After the delicious courses, I excused myself to freshen up before dessert. Standing in front of the mirror in the washroom, I took a deep breath, letting the events of the night settle in. My fingers traced the edge of the sink as my mind drifted back to the evening I first met Jake.It had been five years ago, on a chilly autumn evening. I had stormed out of my parents' house after a heated argument, tears streaming down my face as I wandered aimlessly into the neighborhood garden. The crisp air bit at my skin, but the ache in my heart hurt far worse. I collapsed onto a bench, hugging my knees, trying to suppress the sobs that threatened to escape.And then, out of nowhere, he appeared."Hey... are you okay?" His voice was rough yet surprisingly gentle, filled with concern. I looked up, startled to see a tall figure standing before me, his clothes covered in dust and his face streaked with sweat. He looked like he had just come from a long day of hard labor, and instinctively, I tensed up."I-I'm fine," I stammered, inching back slightly.He noticed my hesitation and took a step back, raising his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I just... I come here a lot after work. It's quiet, helps me unwind."I studied him warily. "You come here... every day?"He nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah. I'm an architecture student, but I work construction part-time. Pays the bills and gives me hands-on experience."I eyed the dirt-streaked uniform and the worn boots he wore, a stark contrast to the soft serenity of the garden. Slowly, my fear began to dissipate. "Oh... that's interesting."He chuckled, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "Not sure if 'interesting' is the right word, but it's something." He gestured to the empty space on the bench. "Mind if I sit?"I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."He sat down a respectful distance from me, stretching his arms over the back of the bench. "Rough night?"I let out a bitter laugh, wiping my cheeks. "You could say that."He tilted his head, his expression kind. "Parents?"I glanced at him, surprised. "How did you—""Lucky guess," he interrupted, offering a small, knowing smile. "I've had my fair share of yelling matches with mine."I hesitated before sighing. "It just feels like they never listen. Everything I do is wrong to them. Tonight, I just... couldn't take it anymore."He nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Sounds tough.""Yeah, it is," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "What about you? What's your story?"He leaned back, looking up at the stars. "Nothing too exciting. I'm a full-time architecture student, but I work construction on the side. Helps me understand the real-world stuff, plus it pays the rent. This garden's my escape when life gets too loud."I found myself relaxing as he spoke. "It's nice here. Quiet.""That's why I love it," he said with a grin, glancing at me. "You seemed like you needed the quiet too."I nodded, finally allowing myself a small smile. "I guess I do."He pointed at the sky. "See that constellation there?" He traced an invisible line with his finger. "That's Orion. My dad taught me how to find it when I was a kid. Looking up at it always reminds me that no matter how messy life gets, there's always something constant out there."I followed his gesture, my shoulders easing. "That's... surprisingly profound for a guy covered in dirt."He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Hey, I'm full of surprises. Stick around long enough, and you'll see."For the first time that night, I felt a flicker of hope. "Maybe I will," I said softly, more to myself than to him.For a while, we sat in silence, the garden's stillness wrapping around us like a cocoon. Slowly, I found myself opening up about the fight, the overwhelming expectations, and the feeling of being unseen. He listened intently, his rough yet kind demeanor putting me at ease. He occasionally nodded or offered a quiet word, making me feel heard without judgment."I don't know why I'm telling you all this," I said with a nervous laugh, brushing a tear away. "You don't even know me."He shrugged, his expression gentle. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who doesn't have all the baggage. I'm just a guy sitting in a garden, hoping the stars make sense of the mess in my head."I looked at him, tilting my head. "Someone who doesn't have all the baggage, huh? Are you flaunting that you don't have any baggage, or are you pretending you have none?"He laughed. "I'm just saying, I'm a stranger who you know nothing about. Someone who can listen to you and not get burdened. Someone who is here just for the stars.""The stars, huh? Do they help?""Sometimes," he said, looking up again. "They remind me that we're all just small pieces of something bigger. Helps me stop overthinking."For the first time that evening, I felt a faint smile tug at my lips. "You're different," I murmured. "Not what I expected when you walked up."He laughed again and asked, "What did you expect? A bear?"That laugh. It was a deep, comfortable sound, like a melody that lingered long after the song had ended. I barely noticed I was staring until he waved a hand in front of me."Back to earth, miss.""Leia," I said, looking at him."Huh? Lee-what?" He looked at me confused."Leia. My name. We never exchanged names."He made a face of realization. "Jake. It's a pleasure to meet you, Leah!""Lee-yah," I corrected, chuckling. "Glad to meet you, Mr. Not a Serial Killer.""Aww, you thought I was a serial killer? Not a bear?" Jake asked, feigning disappointment."I'd rather have the bear than a man with ill intentions approaching me. At least the bear wouldn't do anything else apart from killing me."Jake grinned, brushing some dust off his pants as he stood up. "I'll take that as a compliment. That I'm a decent guy."Snapping back to the present, I smiled softly at the memory, looking at myself in the mirror. That chance encounter had led to five years of love, laughter, and unwavering support. Taking one last glance at myself, I knew just how lucky I was.With a steady breath, I turned and stepped out of the washroom, ready to return to Jake and the night he had planned for us.