YOUSEF: kicking a pebble This bus is never on time. Why do we still bother?
SAMIR laughs nervously Because walking home takes an hour, and your shoes always complain louder than you do.
YOUSEF (smirks) They’re not the only ones tired of waiting.
(Pause. You both sit on the cold bench. The silence is comfortable—but heavy.)
SAMIR (quietly) Do you ever think about leaving this town?
YOUSEF All the time. But something always keeps me here. (glances at you) You?
SAMIR ...Yeah. Same.
(Another pause. You clutch the letter in your pocket. Your heart is loud. You look at him. He’s staring at the stars.)
SAMIR There’s something I… I’ve been meaning to tell you.
YOUSEF (softly) I know.
SAMIR (startled) You do?
YOUSEF (turns to face you) I hoped.
(You slowly take the folded paper out of your pocket and hand it to him. He looks at it, then back at you.)
YOUSEF You want me to read this now?
SAMIR If you want to. Or I can just say it. But... it's easier written.
(He unfolds it. The camera could show a little bit of the letter: “I don’t know when it started. Maybe when you lent me your hoodie. Or maybe the night we walked home in the rain…”)
(His eyes stay on the paper longer than expected. Then he folds it back carefully.)
YOUSEF (barely above a whisper) I always knew... but hearing it like that…
(He stands up, walks a few steps away like he’s thinking. Then turns back.)
YOUSEF You once asked why I stay here, Samir. You. That’s why.
(He walks back, and you both just stand there—close now. So close. The bus headlights appear in the distance…)
SAMIR (barely audible) We should get on.
YOUSEF Do you want to?
You shake your head slowly. He smiles. The bus stops. Waits. Leaves without you.
YOUSEF playfully You know we’ll have to walk now, right?
SAMIR I don’t care. If I’m walking next to you, I could go forever.
Yousef slips his hand into yours.
YOUSEF Good. Then let’s take the long way home.
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