The notification buzzed softly against Ren's palm.
Congratulations!
You've been selected for the Software Development Internship.
Please confirm your availability for onboarding this month.
For a second, he just stared at the screen.
Then the corner of his lips lifted not a grin, just a quiet, stunned smile. The kind that happens when something you didn't expect... actually happens.
He reread the mail three times. Forwarded it to Maya. To his cousin.
Everyone was ecstatic.
Tulip didn't reply right away. He stared at her chat window for a while. The three dots never appeared.
He thought of sending a voice note. Then didn't.
The next day, he walked into the tech store near college.
His budget was tight, but screw it. He bought himself new wireless earphones not flashy, just practical, clean white.
As the guy was packing them, Ren's eyes landed on a small display near the counter.
It was a tiny crystal turtle.
Tulip had once told him she liked turtles because they carried their homes with them safe and slow, but always moving.
He bought it.
No second thoughts.
That night, it rained. His head felt heavy. His throat, scratchy.
Probably the sudden weather. Or maybe the AC on full blast at the office orientation.
He ignored it. Taped the gift box shut, added a sticky note with a dumb joke only she'd get.
"This turtle's not as fast as me in chess, but it's close."
Then he messaged her:
"Got the offer. I got in. I actually got in."
No reply.
He messaged again.
"Also bought something stupid you'd like lol"
This time, she saw it.
Then she replied.
"Congrats."
"I'm happy for you."
"Sorry, just not feeling like talking much. I'm fine."
The fever hit properly the next morning.
He skipped lunch. Slept through most of the day.
Woke up groggy, expecting a missed call maybe. Or just a "did you eat?"
Nothing.
At 1:23 a.m., he opened her chat again.
Typed:
"Did I do something?"
Deleted it.
Typed:
"You don't sound fine."
Deleted it again.
He glanced at the gift box sitting on his table.
Still wrapped. Still sealed.
The sticky note with the turtle joke was curling at the edges now.
He looked away.
The box stayed there.
Unopened.
Like the message he never sent.
Like the part of him still waiting.
He turned off his phone. Pulled the blanket over his head. Tried not to think.
(The gift box didn't move.)