Episode 4 Something Felt Different

My body froze.

For a second, I couldn't move at all.

Slowly, I forced myself to turn around.

My eyes landed on a pair of white sneakers first.

Then traveled upward.

Blue jeans.

A black hoodie.

Broad shoulders.

And finally—

Theo.

His bright smile immediately appeared the moment our eyes met.

For some reason, my heartbeat stumbled.

Theo didn't hesitate for even a second.

He casually walked over before lowering himself onto the grass beside me as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Close enough for me to catch the familiar scent of his cologne whenever the wind shifted.

"You took a day off from university?" he asked.

His voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I quickly looked away and nodded.

"Yeah."

"What about you?" I asked. "Did you skip too?"

Theo laughed softly.

The sound was warm.

Easy.

Comfortable.

"No," he said. "We actually got the day off."

I looked at him curiously.

"Why?"

"Basketball competition tomorrow."

"Oh."

I nodded in understanding before turning my attention back toward the flowers and trees

surrounding the park.

The place was peaceful.

Quiet.

The gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers through the air while sunlight filtered through the leaves above us.

I loved places like this.

They made everything feel lighter.

For a few moments neither of us spoke.

Then Theo suddenly said,

"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?"

Without thinking, I smiled softly at the colorful flowers ahead.

"Yeah," I replied. "It's really beautiful."

Silence.

Then beside me—

Theo chuckled.

I blinked and turned toward him in confusion.

"What?"

His smile widened slightly.

"Nothing."

But the way he was looking at me made my heart skip strangely.

Because Theo wasn't looking at the flowers.

He wasn't looking at the trees.

Or the sunlight.

He was looking at me.

The breeze gently moved a few loose strands of hair around my face while sunlight danced across my features.

And Theo's gaze didn't move away.

Not even for a second.

A softness appeared in his eyes that made my chest feel unexpectedly warm.

Meanwhile, I remained completely unaware.

Still thinking he was talking about the scenery.

Theo shook his head lightly, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

Somehow, watching me be so adorably oblivious was becoming one of his favorite things.

— Miles' POV —

The university was loud.

Too loud.

Students filled the hallways, professors droned on about assignments nobody cared about, and somehow everyone seemed determined to be annoying before noon.

I was already over it.

The second the lecture ended, I shoved my hands into my pockets and walked straight past my next classroom.

No hesitation.

No guilt.

I wasn't attending another second of class today.

Behind me, Leo noticed immediately.

"You're skipping again?"

"Obviously."

Daimen looked offended.

"Some of us are trying to get an education."

"Then go get one."

Leo laughed.

Daimen looked even more offended.

I left them arguing and headed toward the rooftop staircase.

The higher I climbed, the quieter everything became.

Good.

I pushed open the rooftop door and stepped outside.

Fresh air immediately hit my face.

The city stretched endlessly beyond the university buildings while the morning breeze tugged lightly at my hair.

Usually this place helped.

Usually coming here made my head feel less crowded.

Today?

Not so much.

I dropped onto the concrete ledge and pulled out my phone.

Then immediately locked it again.

Nothing interesting.

Nothing worth looking at.

A sigh escaped me.

Something felt off.

For a few moments I simply sat there staring at the city below.

Then my thoughts drifted somewhere they absolutely shouldn't have.

Katie.

Again.

My jaw tightened slightly.

Seriously?

Even when she wasn't around, she somehow managed to occupy my entire brain.

Annoying.

Extremely annoying.

I leaned my head back against the wall.

Maybe it was because she wasn't in class today.

The seat in front of mine had been empty all morning.

No dramatic arguments.

No sarcastic comments.

No turning around every five minutes to glare at me.

Nothing.

Just an empty chair.

And somehow...

The classroom had felt weird because of it.

Boring.

I hated admitting that.

The realization alone irritated me.

I pulled my phone out again.

Opened our chat.

Stared at it.

Then closed it immediately.

Pathetic.

What was I supposed to do?

Text her:

"Hey, why aren't you here?"

Absolutely not.

I had standards.

At least a few.

The rooftop door suddenly opened behind me.

Leo stepped outside holding two drinks.

Of course he found me.

He always did.

Without asking, he tossed one toward me.

I caught it easily.

"You're grumpy."

"I'm always grumpy."

"Not like this."

I ignored him.

Leo sat down beside me.

For a few moments he remained quiet.

Then suddenly—

"Katie isn't here today."

I immediately looked at him.

Leo's grin widened.

"I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"That's why you're annoyed."

I rolled my eyes.

"You should try comedy."

"You miss her."

"I don't."

"You looked at her empty seat six times."

I froze.

Leo pointed dramatically.

"SEVEN."

"Shut up."

He laughed so hard he nearly dropped his drink.

Unfortunately for me—

He wasn't completely wrong.

Because every time I glanced toward the front of the classroom...

My eyes automatically searched for her.

The empty seat.

The messy notes.

The stupid pink pen she always carried.

And every time she wasn't there...

Something felt missing.

Like a song playing without part of the melody.

I hated that feeling.

Hated it.

Because it meant I was losing control of something.

And I didn't like losing control.

Especially not over a girl.

A dangerous girl.

One who worked three jobs.

One who smiled at her little brother like he was her entire world.

One who somehow looked beautiful even when she was threatening to murder me.

My phone buzzed suddenly.

For half a second, my heart reacted before my brain did.

Katie?

No.

Just a basketball group chat.

I scoffed.

Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.

Leo watched the entire thing happen.

Then laughed again.

"You've got it bad."

I stood up immediately.

"Leave."

"You definitely have it bad."

"Leo."

He raised both hands in surrender.

"I'm leaving."

As he walked back toward the rooftop door, he glanced over his shoulder one last time.

Then said the worst thing possible.

"You're smiling."

I instantly stopped smiling.

Unfortunately...

The second he left, I realized he was right.

Because despite how much she annoyed me...

Despite how impossible she was...

Despite how much trouble she caused inside my head...

Just thinking about Katie somehow made the day feel less boring.

And that was becoming a serious problem.

— Katie's POV —

Time passed surprisingly fast with Theo.

Maybe it was because talking to him felt easy.

There was no pressure.

No teasing.

No constant arguments.

Just comfortable conversations that somehow made the hours slip away unnoticed.

We walked slowly through the park paths, talking about random things—university, classes, favorite foods, childhood memories.

For the first time in a long while, I found myself laughing without thinking about bills, work shifts, or responsibilities.

It felt... nice.

Then I casually checked the time on my phone.

My eyes widened.

"Oh shit."

I immediately stopped walking.

Theo looked at me in surprise.

"What happened?"

"It's my shift."

Panic immediately settled into my chest.

"I have to go."

I took a step backward while grabbing my bag properly.

"Theo, I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," he said with a small smile.

I smiled back apologetically before turning around.

But before I could take more than two steps—

A hand gently wrapped around my wrist.

Not forcefully.

Just enough to stop me.

My heart skipped unexpectedly.

I turned around.

Theo had already loosened his grip slightly, almost as if he was worried about making me uncomfortable.

His expression looked strangely hesitant.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly.

For a moment, he didn't answer.

Which immediately made me curious.

Theo was usually confident.

Easygoing.

The type of person who always seemed to know what to say.

Yet now he looked almost nervous.

Then finally, he spoke.

"Actually..."

His fingers slipped away from my wrist completely.

"I wanted to ask you something."

I tilted my head slightly.

"What is it?"

Theo rubbed the back of his neck and laughed quietly.

A little embarrassed.

"A basketball competition."

"The one tomorrow?"

He nodded.

"Yeah."

Then his eyes met mine.

And suddenly his usual playful smile softened.

"If you could come..." he said quietly, "I'd really like that."

For a second, my heart warmed.

Not because of the invitation.

But because of the sincerity in his voice.

It wasn't a casual offer.

He genuinely wanted me there.

I looked down for a moment.

Tomorrow.

Classes.

Work.

Responsibilities.

My schedule was already a mess.

"I might have lessons tomorrow," I admitted softly. "And work afterward."

For the briefest second—

Disappointment flashed across Theo's face.

Gone so quickly most people probably wouldn't have noticed.

But I did.

Still, he smiled anyway.

A smile that looked just a little forced.

"It's okay."

His voice remained gentle.

"I understand."

Something about that made me feel unexpectedly guilty.

Theo was always understanding.

Too understanding.

I looked down at the road for a moment before lifting my head again.

"I'll try."

His eyes brightened immediately.

Just slightly.

But enough for me to notice.

"Really?"

I laughed softly.

"I said I'll try."

"That's good enough."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The afternoon breeze moved through the trees above us, carrying flower petals across the pathway.

Then Theo stepped backward slowly.

"Don't be late for work."

I smiled.

"I won't."

"See you soon, Katie."

His voice sounded warmer when he said my name.

And somehow that made my stomach flutter.

I quickly ignored it.

"See you soon, Theo."

With one final smile, he turned and started walking away.

I watched him disappear down the pathway

before finally letting out a quiet breath.

Then I looked toward the direction of the café.

Work was waiting.

And somehow...

As I hurried toward my shift, I couldn't stop thinking about the way Theo had looked when he

asked me to come watch him play.

Like it actually mattered whether I showed up or not.

Not long after leaving the park, I arrived at the café.

The familiar scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries greeted me the moment I stepped inside.

Julie was already working behind the counter with two other employees, moving around as quickly as always.

"Hey, Julie," I called out.

She looked up and smiled.

"Katie!"

I waved before heading into the staff room.

After placing my bag inside my locker, I tied my apron around my waist and glanced at my reflection in the metal cabinet.

A tired-looking girl stared back at me.

But my mind wasn't on work.

Tomorrow.

Everything was happening tomorrow.

Julie's birthday party.

Theo's basketball competition.

Zehao's school trip.

My shifts.

My responsibilities.

My entire brain felt like a tangled knot.

"Ugh..."

I groaned quietly.

"What am I even supposed to do?"

For the first time in forever, I actually had plans.

Real plans.

Plans that didn't involve studying, working, cleaning, cooking, or worrying about bills.

I stared at my reflection for a moment.

Then suddenly—

A small smug smile appeared on my face.

You know what?

Maybe this time...

I should choose myself.

Just once.

Just one day.

One day of having fun wouldn't destroy the world.

Right?

My smile widened.

Tomorrow, Zehao would be away on his school trip.

And if I requested a day off from work—

I could actually attend the party.

The realization felt weirdly exciting.

I pointed at my reflection dramatically.

"Look at you, Katie."

I smirked.

"Making reckless decisions."

For once, it felt nice.

A few minutes later, I stepped back outside and started helping customers.

The afternoon rush wasn't too bad.

At least until Julie suddenly appeared beside me.

"Katie."

I immediately knew that tone.

"What?"

She stared at me suspiciously.

"Are you coming tomorrow?"

I blinked innocently

.

"Tomorrow?"

Julie narrowed her eyes.

"Don't start."

I shrugged dramatically.

"I don't think I can come."

The disappointment on her face was immediate.

"But..."

She looked genuinely hurt.

"You said you'd try."

My chest pinched slightly.

Still, I forced myself to continue acting.

"I know, but—"

Julie lowered her gaze.

"Oh."

The excitement disappeared from her face completely.

"It's okay."

She gave me a small smile.

One that looked far too sad.

"I understand."

Then she turned around.

And started walking away.

My guilt lasted approximately three seconds.

Then I couldn't take it anymore.

"Stupid lady."

Before she could react, I wrapped my arms around her from behind.

Julie froze.

"What?"

I laughed.

"I'm coming."

She turned around so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash.

"What?!"

I winked.

"How could I miss your birthday?"

For a second, she just stared at me.

Then—

"KATIE!"

She practically tackled me in excitement.

I burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay!"

Her eyes sparkled.

"You're serious?!"

I nodded.

"I'm serious."

Julie looked moments away from crying.

Then suddenly she paused.

"Wait."

Her expression changed.

"What about Zehao?"

I smiled.

"He's going on his school trip tomorrow morning."

Her eyes widened.

"The overnight one?"

"Yep."

"And he'll be gone until Friday morning?"

I nodded.

Julie looked shocked.

Then suspicious.

"What about work?"

I already knew that question was coming.

"I'll take a day off."

Silence.

Julie stared at me.

Then stared harder.

Then stared even harder.

I sighed.

"What?"

"You?"

She pointed dramatically.

"Taking a day off?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

"The Katie who comes to work even when she's half-dead?"

"Julie—"

"The Katie who treats paid leave like it's illegal?"

"Julie."

"The Katie who—"

"JULIE."

She immediately shut up.

Then slowly—

Very slowly—

A huge grin spread across her face.

"Oh my God."

She grabbed my shoulders.

"The world is ending."

I laughed despite myself.

Julie shook her head in disbelief.

"No, seriously."

She looked emotional.

"This is character development."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're ridiculous."

"And you're finally acting like a twenty-year-old."

Honestly?

For the first time in a long while...

Maybe she was right.

Maybe tomorrow wouldn't be about work.

Maybe tomorrow could be about having fun.

And somehow...

That thought made me smile all afternoon.

The rest of my shift passed surprisingly fast.

Maybe it was because for once, I actually had something to look forward to.

Tomorrow.

The thought alone made me smile every few minutes.

As the last customer left and the café slowly grew quieter, I untied my apron and headed into the employee room.

Then I stopped.

My phone was in my hand.

My thumb hovered nervously over a contact.

Boss.

I swallowed.

Why was this so terrifying?

I had worked here for months.

I was never late.

Never missed shifts.

Never caused trouble.

And yet asking for a day off somehow felt harder than taking a final exam.

"Come on, Katie," I muttered to myself. "You're literally just asking a question."

My finger pressed the call button.

The phone started ringing.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Each ring made my anxiety worse.

Then finally—

The call connected.

"Hello?"

I immediately straightened up.

"Hello, boss!"

His familiar laugh came through the speaker.

"Hey, Katie."

His voice sounded relaxed.

"What's up? Everything okay?"

I nodded instinctively before realizing he couldn't see me.

"Y-Yes."

My grip tightened around the phone.

"Everything's okay."

"Good."

A brief pause followed.

"Then what's going on?"

I took a deep breath.

"I wanted to ask something."

"Ask something?" he repeated.

"What's that?"

"No—I mean..."

I instantly stumbled over my words.

Heat rushed to my face.

"I don't want to ask something."

Smooth, Katie.

Very smooth.

"I mean—I wanted permission for something."

A small chuckle came from the other end of the call.

"Okay."

His voice remained patient.

"Go ahead."

For some reason, my heart started racing.

Maybe because I almost never asked for anything.

Maybe because taking a day off felt selfish.

Maybe because part of me was worried he'd say no.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Then finally spoke.

"Can I have tomorrow off?"

Silence.

My stomach immediately dropped.

Oh no.

Maybe I should explain.

Maybe he thinks I'm being irresponsible.

Maybe—

"Actually, I have a—"

"Sure."

I blinked.

"...What?"

"You can have tomorrow off."

For a second, I genuinely forgot how to breathe.

His voice softened slightly.

"It's the first time you've ever asked."

I stood there completely frozen.

Then relief crashed into me so hard I almost laughed.

"You mean it?"

"Of course."

The amusement in his voice was obvious now.

"Katie, if anyone deserves a day off, it's probably you."

Something warm settled inside my chest.

A feeling I hadn't expected.

Because for so long, working had become normal.

Responsibilities had become normal.

Being tired had become normal.

And somehow hearing someone tell me it was okay to rest felt strangely emotional.

A smile spread across my face.

A real one.

"Thank you."

I meant it.

"Seriously, thank you."

"Enjoy your day," he replied warmly.

"I will."

After saying goodbye, I ended the call.

For exactly two seconds, I stood completely still.

Then—

"OH MY GOD."

I jumped into the air.

"HE SAID YES!"

The employee room suddenly became my personal concert stage.

I spun in a circle.

"DID YOU HEAR THAT, KATIE?"

I pointed dramatically at my reflection in the metal locker.

"YOU DID IT."

I threw both fists into the air.

"YOU ACTUALLY ASKED."

Then I immediately started doing a ridiculous victory dance.

"WOOHOO!"

A spin.

A little jump.

An embarrassing shoulder shake.

"Oh yeah!"

Another spin.

"Ohhh yeah!"

If anyone saw me right now, I would never recover.

Thankfully, nobody was there.

Or so I thought.

The employee room door suddenly opened.

One of the staff members walked in.

I froze mid-dance.

They froze too.

We stared at each other.

Silence.

Then I slowly grabbed my bag.

"...You saw nothing."

The employee immediately nodded.

"I saw nothing."

"Good."

With whatever dignity I had left, I grabbed my apron, shoved it into my bag, and escaped the room.

The second I stepped back into the café, I spotted Julie near the counter finishing up for the night.

A mischievous grin immediately appeared on my face.

Without warning, I blew her a dramatic kiss.

"See you tomorrow, love."

I added an exaggerated wink.

Julie's jaw dropped.

"KATIE!"

I laughed so hard I nearly tripped over my own feet.

For once...

For the first time in a very long time...

I felt light.

Excited.

Happy.

Tomorrow wasn't going to be about work.

Tomorrow was going to be mine.

Still smiling to myself, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and headed out into the evening air.

My babysitting job was waiting.

But somehow...

The entire world felt a little brighter than it had that morning.

Time passed quickly after that.

My babysitting shift ended not long after, and with my confidence still somehow intact from earlier, I gathered the courage to ask for a day off there too.

To my surprise—

They agreed immediately.

Apparently being a reliable employee for months had its advantages.

Who knew?

By the time I left, a strange feeling of excitement was bubbling inside me.

One by one, every responsibility for tomorrow was disappearing.

For the first time in forever...

I was actually going to have a day for myself.

My final shift was at the bakery.

The familiar scent of warm bread, vanilla, and sugar wrapped around me the moment I stepped inside.

The hours passed peacefully.

And before I knew it, I was handing a paper bag of sweets to the last customer of the night.

"Thank you," I said with a smile.

The customer smiled back before leaving through the bakery doors.

The little bell above the entrance chimed softly.

Then silence settled over the bakery.

I let out a tired breath.

A happy one.

Suddenly, a familiar hand patted my shoulder.

I turned around.

The old bakery owner stood there, smiling warmly.

"You look happy today."

I blinked.

Then laughed softly.

"Do I?"

She nodded immediately.

"Very."

Her eyes narrowed knowingly.

"And don't even try telling me it's nothing."

I looked away, embarrassed.

Because honestly...

She wasn't wrong.

There was a reason.

Actually, several reasons.

Julie.

Theo.

And...

My thoughts briefly drifted toward Miles.

I immediately frowned.

What exactly was Miles?

Definitely not a friend.

Absolutely not.

Something else.

Something confusing.

Something I didn't have a name for.

The thought alone made my heart do something annoying.

I ignored it.

"I think..." I started quietly.

The old woman waited patiently.

"I think I made friends."

A smile appeared on her face instantly.

The kind that only grandparents seemed capable of giving.

Soft.

Proud.

Warm.

"Real friends?"

I nodded.

"Real friends."

The old woman looked genuinely happy.

And somehow...

That made me emotional too.

Because she knew.

She knew how lonely my life had become.

How every day revolved around work, university, bills, and responsibilities.

She knew without me ever having to explain.

Before I could say anything else, she surprised me.

"You can have tomorrow off."

I blinked.

"What?"

She smiled.

"You heard me."

"But I didn't even ask yet—"

"I know."

Her eyes sparkled with amusement.

"You deserve a day with your friends."

For a second, I couldn't speak.

My chest tightened unexpectedly.

Everyone had said yes.

The café.

The babysitting family.

Now the bakery too.

As if the universe had suddenly decided to be kind for once.

I looked down quickly, blinking several times.

Because my eyes suddenly felt suspiciously

warm.

The old woman noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

She noticed everything.

A gentle smile touched her lips.

"You can hug me if you want."

That was it.

My self-control disappeared instantly.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.

Tightly.

The hug felt warm.

Safe.

Comforting.

Like something I hadn't realized I needed.

Her arms wrapped around me just as tightly.

"It's okay," she whispered.

One hand gently rubbed my back.

And then she said something that shattered whatever remained of my composure.

"It's okay, my daughter."

My daughter.

The words hit somewhere deep inside me.

For a second, I couldn't breathe.

My throat tightened painfully.

Because it had been so long since anyone had called me that with so much affection.

So much warmth.

So much love.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Trying desperately not to cry.

The old woman simply held me there.

Patiently.

Like she understood exactly what those words meant to me.

Eventually, I pulled away.

My eyes were suspiciously shiny.

And judging by the way she smiled...

She definitely noticed.

But thankfully, she didn't mention it.

Instead, she gently patted my shoulder.

"Go home."

Her voice was soft.

"Get some rest."

Then she smiled.

"And enjoy tomorrow."

I nodded.

A real smile spreading across my face.

"I will."

And for the first time in a very long time...

I truly meant it.

Not long after, I left the bakery and began the walk home.

The night air felt cool against my skin.

The city lights glowed softly around me.

And somehow...

Everything felt lighter.

By the time I reached my apartment building, exhaustion had finally started catching up to me.

I unlocked the door quietly and stepped inside.

The apartment was silent.

Warm.

Peaceful.

Then my eyes landed on the couch.

And immediately softened.

Zehao.

Fast asleep.

The television was still playing quietly in the background.

An empty plate sat on the table nearby, proving he had eaten dinner.

Relief instantly settled in my chest.

His head had fallen sideways against the couch cushion, and a blanket was half-draped over his legs like he'd tried covering himself before losing the battle against sleep.

A small smile escaped me.

"Oh, Zehao..."

I shook my head fondly.

No matter how responsible he acted...

Moments like this reminded me he was still just a kid.

My kid, in a way.

The one person in the world I'd do absolutely anything for.

And looking at him sleeping peacefully...

Made every sacrifice feel worth it.

After making sure Zehao was comfortable, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

A few minutes later, I came out wearing an oversized T-shirt and comfortable shorts, my hair tied into a messy bun on top of my head.

The apartment was quiet now.

Only the soft sound of the television remained.

I walked over to the couch and carefully lifted Zehao into my arms.

He stirred slightly but didn't wake up.

A small smile appeared on my face.

"Heavy."

I whispered the complaint affectionately before carrying him to his room.

Once there, I tucked him into bed properly, pulling the blanket up to his shoulders.

His face immediately relaxed deeper into sleep.

For a moment, I simply stood there looking at him.

Then quietly left the room.

Tomorrow was his trip.

And knowing Zehao, he'd probably forget half the things he needed.

So I grabbed his backpack and sat at the dining table.

One by one, I packed everything carefully.

Extra snacks.

A water bottle.

His swimsuit.

A small towel.

Then, after hesitating for a second, I slipped some money into one of the side pockets.

Just in case he wanted to buy something.

My fingers lingered on the zipper for a moment before I closed the bag.

Done.

The sight alone made me smile.

After that, I moved around the apartment cleaning.

The living room first.

Then the kitchen.

It wasn't dirty.

I was just restless.

Too excited to sleep.

Tomorrow felt different.

Special.

For the first time in months, I wasn't worried about assignments, shifts, bills, or responsibilities.

Tomorrow I could simply...

Live.

The thought felt almost unreal.

Once everything was clean, I glanced at the clock.

Then sighed.

Might as well prepare food too.

So I started making cheese pasta for Zehao.

The process took longer than expected.

Boiling.

Stirring.

Cleaning dishes.

Packing leftovers.

Before I knew it, hours had passed.

When I finally looked at the clock again—

3:00 AM.

"Oh."

I blinked.

No wonder my legs felt like they were about to fall off.

A tired laugh escaped me.

Only I would spend an entire night cleaning and cooking before a day off.

Satisfied with everything, I switched off the kitchen lights and headed toward my room.

The apartment was peaceful.

Quiet.

Safe.

I climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over myself.

For once, my mind wasn't crowded with worries.

No unpaid bills.

No anxiety.

No exhaustion.

Just thoughts of tomorrow.

Julie's birthday party.

Theo's basketball game.

A whole day without work.

A whole day where I could simply be Katie.

A small smile appeared on my lips.

It felt nice.

Really nice.

I reached over and switched off the bedside lamp.

Instantly, darkness filled the room.

The world became silent.

The city outside seemed far away.

And for the first time in a very long time—

I fell asleep feeling genuinely happy.

— Next Morning —

The sun rose once again.

Golden rays slipped through the curtains and spilled across my bed, warming my face.

A soft alarm began ringing from my nightstand.

For the first time in forever—

I didn't want to throw it across the room.

Instead, I opened my eyes immediately and sat up with a huge stretch.

"Ahhhhh..."

A satisfied sigh escaped me.

I smiled to myself.

"Good morning, Katie."

And surprisingly...

I actually meant it.

Today felt different.

Lighter.

Exciting.

I hopped out of bed, slipped on my slippers, and practically skipped toward Zehao's room

.

Without warning, I pushed open the door.

Then dramatically pulled his blanket away.

"Wake up, sleepyhead! Time for your trip!"

Unlike every other school morning, Zehao sat up almost instantly.

His sleepy eyes widened.

"Sister!"

He rubbed his eyes quickly.

"Did you get my clothes ready?"

The excitement in his voice made me laugh.

"Of course I did."

I crossed my arms proudly.

"Go get fresh. I'll put everything out for you."

"And your trip bag is already packed."

Immediately, his face lit up.

"Really?!"

"Really."

Without another word, he jumped off the bed and rushed toward the bathroom.

I could hear his excited footsteps the entire way.

A smile tugged at my lips.

He'd been looking forward to this trip for weeks.

Walking over to his closet, I picked out the outfit I'd prepared earlier.

A crisp white shirt.

Black pants.

And a brand-new pair of white socks.

I laid everything neatly on his bed.

"Your clothes are ready!" I called out.

"Wear them after you're done."

"Okayyyy!" he shouted back from the bathroom.

I shook my head fondly and headed toward the kitchen.

Soon, the smell of warm pancakes filled the apartment.

I stacked them neatly on a plate before drizzling chocolate syrup across the top.

Then added a swirl of whipped cream.

Perfect.

Meanwhile...

Inside his room—

Zehao burst out of the bathroom looking like pure happiness.

He danced across the room while pulling on his clothes.

"I'm gonna have fun~"

He sang the words dramatically while spinning in circles.

"I'm gonna have fun~"

I laughed under my breath.

Just a kid.

A normal, excited eleven-year-old kid.

Exactly what he deserved to be.

After putting on his socks, he grabbed a hairbrush and continued dancing while trying—and failing—to brush his hair properly.

By the time he stumbled into the living room, his hair somehow looked worse than before.

I stared at him.

Then burst out laughing.

"Stop moving!"

He froze immediately.

"But—"

"Your bus will be here soon."

I took the brush from his hands and began fixing his hair myself.

A few moments later, I stepped back and

nodded proudly.

"There."

"Perfect."

Zehao immediately grinned.

Then pointed dramatically at himself.

"I know."

I rolled my eyes.

"Go eat your breakfast."

"Yes, ma'am."

Before running off toward the dining table, he suddenly stopped.

Then leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

A surprised blink escaped me.

"Anything you say, sister."

And just like that, he ran away.

I stood there for a moment.

Completely caught off guard.

Then a soft laugh escaped me.

"Such a drama king."

While he happily devoured his pancakes, I got ready too.

A simple red shirt.

Blue jeans.

And my hair braided into twin Dutch braids.

When I finished, I walked back into the living room just as Zehao was finishing his breakfast.

At that exact moment—

A horn sounded outside.

Beep.

Zehao's eyes widened instantly.

"The bus!"

I laughed.

"Looks like it's time."

He quickly grabbed his backpack.

"Let's go!"

Together, we left the apartment.

I locked the door behind us before following him downstairs.

The school bus was already waiting outside.

A few children were climbing aboard while teachers checked names.

Zehao slowed as we approached.

For a moment, his excitement faded slightly.

He looked up at me.

"Take care of yourself, sister."

His voice suddenly sounded much older than eleven.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

I stared at him.

Then immediately laughed.

The seriousness on his face was ridiculous.

"Okay, Your Majesty."

I bowed dramatically.

"I shall survive until your return."

A smile broke across his face

.

Then he stepped forward and hugged me tightly.

"You really are the best sister."

My heart melted instantly.

I hugged him back.

"Go have fun."

He nodded.

Then finally climbed onto the bus.

A second later he appeared by the window.

Waving excitedly.

I waved back just as enthusiastically.

The bus slowly pulled away from the curb.

And I stood there watching until it disappeared around the corner.

Only then did I lower my hand.

A strange feeling settled inside my chest.

Part pride.

Part relief.

Part loneliness.

The apartment would feel quiet without him.

But at the same time...

I couldn't stop smiling.

Because for once—

Zehao was getting to be a kid.

And today...

Maybe I could be one too.

After the bus disappeared from sight, I stood there for a moment, smiling to myself.

The morning felt unusually bright.

Maybe today I should just enjoy myself.

For once.

No work.

No rushing.

No worrying.

Just... enjoy.

The thought alone felt strange.

A few minutes later, I hailed a cab and climbed inside.

As the city passed by outside the window, I found myself staring at the streets absentmindedly.

Today felt different.

Lighter.

Like something good was waiting for me.

Not long after, the cab pulled up outside the university gates.

I paid the driver, thanked him, and stepped out.

Students crowded the pathways, laughing and talking as they headed toward their classes.

Everything looked normal.

Peaceful.

I walked through the hallways and eventually reached my locker.

Automatically, I prepared myself for disappointment.

A prank.

Trash.

A rude note.

Something.

There was always something.

With a sigh, I unlocked the locker and pulled the door open.

Then froze.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

No garbage.

No crumpled papers.

No insults.

No glitter.

Nothing.

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Slowly, I looked inside one more time as if the mess might magically appear.

Still nothing.

A frown pulled at my brows.

That wasn't normal.

Especially not after years of dealing with Miles.

I closed the locker door slowly.

"What are you planning now...?"

I muttered under my breath.

Because there was no way Miles suddenly decided to become a decent human being overnight.

No chance.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my books and headed toward class.

The closer I got to the classroom, the stranger that uneasy feeling became.

Like something was waiting for me.

And unfortunately...

I was right.

The moment I stepped inside, my feet stopped.

Miles was there.

Sitting on top of my desk.

Waiting.

His long legs stretched lazily in front of him while his fingers tapped against the wooden surface.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The noise stopped the second he saw me.

My stomach dropped.

Slowly, his eyes lifted.

And immediately found mine.

Something felt different.

Very different.

There was no teasing smirk.

No arrogant grin.

No sarcastic comment ready to leave his mouth.

Instead...

He was simply looking at me.

Watching me.

Intently.

Like he'd been waiting.

Like he'd been counting the minutes.

The look in his eyes made my heartbeat stumble.

I swallowed hard.

For some reason, standing under his gaze felt far more dangerous than any insult he had ever thrown at me.

Because this version of Miles was unfamiliar.

And unfamiliar Miles terrified me.

The classroom noise seemed to fade into the background.

Students talked.

Chairs scraped.

Someone laughed.

But neither of us looked away.

His gaze moved slowly across my face.

Taking in every detail.

The red shirt.

The braids.

The way I'd rushed here this morning.

Then his eyes returned to mine.

And stayed there.

Something unreadable flickered across his expression.

Something that made my pulse quicken.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then finally—

Miles tilted his head slightly.

A slow smile appeared on his lips.

Not smug.

Not mocking.

Just... amused.

"You look happy today."

His voice was quieter than usual.

And somehow that made it worse.

My heart immediately became suspicious.

Because whenever Miles sounded calm...

Chaos followed him.

I tightened my grip on my books.

Then lifted an eyebrow

"So what?" I asked.

My voice came out sharper than intended.

"Do you have a problem with it?"

For a second, silence stretched between us.

Miles didn't answer immediately.

Instead, his eyes stayed on me.

Studying me.

The smile on his lips faded slightly.

As if he was thinking.

As if he was trying to figure something out.

I hated when he looked at me like that.

Like I was some puzzle he couldn't solve.

"No," he finally said.

His fingers stopped tapping against the desk.

"I don't."

His answer surprised me.

Normally he would've said something annoying.

Something sarcastic.

Something that made me want to throw a chair at him.

But this time...

Nothing.

Just those dark eyes watching me.

I shifted awkwardly.

"Then why are you staring?"

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"You seem different today."

I rolled my eyes immediately.

"Oh no."

His gaze narrowed.

"What?"

"Please don't tell me you're becoming observant now."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

The sound caught me off guard.

It wasn't loud.

Wasn't mocking.

Just genuine.

And somehow that annoyed me more.

I stepped closer to my desk.

"Move."

Miles glanced down at where he was sitting.

Then back at me.

"No."

I stared at him.

"You are literally sitting on my desk."

"I know."

"Then move."

"I don't want to."

My eye twitched.

Across the room, Leo looked up from his phone.

"Oh, we're fighting already."

Daimen immediately appeared beside him.

"I've been here for thirty seconds and they're already acting married."

"Shut up," me and Miles said simultaneously.

The two idiots immediately started laughing.

I groaned and rubbed my forehead.

Why was this my life?

When I looked back up, Miles was still staring.

Still watching me.

Still not moving.

"What now?" I asked suspiciously.

His eyes drifted over my face again.

Then to my braids.

Then back to my eyes.

For some reason, the movement made my heart skip.

Just slightly.

Enough to annoy me.

"You dressed up."

I nearly choked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

I stared at him in disbelief.

Was he serious?

"You called me over here to discuss my outfit?"

His jaw tightened slightly.

"I didn't call you over."

"Then stop acting weird."

Something flashed across his face.

Gone before I could understand it.

Then he leaned back against the desk.

Casual.

Too casual.

"So."

I immediately knew I wasn't going to like whatever came next.

"So what?"

His eyes locked onto mine.

"How was your day yesterday?"

My stomach dropped.

Danger.

Danger.

Danger.

Because Miles never asked normal questions.

Ever.

"What kind of question is that?"

"A normal one."

"You don't ask normal questions."

His smirk returned.

"Maybe I'm growing as a person."

"Impossible."

Leo laughed loudly.

"I agree with Katie."

"Nobody asked you," Miles muttered.

Then his attention returned to me.

Immediately.

Like it always did.

And for some reason...

That realization made my chest feel strangely warm.

Dangerously warm.

His gaze softened slightly.

Only slightly.

"So?"

I frowned.

"So what?"

"Your day."

I hesitated.

Because for once...

It had actually been good.

Zehao was happy.

The trip was paid for.

Tomorrow would be Julie's birthday.

Theo's competition.

No work.

No stress.

Just happiness.

The thought alone made me smile without meaning to.

And the second I did—

Something changed in Miles' expression.

The teasing disappeared.

His jaw tightened.

His eyes darkened.

As if he suddenly regretted asking.

My smile slowly faded.

"Why do you look annoyed?"

"I'm not annoyed."

"You literally are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Leo covered his face.

"Oh my God."

Daimen nodded seriously.

"They're definitely married."

Neither of us even heard him.

Because Miles was still staring.

And I was still staring back.

The tension between us felt strange.

Not angry.

Not friendly.

Something in between.

Something neither of us knew what to do with.

Then suddenly—

Miles looked away first.

The first one to break eye contact.

My heart stumbled unexpectedly.

And quietly—

Almost too quietly—

He asked,

"Was it Theo?"

I blinked.

"What?"

His eyes remained fixed on the desk now.

His voice sounded casual.

But too casual.

Forced.

Like he didn't actually want the answer.

"Nothing."

A pause.

Then he stood up from my desk.

Finally.

At last.

But as he walked past me toward his seat behind mine, I heard him mutter under his breath.

Just loud enough for me to hear.

"You've been smiling a lot since you met him."

And for some reason...

That sounded less like an observation.

And more like jealousy.

Somehow, I was the first one to look away.

My heart felt strangely unsettled after that conversation.

I hated it.

Hated how Miles could say one sentence and somehow leave me thinking about it for the next hour.

I quickly sat down in my seat and focused on preparing for class.

Or at least, I tried to.

The professor arrived a few minutes later, and the room gradually quieted down.

As I reached for my notebook, my hand froze.

Wait.

I frowned.

Then checked again.

One notebook was missing.

Immediately, I opened my bag.

Pens.

Phone.

Wallet.

But no notebook.

"Seriously?" I muttered.

I searched again just to be sure.

Nothing.

With an annoyed sigh, I stood up from my seat.

The professor hadn't started teaching yet, so slipping out wasn't a problem.

I headed toward the door.

As I passed Miles, I could practically feel his eyes following me.

Of course they were.

Why wouldn't they be?

I ignored him and continued down the hallway toward my locker.

The corridor was mostly empty now since classes had already begun.

After opening my locker, I immediately spotted the missing notebook sitting right inside.

"There you are."

I grabbed it and shut the locker.

Then started walking back.

But unfortunately...

My thoughts betrayed me.

Again.

Miles' words replayed in my head.

You've been smiling a lot since you met him.

I frowned.

Why did he even care?

Why was he asking about Theo?

And more importantly—

Why was I still thinking about it?

I shook my head.

"Nope."

Not today.

Today was supposed to be fun.

No overthinking.

No Miles.

Just a normal day.

Unfortunately, the universe laughed at my plans.

The moment I walked back into the classroom—

Miles was already staring.

Again.

His eyes immediately found mine the second I stepped through the door.

Like he had been waiting.

Like he knew exactly when I'd return.

And this time?

There was something strange about the look he gave me.

A glare.

Not angry.

Not exactly.

Just...

Irritated.

My eyebrows pulled together.

What now?

Honestly, he was exhausting.

I walked back to my seat and dropped into the chair.

Then pointed at him.

"DON'T give me that look."

My voice came out in a whisper so the professor wouldn't hear.

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"What look?"

"That look."

"Very specific."

I rolled my eyes dramatically and turned around.

"Unbelievable."

Behind me, I heard the faintest hint of a laugh.

Which somehow annoyed me even more.

The lesson finally started.

And dragged on.

And on.

And on.

The professor's voice blended into a never-ending stream of information while students slowly lost the will to live around me.

Pens scratched against paper.

Pages flipped.

People yawned.

A few students were clearly fighting sleep.

Three long hours passed.

By the end, even I was struggling to pay attention.

While the professor wrote something across the board, I discreetly checked my phone beneath the desk.

The screen lit up.

My eyes widened slightly.

The time.

Theo's basketball game.

It was starting soon.

A small smile appeared on my face before I could stop it.

I remembered yesterday at the park.

The way he had grabbed my wrist to stop me from leaving.

The hopeful look in his eyes.

"I'd be happy if you came."

My smile softened.

Maybe...

Maybe I should go.

After all, I'd promised myself today would be different.

A day for fun.

A day for friends.

And somehow...

The thought of seeing Theo play made me genuinely excited.

Completely unaware of the smile spreading across my face—

I didn't notice the pair of eyes watching me from the seat behind.

Watching every expression.

Every reaction.

Every smile.

And judging by the way Miles' jaw slowly tightened...

The lesson dragged on painfully.

Every second felt longer than the last.

The clock on the wall seemed personally offended by my existence.

I glanced at it again.

Then again.

Then again.

The basketball game had already started.

And I was still trapped here.

Fantastic.

Suddenly, a chair scraped against the floor.

I looked up.

Miles stood from his seat.

The professor immediately sighed without even turning around.

"Where are you going now?"

"Restroom."

Miles didn't look remotely guilty.

The professor finally glanced over his shoulder and rolled his eyes.

"Of course it's you."

The class laughed quietly.

Miles simply shrugged.

Like rules were merely suggestions made for other people.

Then he grabbed his phone and walked toward the door.

A second later, he was gone.

The professor returned to writing notes across the whiteboard.

The moment his back was turned—

Leo moved.

Fast.

Very fast.

Like a criminal with experience.

I blinked.

Daimen blinked.

Then both of them simultaneously grabbed their bags.

And somehow—

Miles' bag too.

I stared.

What?

The two idiots crouched behind a row of desks like they were participating in a military operation.

Leo pointed dramatically toward the exit.

Daimen gave him a thumbs up.

I nearly choked trying not to laugh.

What was wrong with these people?

The professor continued writing.

Completely unaware.

Three.

Two.

One.

And suddenly—

They disappeared.

Gone.

Vanished.

Escaped.

The classroom door clicked shut softly behind them.

Not a single student made a sound.

Everyone simply watched.

Stunned.

Then the professor turned around.

The seats behind me were empty.

Completely empty.

He froze.

Slowly.

Painfully slowly.

His eye twitched.

The entire classroom immediately looked down at their notebooks.

Nobody wanted to be involved.

Nobody wanted to witness the incoming explosion.

The professor stared at the empty seats for a full five seconds.

Then sighed deeply.

The kind of sigh that came from years of suffering.

"I am not paid enough for this."

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.

Meanwhile, my phone buzzed beneath the desk.

I glanced down.

The basketball game.

The score updates were already appearing.

My stomach immediately twisted.

Theo's game.

The game he invited me to.

The game he hoped I would attend.

And I was still sitting here.

Stuck.

My leg started bouncing beneath the desk.

Anxiety.

Restlessness.

Frustration.

Everything at once.

I looked toward the classroom door.

Then at the professor.

Then back at the door.

Then at the clock.

My heart began beating faster.

Maybe...

Maybe I could leave too?

No.

Impossible.

The professor would definitely notice.

Then again...

Leo and Daimen had escaped.

Miles had escaped.

Literally everyone was escaping except me.

I looked around nervously.

Students were busy writing.

The professor was explaining something while facing the board again.

The basketball game was getting further and further underway.

My leg bounced even faster.

How am I supposed to escape?

I stared at the door.

The door stared back.

Mocking me.

Somewhere outside, freedom existed.

Inside this classroom?

Only suffering.

And judging by the growing panic in my chest—

I was rapidly running out of time.

— Theo's POV —

The crowd erupted into cheers as the ball swished cleanly through the hoop.

Another point.

Another round of applause.

Another chant of my name echoing through the gym.

Normally, moments like this made my blood rush with excitement.

Normally.

But today was different.

As I jogged backward across the court, my eyes drifted toward the bleachers again.

Searching.

Looking.

Hoping.

For her.

Katie.

Rows of students filled the seats.

Friends laughing together.

Teachers watching the game.

Fans cheering whenever our team scored.

But no matter how many times I looked—

I couldn't find her.

A faint disappointment settled in my chest.

Maybe she was running late.

Maybe she'd appear any minute.

I pushed the thought aside as the opposing team regained possession.

Focus.

The game wasn't over.

"Theo!"

A teammate's voice snapped me back to reality.

I immediately turned, catching the ball before

sprinting across the court.

The crowd cheered again.

The game continued.

Five more minutes passed.

Another basket.

Another assist.

Another victory for our team.

And still...

My gaze wandered toward the entrance.

Nothing.

No sign of her.

I hated how much that bothered me.

Ten minutes later, the whistle finally blew.

Break time.

The players immediately headed toward the benches, grabbing water bottles and towels.

I sat down heavily in my chair and reached for my bottle.

Cold water slid down my throat, but it didn't help the strange heaviness sitting in my chest.

My eyes lifted toward the crowd again.

Still searching.

Still hoping.

Still finding nothing.

A quiet sigh escaped me.

Maybe she couldn't make it.

Maybe work called her in.

Maybe she had classes.

Maybe she simply forgot.

The thought made me smile bitterly.

"Looking for someone?"

One of my teammates smirked beside me.

I looked away from the stands.

"No."

"You're a terrible liar."

I laughed softly and grabbed a towel.

Sweat clung to my skin as I wiped my face, trying to ignore the disappointment growing inside me.

It was ridiculous.

I'd only met Katie a few times.

Yet somehow, every conversation with her felt easy.

Natural.

Different.

The kind of different that stayed on your mind long after you walked away.

My fingers tightened slightly around the water bottle.

Maybe she really was busy.

Katie worked harder than anyone I knew.

University.

Multiple jobs.

Taking care of her little brother.

She carried more responsibilities than most people twice her age.

Knowing her...

She probably felt guilty taking time for herself.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

That sounded exactly like something Katie

would do.

The whistle blew again.

Break over.

I stood from my chair and rolled my shoulders.

The crowd cheered as the players returned to the court.

Before stepping back onto the hardwood floor, I glanced toward the entrance one last time.

Just in case.

Just hoping.

But the doorway remained empty.

For a brief second, disappointment flashed across my face.

Then I forced a smile and jogged back onto the court.

The game wasn't over yet.

Even if the person I wanted to see wasn't there.

— Katie's POV —

That's it.

I couldn't take it anymore.

My leg wouldn't stop bouncing beneath the desk, my eyes constantly drifting toward the clock.

Theo's game.

He had invited me personally.

And I was still sitting here doing absolutely nothing.

No.

I couldn't do this.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I quietly closed my notebook and slipped it into my bag.

The zipper sounded deafening in my ears.

My heart pounded.

Slowly, I stood from my seat, carefully checking that the professor's back was still turned.

He continued writing on the board.

Good.

Very good.

I swallowed hard.

This was it.

I had never bunked a class before.

Never.

Not once.

But somehow...

For Theo?

I wanted to.

The thought alone made my stomach flutter.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and slowly stepped toward the door.

One step.

Then another.

A few students noticed.

A few stared.

One even looked impressed.

I didn't care.

My pulse raced wildly as I slipped through the classroom door.

The second I was outside—

I ran.

Fast.

Faster.

The hallway blurred around me.

My shoes pounded against the floor as I rushed through the university building.

Past classrooms.

Past groups of students.

Past everything.

The only thing on my mind was reaching the game.

Reaching Theo.

A smile slowly appeared on my face as I ran.

For the first time in a long time...

I felt excited.

Really excited.

Not about work.

Not about responsibilities.

Not about bills.

Just excited.

For myself.

A few minutes later, I finally reached the basketball arena.

The loud cheers hit me immediately.

Students filled the stands.

The game was still going.

Thank God.

I quickly climbed the steps and found an empty seat in the second row.

The moment I sat down—

My eyes found him.

Theo.

Sweat glistened against his skin beneath the bright gym lights.

His dark hair was slightly messy from the game.

His jersey clung to his frame as he moved across the court.

Confident.

Focused.

Effortlessly handsome.

Without realizing it, I smiled.

Then I stood up.

"Theo!"

I cheered loudly.

"Let's go!"

The crowd around me joined in.

I clapped and cheered again, completely caught up in the excitement.

Completely unaware...

That someone else had noticed.

Someone sitting only a few rows away.

Watching me.

Watching every smile.

Every cheer.

Every time my eyes followed Theo across the court.

— Miles' POV —

What.

The.

Hell.

I stared at the girl sitting a little far from me.

Katie.

Actually Katie.

For a second, I genuinely thought I was imagining things.

Then she stood up again.

Cheering.

Smiling.

Looking happier than I'd seen her all week.

For him.

Theo.

My jaw tightened.

Beside me, Leo nearly dropped his drink.

"No way."

Daimen looked equally shocked.

"That's Katie."

"I know it's Katie," I said flatly.

"No, but..." Daimen pointed dramatically behind us. "Katie is HERE."

Leo slowly turned around again.

Then laughed.

A long, disbelieving laugh.

"I don't believe this."

"What?" I snapped.

Leo smirked.

"Katie bunked class."

I stayed silent.

Daimen looked horrified.

"She NEVER bunks class."

"Exactly."

The three of us watched as Katie stood again, clapping excitedly after Theo scored another basket.

Her eyes never left the court.

Never left him.

Something unpleasant twisted inside my chest.

Something sharp.

Something ugly.

Leo noticed immediately.

"Oh."

Daimen noticed too.

"Ohhh."

I shot both of them a warning look.

Neither cared.

Daimen grinned.

"She skipped class for Theo."

Leo nodded dramatically.

"One and only Theo."

My hands clenched around my water bottle.

I hated how much that sentence irritated me.

Because they were right.

Katie never broke rules.

Never skipped lectures.

Never did anything reckless.

Yet somehow...

For Theo?

She ran across campus.

For Theo?

She smiled like that.

For Theo?

She risked getting caught.

I looked back at her again.

She was completely focused on the game.

Completely unaware that I was sitting directly in front of her.

Watching.

My jaw tightened further.

For some reason, the sight made my stomach burn.

And the worst part?

I already knew exactly what that feeling was.

I just didn't want to admit it.

On the court, Theo scored again.

The arena erupted into cheers.

Katie jumped to her feet.

And for the first time all day—

I wished Theo would miss.

— Theo's POV —

The game was reaching its final minutes.

The crowd roared around me, teammates shouted directions, sneakers squeaked against the court floor—

But then I heard it.

A voice.

A familiar voice.

"Theo!"

My heart skipped.

Instantly, I looked toward the stands.

And there she was.

Katie.

For a moment, everything else disappeared.

The noise.

The crowd.

The game.

All of it faded into the background.

She came.

A bright smile spread across my face before I could stop it.

She actually came.

Despite her classes.

Despite her jobs.

Despite everything she had going on.

She came for me.

I lifted my hand and waved toward her without caring who saw.

Some of my teammates noticed immediately.

The crowd noticed too.

I didn't care.

The only thing I cared about was the girl cheering for me from the second row.

The rest of the game felt lighter after that.

Every basket.

Every pass.

Every point.

My eyes kept drifting back toward her.

And every single time, she was still there.

Smiling.

Cheering.

Watching.

By the time the final whistle blew, I was already searching for her in the crowd.

Students flooded toward the exits while players celebrated on the court.

I barely heard any of it.

Instead, I pointed toward the lower entrance.

A silent gesture.

Come down.

Katie understood immediately.

A few minutes later, she appeared near the court.

The second I saw her walking toward me, something warm spread through my chest.

Without thinking—

I pulled her into a hug.

The movement happened so naturally that I didn't even realize what I'd done until she was already in my arms.

She froze slightly in surprise.

So did I.

My heart nearly stopped.

I quickly stepped back.

"Sorry," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

"I just..."

I didn't know how to explain it.

I was just happy she came.

Katie blinked before smiling softly.

"It's okay friends can hug."

That smile nearly killed me.

Then suddenly I remembered something.

"Oh!"

I quickly reached into my sports bag.

Katie looked confused.

A second later, I pulled out a cold bottle of strawberry juice and handed it to her.

Her eyes widened.

"Theo..."

I laughed.

The first time I'd seen her drink strawberry juice, the happiness on her face had been impossible to forget.

Some memories just stayed with you.

"This is for you."

She accepted the bottle carefully.

"You didn't have to."

"Why not?" I asked with a grin.

A faint pink tint appeared on her cheeks.

Cute.

Dangerously cute.

She looked down at the bottle before smiling.

"Thank you."

My chest felt strangely warm.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then an idea appeared in my head.

"You're free today, right?"

Katie thought for a second.

"I'm free until noon."

Perfect.

A hopeful smile tugged at my lips.

"Then..."

I hesitated for the first time all day.

Which was ridiculous.

I never hesitated.

Not during games.

Not during competitions.

Not during interviews.

Yet somehow, one girl could make me nervous.

"Would you like to have lunch with me?"

Katie looked surprised.

Just enough to make me worry she might refuse.

A small silence passed.

Then another.

I couldn't help myself.

"Please?"

The word slipped out before I could stop it.

Katie stared at me for a second.

Then she laughed softly.

The sound was warm.

Gentle.

And somehow it made my heart beat even faster.

"Sure."

One simple word.

Yet it felt like winning another game entirely.

My grin widened immediately.

"Great."

And for the first time that day, I wasn't excited about basketball anymore.

I was excited about spending the next few hours with her.

— Miles’ POV —

Katie and Theo had no idea I was there.

No idea I was watching.

No idea I had seen the way she smiled at him.

The way she looked relaxed around him.

The way she came.

For him.

My eyes stayed fixed on them from the row below.

Theo was talking.

Katie was smiling.

And for some reason—

something sharp twisted in my chest.

Annoying.

I looked away immediately.

What was wrong with me?

Leo let out a dramatic gasp beside me.

“BRO. Katie actually bunked class.”

Daimen laughed.

“For Theo too. Damn. Didn’t know she had that side.”

Leo leaned forward, enjoying the scene way too much.

“Look at them. This feels illegal to watch.”

I stayed quiet.

Too quiet.

Because the more they talked—

the more irritated I felt.

No.

Not irritated.

Something uglier.

Something I didn’t want to name.

My jaw tightened.

Then suddenly—

Theo hugged her.

My eyes stopped moving.

It wasn’t a long hug.

But it didn’t matter.

Katie didn’t push him away.

And that weird pressure in my chest turned into something heavier.

Leo whistled.

“OHHHH.”

Daimen immediately joined.

“Wait wait— do you think she likes him?”

That was enough.

I stood up so suddenly both of them looked at me.

Leo blinked.

“Bro? Where are you going?”

I grabbed my bag.

“Home.”

Daimen looked confused.

“What? Classes aren’t even over.”

I shrugged coldly.

“Don’t feel like staying.”

Leo narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“…You good?”

I laughed once.

Short.

Dry.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Without waiting for an answer, I turned and walked away.

I ignored them calling my name.

Ignored the basketball noise behind me.

Ignored the feeling sitting in my chest.

But no matter how fast I walked—

I couldn’t stop thinking about one thing.

Katie never skipped class.

Not for anything.

Yet she came running here.

For him.

My grip tightened around my bag.

Pathetic.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and kept walking.

I wasn’t angry.

I wasn’t

.

So then—

why did it feel like I lost something that was never mine?

— Katie’s POV —

By the time university ended, I found myself walking home with a smile I didn’t even realize I was wearing.

The apartment felt different when I opened the door.

Quiet.

Clean.

Empty.

Zehao was away on his school trip, and for the first time in a long time, the apartment felt unusually still.

I slipped my shoes off and walked into my room before dropping my bag into its usual spot.

Then I let myself fall backward onto the bed.

A small smile stayed on my lips.

Theo’s words replayed in my head.

His smile.

His laugh.

The way he looked happy when I came to watch his game.

I turned my face into my pillow for a second and quietly groaned.

Why am I smiling this much?

After resting for a while, I checked the time.

Only two hours.

Immediately, I sat up.

Right.

Today.

I walked toward my closet and carefully pulled out my dress.

It was beautiful.

Simple but elegant, reaching down to my feet with soft details that made it feel special without trying too hard.

Perfect for a casual hangout.

A grin appeared on my face.

Then suddenly—

I started dancing my way into the bathroom.

Exactly like Zehao did this morning.

I laughed at myself before stepping into the shower.

Warm water.

Fresh air.

A fresh mood.

When I came out, I dried my hair carefully and styled it into a soft side braid, leaving a few strands around my face.

Then just a little makeup.

Nothing too much.

Just enough.

I stepped back and looked at myself in the mirror.

Then clapped dramatically.

“Ta-da.”

I smiled at my reflection.

“I’m ready.”

I checked the time.

Twenty minutes left.

Quickly, I wore my white shoes, grabbed my purse, and headed downstairs.

But—

the second I stepped outside the building—

I froze.

A car was parked nearby.

And leaning casually beside it—

Theo.

The moment he saw me, his face softened and he lifted his hand to wave.

My heartbeat immediately betrayed me.

I nervously waved back and walked toward him.

Then I stopped.

“…How do you know where I live?”

Theo only smiled.

“That,” he said smoothly, opening the passenger door for me, “is a secret.”

Then he winked.

I stared at him suspiciously.

Should I be concerned?

But before I could question him further, he held the car door open and smiled.

“Get in, beautiful.”

Heat rushed straight to my face.

I looked away and muttered—

“…Thank you, handsome.”

For one second—

Theo looked genuinely surprised.

Then he laughed softly.

I quickly got into the car before I embarrassed myself more.

A few seconds later, he got in too, buckled his seatbelt, and started driving.

The ride felt… easy.

We talked.

Laughed.

Pointed at random things outside.

No awkward silence.

No pressure.

Just comfortable.

And before I realized—

we arrived.

Theo parked and quickly got out first.

He walked around and opened the door for me again.

I stepped out while trying not to smile too much.

We walked into the restaurant together.

Soft lights.

Warm atmosphere.

Pretty decorations.

Theo pulled a chair out for me politely.

But before he could—

I quickly moved first.

Pulled the chair out.

And pointed dramatically.

“Now you first.”

Theo stared.

Then blinked.

Then laughed.

A real laugh.

“You’re stealing my job.”

I smiled proudly.

He shook his head while laughing and finally sat down.

And somehow—

seeing him smile felt strangely rewarding.

The restaurant felt… expensive.

Not luxury-expensive like Miles’ world.

But expensive enough that the soft lights, neat tables, and quiet atmosphere made me sit a little straighter.

Theo sat across from me, relaxed as if places like this were normal for him.

Meanwhile, I was already mentally calculating prices before even opening the menu.

A waiter handed us the menus and walked away.

I opened mine.

And immediately regretted existing.

My eyes scanned the prices.

My smile froze.

Why is one pasta the same price as Zehao’s snacks for a week?

I quietly flipped the page.

No.

Next page.

Still expensive.

Another page.

Even more expensive.

My expression slowly became blank.

Theo noticed.

He rested his chin on his hand and looked at me with amusement.

“…You’re reading the prices more than the food names.”

I immediately looked up.

“What? No.”

His eyebrows lifted.

I quickly looked back at the menu.

The cheapest thing.

Find the cheapest thing.

Maybe water?

I found something that looked safe.

I pointed at it.

“This one.”

Theo looked at the menu.

Then looked at me.

Then back at the menu.

His lips twitched.

“…You’re ordering plain salad?”

I nodded confidently.

“Yes.”

Theo stared.

Then slowly—

“Katie.”

I looked up.

“…Do you even like salad?”

I hesitated.

“…Sometimes.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Katie.”

I looked away.

He sighed dramatically and closed his menu.

“Waiter.”

I panicked immediately.

Theo smiled.

“One grilled chicken pasta, one creamy mushroom pasta, fries, two strawberry drinks, and…”

He looked at me.

“…dessert.”

My eyes widened.

I immediately leaned forward.

“No no wait wait— Theo that’s too much.”

He looked confused.

“Too much?”

I lowered my voice.

“It’s expensive.”

His expression softened.

For a second he just looked at me.

Then he smiled gently.

“Katie.”

I froze.

“You came to support my game.”

His voice stayed soft.

“You skipped class for me.”

My eyes widened.

Wait.

How did he—

Before I could ask—

He smiled.

“So let me buy lunch.”

I opened my mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

“…I can pay half.”

Theo looked offended.

Then dramatically put a hand over his chest.

“You wound me.”

I blinked.

“What?”

He looked away sadly.

“I thought we were friends.”

I stared.

Then laughed.

Actually laughed.

Theo immediately smiled seeing it.

There was something warm about sitting with him.

Easy.

No pressure.

No complicated thoughts.

Just… fun.

After ordering, we started talking.

Mostly random things.

He asked me what cartoons I watched as a kid.

I asked him if basketball players naturally become dramatic.

He looked offended.

Then proceeded to dramatically explain why athletes are misunderstood.

Halfway through his speech—

The waiter brought fries.

Theo grabbed one immediately.

I grabbed one too.

Our hands touched.

Both of us froze.

I pulled mine back instantly.

“S-sorry.”

Theo blinked once.

Then smiled.

“No.”

He quietly pushed the fries toward me.

“You first.”

I looked at him.

Then at the fries.

Then suspiciously grabbed one.

The second I bit it—

Theo suddenly stole another fry from my side.

I gasped.

“You said me first!”

He looked completely innocent.

“You misunderstood.”

I stared.

Then laughed again.

Lunch arrived after that.

And somewhere between stealing fries, laughing too loudly, and Theo pretending to be injured because I called him dramatic—

I realized something.

I wasn’t thinking.

Not about work.

Not about university.

Not about responsibilities.

Not even—

…Miles.

And for the first time in a long time—

I was just being nineteen.

After lunch, Theo offered to drop me back.

The drive felt shorter than before.

Maybe because this time the silence wasn’t awkward.

It was comfortable.

Soft music played quietly while sunlight slowly turned golden outside the window as evening approached.

We talked about random things—his teammates, my café job, cartoons somehow becoming a serious discussion again.

And before I realized it—

we were already outside my apartment building.

The clock on the dashboard showed 6:00 PM.

Theo parked smoothly and looked over at me.

“We’re here.”

For a second, I stayed seated.

Then I smiled and unbuckled my seatbelt.

As I opened the door, I turned back to him

.

“Thank you for today.”

Theo smiled lazily.

“You already said thank you three times.”

I laughed awkwardly.

Then after thinking for a second, I looked at him again.

“One day… I’ll treat you too.”

He looked at me.

I continued quietly—

“Maybe it’ll take time… but someday I’ll invite you to a restaurant.”

His expression softened.

Not teasing.

Not playful.

Just… warm.

Then he leaned back in his seat and smiled.

“I’m never leaving my little friend behind.”

My heartbeat skipped for absolutely no reason.

He continued—

“So whenever that treat comes…”

He looked at me and grinned.

“I’ll be ready.”

A laugh escaped my lips immediately.

I shook my head.

“You make it sound like some huge life event.”

Theo smiled.

“What if it is?”

I stared at him for a second before quickly looking away.

Why does he say things so casually…

I stepped out of the car and closed the door.

Before walking away, I turned around and waved.

Theo lifted his hand and waved back.

“See you soon, Katie.”

I smiled.

“See you soon.”

And with that—

he drove away.

I stood there for a few extra seconds watching the car disappear down the street before finally turning toward my apartment.

A tiny smile stayed on my lips.

Today was fun.

Really fun.

Now By 8:00pm i would have to be at the club for Julie's birthday.

— Author Pov —

Katie is happy and excited for Julie's birthday

but little does she know what is waiting for her?

do you wanna know? if yes then wait for episode

to be continued

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