Selene's phone buzzed, cutting through Mira's endless rant about her work boss, Anthony. She glanced at the screen and saw Kael's name lighting up.
"Speak of the devil," Ivy muttered under her breath, nudging Mira with a grin.
Selene answered, her voice light but amused. "Hey, Kael. What's up?"
"Hey, birthday girl," Kael's voice came through, warm and familiar. "Just calling to remind you about our dinner plans tonight. Don't forget, alright?"
Selene smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest at the sound of his voice. "I won't forget, I promise. I'm just out with the girls right now."
Mira and Ivy exchanged knowing looks, both raising their eyebrows.
"I'll be there to pick you up around 6," Kael continued. "So don't be late."
"I'll be ready," Selene said, her tone playful. "I'll see you then."
The phone call ended, and Selene lowered it, her gaze shifting to Mira and Ivy, both looking at her expectantly.
"Well, looks like it's a done deal," Ivy teased, grinning. "Kael's picking you up at six. Guess we were right."
Mira smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You're really going to deny there's something more between you two after that? He's been around for years, always there for you. That's not just friendship, Selene."
Selene rolled her eyes, trying to keep her tone light. "It's just dinner. Honestly, you guys read into things too much. We've been friends for ages. It's no big deal."
Ivy shook her head with a laugh. "You know, I used to think the same thing. But after seeing how he's always there, how he looks at you—trust me, he's got feelings."
"I'm not even denying he's great," Selene countered. "But Kael is just my friend. I'm not reading anything into it."
Mira gave her a knowing look. "You might say that now, but you've gotta admit, there's something there. I've seen it every time he looks at you."
Selene shrugged, trying to dismiss the thought, but there was a small voice in the back of her mind that wondered if they were right.
"I'm serious," she said, shaking her head slightly. "We've been through a lot together, and it's never been anything more than that. So no, he's not my crush or anything."
Ivy chuckled, clearly not convinced, but let the matter drop—for now. "Alright, alright. We'll see. But when you two are all lovey-dovey, don't say we didn't warn you."
Selene couldn't help but laugh. "I'm telling you, nothing is going on. Now, enough about me. Let's focus on your love lives."
And so they did, the conversation drifting back to Mira and Ivy's complicated relationships. After a long afternoon Selene returned home, still humming from the laughter at lunch, but as soon as she stepped inside, she glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time for the dinner with Kael. She had just 30 minutes to get ready, so she headed straight to her room to freshen up.
After removing the casual outfit she had worn earlier, she changed into a black bodycon mesh dress that clung to her figure in all the right ways. The dress was elegant but not too flashy—its mesh panels and intricate rose embroidery adding a touch of edginess. She laughed softly to herself as she slipped it on, wondering if this was the night she'd finally meet "the one." She couldn't help the playful thought that crossed her mind. Maybe I'll find my suitor tonight, just like in the fairy tales.
Selene made quick work of styling her hair, opting for a messy bun, a look that somehow felt effortless yet chic. She added a few delicate pieces of jewelry—a pair of silver earrings and a thin bracelet her mom had gifted her years ago. She stood back for a moment to assess her appearance, feeling both confident and slightly nervous, though she wasn't sure why.
As she finished adjusting the last of her makeup, a soft knock on the door broke her concentration. She took a deep breath and opened it, finding Kael already standing in her living room. He was leaning casually against the doorway, looking as handsome as ever in a crisp black shirt and dark jeans. His blue eyes locked onto hers the moment she emerged, and for a second, time seemed to slow.
"You look…" He paused, looking her up and down, clearly trying to find the right words. "Incredible," he finally settled on, his voice low and sincere.
Selene couldn't suppress a smile. "Thanks. You're not looking too bad yourself."
Kael grinned, pushing off from the doorframe and stepping toward her. "Ready to go?"
"Let's do this," she said, her nerves giving way to excitement.
Kael led her to his car, and soon they were heading toward their destination. As they drove, the city lights flickered past, casting a soft glow through the window. The conversation drifted naturally, just as it always did when they were together. By the time they reached La Luné, a sleek and upscale restaurant, they were deep in one of their familiar discussions about childhood memories.
"I still can't believe you were terrified of the dark when we were kids," Kael teased, holding the door open for her as they entered the restaurant.
Selene laughed, shaking her head. "I wasn't terrified, I just didn't like it. You know how my mom would always leave a light on for me? I swear, it was like I couldn't sleep without it. You were never afraid of anything."
"That's because I had the coolest imaginary friend to protect me," Kael said with a playful grin.
Selene raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Imaginary friend? What was his name, Super-Kael?"
"Exactly!" Kael responded without missing a beat. "He saved me from all kinds of scary things. You'd have been better off if you had him, too."
Selene couldn't help but laugh. "I think I would've been fine without an imaginary superhero."
Their laughter filled the air around them as they were seated at a table by the window, overlooking the twinkling city. The waiter brought them drinks, and they continued reminiscing.
"I remember when we'd sneak out of your house at night," Selene said, her voice softer, her eyes twinkling with the memory. "We'd go to the park and just… sit there. I think we were convinced the stars were going to reveal some great secret to us."
"I always thought we were going to discover the cure for boredom or something," Kael chuckled. "But it was mostly just us staring up at the sky for hours, talking about stupid stuff."
"And I'd always try to convince you that the constellations were real planets, not just dots in the sky," Selene added, a playful glint in her eyes. "I think I even made up a whole mythology once."
Kael laughed loudly at the memory. "Yeah, you were always the storyteller. And I was the one who kept asking questions. We were a great team, though."
The hours passed by as easily as their conversation, filled with laughter, memories, and stories they had both long forgotten but never truly let go of. Selene found herself completely at ease, her worries fading into the background as she simply enjoyed being with Kael.
The night ended with Kael walking her to her door. He gave her a brief, friendly hug, the kind they had shared countless times before. As they pulled away, he stepped back with a smile, his blue eyes warm. "Thanks for a great evening, Selene. It's always nice to catch up."
Selene returned his smile, her heart light. "Yeah, I really needed this. You've always been there for me, Kael. I appreciate our friendship more than you know."
He nodded, his expression softening. "Me too. It's rare to find someone who just gets you. Let's not wait too long before doing this again."
"Agreed," Selene said, watching him turn and head down the path. "Take care, Kael."
As he walked away, she stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him leave. The warmth from the evening lingered, but there was something else too—a quiet sense of contentment. She closed the door gently behind her, the night's conversation echoing in her mind, but she pushed aside any thoughts about what it might mean. For now, everything felt just as it should—comfortable, steady, and familiar.