AEOTM Chapter 4
The Girl in Pink
Hum~
Ari plugged her earphones back in and turned to the window, hoping to avoid any further stretch of conversation.
"Hey, what's your Insta ID?" the girl in pink asked, tilting her head and waving her phone playfully.
Silence.
"You really don't talk much, do you?"
"And you can't take a hint, can you?"
Pause.
She felt bad for snapping at the cheerful girl – especially after she had gone out of her way to return the lost page.
"Apology accepted!" The girl in pink beamed and plopped down beside Ari.
Ari sighed. So much for her "stay away from me" act. She pulled out her earphones and stuffed them into her bag, silently wishing the journey would end quickly.
"I'm Amy, by the way," the girl said brightly.
Ari glanced at her. "Hi, Amy?"
"Yes!" Amy grinned. "So, what do you do? Besides writing awesome songs, I mean."
Ari hesitated. Should I really be going into details with a stranger?
"I... work," she muttered, vague and careful.
Amy's eyes sparkled. "I'm a content creator ! You should totally start a YouTube channel! Share your songs with people!"
Ari raised an eyebrow subtly. "I don't... really do social media."
Amy leaned closer, as if sharing a secret. "Come on, you could be amazing. People would love it."
Ari smiled faintly, hiding her blush. Nice idea... but that's not for me. She barely had time to get through mornings doing remote data entry and evenings at the café. YouTube content creation felt like a far-off luxury, something people with fewer constraints and more energy could chase. Amy was young, carefree, full of enthusiasm — and that was fine. Ari didn't resent it. She just had her own pace, her own quiet world, and sharing it online wasn't part of it.
"Maybe... another time," she said softly, brushing off the idea with a wry smile.
Ari had always been practical, even back in college. She had completed her BBA in HR from a local college and, after leaving her village, moved to the capital city for her first real opportunity – a position she had secured through a campus placement. She had been delighted, feeling as if she had finally gained a taste of freedom. For a while, life seemed straightforward: graduate, get a job, move up. But entry-level HR roles had been swiftly replaced by AI, leaving her adrift. She had learned early that plans could crumble, and that sometimes, surviving quietly was its own kind of achievement.
Amy shrugged, unfazed. "Alright, but I'm not giving up that easily."
Amy's chatter continued, about the new catchy song on Insta, a funny mishap during her trip with her friends, and the movie they were going to watch later. Ari nodded occasionally, offering faint smiles, adding a word or two here and there, letting the city blur past.
Finally, the announcement came, and Amy had to get down. She grabbed her Hello Kitty sling bag, waved excitedly, and hopped off the train. Ari returned the wave, watching the door slide shut, leaving her alone once more.
What a cheerful girl, she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Ari glanced down at her phone and started browsing through her manga. She skipped the panels, her mind lingering on what Amy had said earlier.
YouTube, huh?
-TBC-
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