The train he rode in had its final destination at City D.
Still having some time, he chose to visit his friends' university.
"You look different," Gabriel said upon meeting him in a café within their university.
A place others not studying within the university could still go.
"Why do you look thinner?" Justin asked back.
Gabriel shrugged.
What he was doing was not easy.
Despite how studious he is or how great his mind works, time won't always be on his side.
Even though he eats properly, there are still busy moments, the reason why he lost weight.
"Too bad, Shawn is actually back in City S. And when I get there, he will be here," he shook his head.
"You look different," Gabriel repeated his first words.
Justin blinked before he grinned, "Do I look more mature now?"
Gabriel simply stared at him.
"Well, I did learn a lot of things. And I was grateful I was allowed to push through with this plan."
"Hmm, what's your next plan?"
Justin sipped from his cup and sighed contentedly.
Of course, he missed all these things. Even though he enjoyed his time in the countryside, he still looks forward to when he returns to the city.
"There is a competition that my teacher wants me to join."
"What competition?"
"Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists is among the top five violin competitions in the whole world. And this is the only time I would be able to join it due to age restrictions."
Gabriel stared at him for a good while, "You seem to have more confidence now."
Justin nodded with a wide smile, "I do. I tell you, that journey was truly something else. I felt like I would have a bigger chance of winning it. And I even have another goal now, I will win more of those top-tier competitions in the future. Especially the International Tchaikovsky Competition that happens every four years."
Gabriel watched him enthusiastically speak of this.
"It just finished so the next one would be in four years. But I won't jump such a high hurdle so fast. So I will try and join the one that will be held after that. I will surely improve by leaps and bounds from there."
Gabriel had on a half-smile looking at the radiant smile on Justin's face.
"How about you? How was your life?" Justin asked this time.
"Still the same. Though I did pick up a hobby," Gabriel replied, drinking his own coffee.
"What kind of hobby? Different from just reading novels?"
All their high school they were aware that Gabriel loves reading, whether educational or not. Novels included, he was fond of reading different stories.
But of course, what he liked reading the most were those that are related to medicine.
"I have to lessen that. Too many things to study," Gabriel replied with a shrug.
"Then what is it?" Justin became increasingly curious.
"Painting."
"Huh?" Justin reacted, wondering if he was hearing things.
Gabriel raised his eyebrow, he knew Justin had heard him.
"Were… you attracted to painting even way back?" Justin asked.
"Yes."
Justin slowly nodded his head, "It is not that it was unbelievable. It was just unexpected. Throughout high school, we did not hear you speak about painting."
"High school wasn't as hard as university," Gabriel explained.
"That is true indeed," he agreed.
"I want to see," he then said.
Gabriel stared at him for a good while.
"Come on, it is not like I want to see, to tease you. I am just curious."
"…"
"Stingy," Justin pouted.
Gabriel's stand shows that he won't show him no matter what.
"Where would your competition be?" Gabriel asked this time.
"Austria. We will leave a month before the official start of the competition. It will be in April so we will leave in March. Since it is already the end of July, I only have eight months left till then."
"Good luck with your preparation," Gabriel patted his shoulder.
"Thanks," Justin said.
As the two of them stepped out of the coffee shop, rain came pouring.
"The rainy season is becoming more and more unpredictable. Last year, there was a typhoon before we left for Bea's performance," Justin commented while shaking his head.
"Do you have an umbrella?" Gabriel asked him.
Since he had just returned to the city from a journey, Gabriel asked.
He has an umbrella with him since the weather forecast spoke of rain during the afternoon and his building is so close that he can walk under some roof before getting there.
Justin smiled, knowing what he was thinking.
"Don't worry about me. It is best for you not to get sick since you have a lot of things lined up. Go on to your class, I can hang around here before leaving once the rain lets up."
Gabriel nodded, "Message me when you return."
Justin grinned, "I will. Now go on or you'd be late."
Gabriel bid him goodbye and left.
Meanwhile, Justin looked around.
They were still within the campus, it was the path towards the gate that had no shade on it. The coffee shop and other shops are all within one building like a small mall within the campus.
"Don't they have a convenience store here that one can go to? Or should I guess which restaurant is good here," he wondered when he saw a familiar figure.
He walked up seeing her sway while some students not noticing her presence, bumping on her.
"Woah, be careful," he caught her arm and helped her steady herself.
The students who bumped into her were stunned by his sudden arrival and realizing their mistake, apologized to her.
"What were you doing?" one asked the one who bumped into her.
"I seriously did not notice her," the other answered.
Justin watched them walk away before looking back on her.
"Are you okay, Harmony?"
Harmony looked up at him, "Yes. Thank you."
"You look pale again," he remarked, seeing her complexion.
"This is nothing."
After their visit to New York and she got to spend more time with them almost 24/7, Harmony has let her guard down around them even more.