Eira reached home with her heart pounding like a drum. She didn't even bother to turn on the lights as she tossed her bag onto the couch and collapsed face-first into her bed, grabbing the nearest pillow and pressing it against her face to muffle her scream.
"Auren Silva… what are you doing to me?" she muttered into the pillow, her cheeks burning.
Her mind kept replaying the feeling of his arms around her, the way he carried her like she was weightless, the way he smiled at her while the sun dipped below the ocean. She turned over, staring at the ceiling now, pillow clutched to her chest.
"Do I… like him?"
The thought hit her harder than she expected. The answer was obvious—too obvious.
The next morning, she woke up with a new determination. It had been weeks since she'd touched her older manuscript—the one Auren was reading when they first met at the hospital. Maybe it was fate, or maybe something deeper, but she wanted to finish it. For herself… and maybe a little for him.
She sat by her desk, cracked her fingers, and opened the draft.
Her fingers flew over the keyboard, characters coming alive again. And when she received an email about a local book festival, she signed up immediately.
---
The book festival was held in a beautiful open space filled with booths, readers, and the scent of fresh pages and coffee. Eira stood by her booth with her newest book on display and copies of the older one—the one Auren read—stacked neatly.
She was adjusting a banner when she suddenly froze.
A familiar voice.
"Eira?"
She turned sharply.
Auren was standing there, his hair tousled by the breeze, dressed casually, holding a cup of coffee. He looked surprised, then awkward.
"Hey," she said quickly, cheeks heating.
"I didn't know you were going to be here," he said.
"I signed up last minute."
An awkward silence fell between them. Eira couldn't look at his eyes. Every time she tried, her heart did backflips.
Auren noticed. "Are you… mad at me?"
"What?"
"For carrying you that day. I should've asked first, I just—"
She waved her hands. "No! Not at all. I just… I…"
She was about to say it. Her heart was ready to burst out of her chest.
"I like—"
"YO!" came a loud voice.
Both of them turned.
Loira.
And Ryan.
Together.
Eira blinked. Auren's jaw dropped.
"They're on a second date?" she whispered.
Instead of confronting them, they did what any self-respecting friends would do.
They stalked them.
Eira and Auren followed Loira and Ryan through the stalls, ducking behind booths, hiding behind a giant poster stand, and pretending to be interested in bookmarks.
Of course, they got caught.
"Are you seriously following us?" Loira asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Casually walking in the same direction," Eira mumbled.
Ryan laughed. "Wanna just join us?"
They did. The four of them spent the rest of the day browsing rare books, eating overpriced snacks, and laughing together. For a moment, it felt perfect.
---
The next day, Eira was waiting in front of the university gates. She held Luna's leash in one hand and her phone in the other. Her heart was pounding.
"I'll tell him today," she whispered.
But then she saw him.
Auren.
Walking side by side with a stunning girl. Blonde hair that shimmered in the sun, elegant and tall, and she laughed like they were sharing an old memory.
Eira's heart sank.
She didn't say a word.
She turned and walked the other way, feeling a tight ache in her chest.
---
That evening, Eira took Luna for a walk, trying to clear her head. The sky was soft with sunset, the breeze light.
Suddenly, someone bumped into her.
"I'm so sorry!" the girl said quickly, steadying Eira.
"It's okay," Eira replied.
Then she heard it.
"Selina!"
Auren's voice.
The blonde girl turned.
"Auren! Over here!"
Eira's eyes widened.
"You two know each other?" she asked.
Auren smiled. "Yeah. This is my big sister—Selina."
Selina offered her hand. "You must be Eira. I've heard so much about you."
Eira blinked. "You have?"
Selina just smiled.
---
Selina invited Eira over to the Silva family home. She was charming and kind, clearly very protective of her younger brother.
Auren's parents were warm, too, but Eira could sense the tension underneath. The way his mother would glance at him with worry. The way his father asked softly, "Are you taking your vitamins?"
Eira smiled and laughed along with them, but deep down, something told her that behind Auren's smiles… was something he hadn't told her yet.
After dinner, Auren walked Eira home. The streets were quiet, lit with the soft orange glow of streetlights. Neither of them spoke for a while.
"Thanks for coming today," Auren finally said.
"I'm glad I did," she replied, hugging her arms as the breeze picked up.
Their fingers brushed for a moment, and neither pulled away.
When they reached her gate, she turned to him. "Your family is lovely."
"So are you," he replied softly, his eyes meeting hers for just a second longer than usual.
She smiled shyly. "Good night, Auren."
"Good night, Eira."
She stood at the door, watching him walk away until he disappeared into the night.