. “I’ve invited him because he wanted to see real self-defense tips, and what you did, Taj, was not something you ever did. He seems nice. Nothing wrong with it.”

Taj looked at her. “You mean flirting? That it looked like I flirted?” He decided to admit it.

“And you said it. Did you, really? It was quite odd. Don’t get me wrong, Taj. So, this is what it looks like when you are flirting with someone, ha-ha. Oops, sorry, it’s hilarious. You know, you scared him to death. I think, ha-ha, oh, I see I need to shut up.” Rowan was laughing again. 

She had to wipe her face slightly; she had actually cried from laughter. 

Taj felt dissatisfied with himself. It was an impulsive mistake. Why did he do it? What she said was true—he didn’t do this kind of thing. 

Rowan’s laughter faded. She looked at him with unexpected calm. “What I mean, Taj, is that we’ve been friends for a long time, and I’ve never seen you engage with anyone. So, if there is any spark, try it. I wish you well. What do you think?”

“I wish you well too. I think I made a mistake; I do not feel it was good. Let’s leave it. Thank you.” Taj said, and she nodded.

They walked in silence for a moment. 

Taj was thinking. Would he need to apologize? Maybe he should. Or perhaps it would be better to do it as usual, not to continue this topic and ignore this boy, like everyone else?

Definitely, he needed to be more careful in the future. Then Taj had an additional thought.

“And you?” he asked. He wanted to ask about it for a long time.

“Me? What do you mean?” Rowan seemed surprised by the question.

“You—do you like anyone?” Taj asked further and looked at her with attention.

“No, not really. But Taj, you also truly do not have someone you like, right?” she asked back.

“Correct,” he answered.

“Me too, but it will happen. I am not worried. If not, then fine too. You can’t force it, right?” Rowan smiled. 

“No. Love cannot be forced. I wondered if you fell in love, would it change our friendship?” 

It worried him. Rowan was his friend, the only one he had. Finding someone, having a family. What then about him? Would he be alone again? Or not because he might become a part of her family? 

Taj recently had an understanding that after he met Rowan, he was even more afraid of loneliness than he was before. He had something to lose, someone to lose—and that was terrifying.

“No, why? Just don’t fall in love with my man, and we will be good, ha-ha.” Rowan laughed. 

“O, amazing, very funny, you…” He relaxed and gave her a little flick on the forehead.

“We are friends, and that’s the best. And you know what? I am hungry!” she exclaimed.

“Again?” Taj smiled, the tension easing a little. 

He followed her to the bao stand nearby. At least today, he could buy whatever she wanted. The money from his lessons had arrived in his account. At least this.