A Conversation That Stays

Elara couldn't stop thinking about Theo's answer.

Travel. Freedom. No deadlines. No plans.

It was such a simple dream, yet there was something heavy in the way he had said it—like he had already accepted that it would never happen.

She wondered how many of her own dreams she had given up on before even trying.

The next time they met at the café, the air between them felt different. Not in a bad way, just… thoughtful. Like they had both been turning over the conversation in their minds.

Elara decided to push it a little further. "Did you always want to study this?" she asked, watching Theo as he set down his coffee.

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Engineering?"

She nodded.

He exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "Not really. I mean, I like it, but…" He hesitated. "I guess I just went with what made sense."

Elara rested her chin on her palm. "What would you have chosen if you could do anything?"

Theo smirked. "Are we doing another deep life question session?"

"Hey, you started it," she shot back, sipping her drink with a challenging look in her eyes.

He hummed, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. "Maybe something creative. Photography, writing. I don't know."

"You don't sound convinced."

He chuckled, but there was something subdued about it. "I guess I just don't think about it much. Feels kind of pointless."

Something about that answer unsettled her. It wasn't that she thought everyone had to chase their wildest dreams, but… Theo was smart. Thoughtful. The kind of person who deserved to go after the things that made him happy.

But he didn't even consider it an option.

The thought lingered in the back of her mind as they sat in comfortable silence, the chatter of other students filling the café around them. She had never considered herself someone who could inspire others, but right now, she felt an urge to say something—something that might make a difference.

Elara was quiet for a moment before she said, "You know, I think you'd be good at that."

Theo blinked. "At what?"

"Photography. Writing. Something creative."

He looked at her for a long moment, as if trying to figure out if she really meant it. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, and for the first time, she saw something different in his expression—not just the usual calm and collected Theo, but something softer. Something almost vulnerable.

"…Thanks," he said, voice quieter than usual. It wasn't just polite gratitude—it was real. Like no one had ever told him that before.

The conversation shifted after that. Not abruptly, but naturally. They started talking about places they wanted to visit, their bucket lists, the ridiculous travel vlogs they had seen online. And the more Theo spoke, the more Elara saw flashes of something—something deeper, something passionate.

She hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected to feel… this much just from a conversation.

Her phone vibrated.

"Challenge Completed! +20 Confidence Points."

She barely glanced at it.

Because this moment? This conversation?

This one was just for her.

Later that night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Elara thought about the way Theo's eyes had brightened when he talked about adventure, about creativity, about the life he didn't think he could have.

And she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could help him believe in it again.