The tram rattled along the coastline, windows streaked with fingerprints. Evan sat near the back, camera resting in his lap, thumb rubbing the edge of its strap until the skin warmed. A dented pineapple can rolled softly against his bag every time the tram turned.

The sea followed them the entire way.

Mira had sent him a song earlier—Palace, no explanation, just a link and a quiet listen to this. He slipped his headphones on and let the music settle in his ears.

No other.

The voice was soft, almost distant, like it was meant to be overheard rather than listened to.

My soul breaks purely, freely. to the mouth of the ocean.

Oh, you're like no other, Let's blossom into lighter days

Something in his chest tightened.

Evan kept his gaze on his reflection in the glass instead of the waves beyond it. His eyes looked paler like this, washed out. The white strands in his black hair caught the light—impossible to hide, no matter how often he trimmed them.

The lyrics bled into the rhythm of the tram, into the hush of the water outside. He couldn’t tell where the song ended and the sea began.

I should capture that later, he thought.

His phone buzzed.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Joseph: at uni by 15:30
Joseph: Don't vanish!
Joseph: see u there cameraman..

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Evan exhaled a smile and typed back.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Evan: Is Mira coming?

Joseph: ofc!
Joseph: smarty pants is here with me.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

The tram lurched to a stop. Evan stood, camera bumping lightly against his chest, and stepped onto the platform.

The university had settled into its usual rhythm—voices echoing down concrete corridors, doors slamming, someone always laughing too loud near the vending machines.

Evan slipped into his seat just as the lecture began, camera bag tucked carefully at his feet. He tried to focus. He really did. But his thoughts kept drifting—back to the sea, to the strange stillness of the sea in the past few days.

Across campus, Joseph was having a much louder morning.

“—I’m just saying,” he announced to no one in particular, leaning back in his chair, “If obsession could be athletic, Vesna was its final form."

Vesna, captain of the women’s volleyball club, didn’t look up from her notes. She did, however, kick his chair.

Joseph yelped. “Ouch”

“You’re blocking my view,” she said flatly.

“I’m enhancing it.”

She finally looked at him—tall, sharp-eyed, unimpressed.
“You’re exhausting.”

Joseph beamed. “You say that like it’s not my greatest achievement.”

Her teammate snorted. Vesna shook her head, but there was the smallest smile there—traitorous and fleeting.

Joseph noticed. Of course he did.

__________________________________________________________________________________

By the time Mira finished her class, she already had a headache.

She had been on the phone with her sister, Wanda.

“Our parents aren’t coming tonight,” Wanda said. “They’ve got an important meeting. I’ll come home late too. Take care of Yani.”

Mira liked order. Schedules. Being early. Being prepared.

What she didn’t like was how her thoughts kept slipping away from her notes and into unfinished melodies, half-written lyrics, the low hum of something restless beneath her skin.

She packed up quickly and headed toward the cafeteria.

The trio met there by accident.
Or maybe by habit.

Joseph spotted Evan first and waved like they hadn’t seen each other in years. “There he is! Local cryptid returns.”

“Hard to miss. Joseph's red curls give him away every time.”, Evan thought

He smiled—small, genuine. “You’re loud.”

“Correct.”

Mira slid into the seat across from them, She cracked her knuckles once, twice. And adjusted her glasses, dropping her tray. “I swear, if one more person asks me about Mr. Nickerbocker’s lecture notes—”

“Hello miss famous, you’re playing next week, right?” Joseph said. “You should enjoy the fame.”

“I enjoy sleeping too,” she replied.

Joseph glanced past them, eyes lighting up. “Speaking of things I enjoy—”

“No,” Mira said immediately.

“—Vesna.”

Mira rolled her eyes.

“Hm. Are you jealous, Mira?”

“You wish.”

Evan followed his gaze, amused. “She hasn’t looked at you once.”

“She kicked my chair earlier.”

Mira blinked. “That’s flirting?”

“In some cultures,” Joseph said solemnly, “that’s a proposal.”

Mira giggled. Joseph always got like this around pretty, athletic women—predictable and hopeless.

Joseph leaned back. “Anyways—how’s your concert prep going? Is Demian still working at the record shop?, and has Qi Yi started threatening him with drumsticks yet?”

Mira laughed. “Mostly me keeping them in line. Demian’s older brother is working in his stead at the record shop for now, picking up some albums.”

Joseph’s eyes lit up, leaning forward like he’d just uncovered a secret treasure. “OHO. Albums, you say? Does Sade happen to be in stock? Asking for a… friend.”

Evan snorted quietly, trying not to laugh. Mira arched an eyebrow. “Your ‘friend’ has good taste, apparently. But I don’t think anyone’s letting them take the first copy.”

“Hmm,” Joseph said, tapping his chin, dramatic as ever. “Then I’ll have to improvise..”

Joseph grinning. “You have me as your unofficial hype man, and a cameraman,” he nodded at Evan, “Can’t you do us a favor?” 

Mira glanced back and forth between the two, confused “When did Evan agree to get Sade’s albums?”

Evan smiled, a little shy, but warm. “I… don’t mind.”

He paused, then thought, I like being around these two.

Mira’s expression softened. 

Joseph’s grin widened. “Congratulations. You’re stuck with us.”

The trio laughed lightly, their voices blending into the hum of the cafeteria.