Tasha and Ryan sat on the edge of the campus fountain, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
"I swear," Ryan said between gasps, "you actually told the professor his PowerPoint looked like it was made on Paint?"
Tasha wiped a tear from her eye. "It did! And he took it way too personally for someone who used Comic Sans in a title."
Ryan shook his head, grinning. "You haven't changed one bit."
Just then, Zara, Amani, and Liyana came strolling up, grinning like a pack of wolves ready to pounce.
"Well, well, if it isn't the dynamic duo," Zara said, eyeing them. "Still laughing like ten-year-olds at recess."
Ryan mock-bowed. "Glad to see we haven't lost our touch."
Amani looked at Tasha, smirking. "So... did you tell Ryan about him?"
Tasha blinked. "About who?"
Liyana leaned in, her voice full of faux innocence. "You know… Slush Boy?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Slush Boy?"
Tasha groaned. "You guys seriously—?"
"Oh, don't play innocent," Zara teased. "You were glowing last night. Said some guy basically poured mango slush all over you and still managed to charm his way into driving you home."
Tasha rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. "He didn't charm his way into anything. I just didn't want to walk home sticky and smelling like a fruit market."
Ryan crossed his arms, clearly intrigued. "So who is this mystery man? He's already got a nickname. Sounds serious."
"It's not serious," Tasha said, cheeks slightly warm. "It was just one of those weird, random moments. He asked for my number, I didn't give it."
Liyana gasped dramatically. "Didn't give it? Tasha!"
Ryan grinned. "Now I really want to meet this guy."
Tasha gave him a playful shove. "Don't you dare. You're just dying for ammo to tease me with."
"Always," he said with a wink. "BestFriend duties"...
___
The golden afternoon melted into an amber sky as college came to an end. Tasha walked beside Ryan, her friends trailing behind, still buzzing from earlier laughter.
"Hey," Ryan said casually, swinging his bag over his shoulder, "so... my sister's birthday's tonight. Just a small party, nothing crazy. You guys should come."
Zara and Amani perked up instantly. "Party? We're in."
Liyana added, "You had us at birthday."
Tasha smirked. "Oof, I don't know… I think I've got a date with my couch and a face mask."
Ryan placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "Don't do this, Tash. You know her parties are boring without you. And Katty's been asking about you all week."
Tasha rolled her eyes, grinning. "Guilt-tripping me with Katty now?"
Ryan leaned closer. "Whatever works."
She laughed. "Fine. But if there's no cake, I'm leaving."
"Deal," he said, triumphant.
---
Later that evening, the car pulled up outside a beautifully lit bungalow draped in fairy lights. Tasha stepped out, her satin blue dress flowing like water with each graceful step. Her hair framed her face in soft waves, her eyes lined just enough to make them dangerous. She looked breathtaking — even Zara had to whistle.
"Girl," Liyana said, wide-eyed. "If Slush Boy sees you like this…"
Tasha rolled her eyes. "Please, he probably won't even be there."
But fate had other plans.
Inside, music drifted through the air, laughter echoing off warm walls. Tasha spotted Katty near the dessert table — tall, elegant, glowing with birthday joy. She walked over and hugged her.
"Happy birthday, Katty!"
Katty lit up. "Tasha! I was hoping you'd come. You're not just Ryan's best friend, you're mine too, you know."
Tasha grinned. "Don't tell him that. He already thinks he's my favorite human."
"Too late," Katty laughed. "He's insufferable either way."
Soon Tasha, Ryan, and her friends were tucked into a corner of the garden, plates of food on their laps, gossip flying fast.
Then Tasha froze.
Across the lawn, under the golden lights, stood Adam — effortlessly stylish in a black shirt and watch that gleamed under the glow. He was talking to Katty and a few others, laughing at something.
Tasha blinked. "Hey… who's that guy with Katty?"
Ryan followed her gaze. "Oh, that's Adam. He's Katty's friend from uni. They're like best buddies. You know... just like us." He winked.
Zara followed her line of sight and gasped, eyes wide. "Oooooooh. Slush Boy, huh?!"
Amani and Liyana turned quickly, their faces lighting up.
"OMG it is him!" Amani squealed.
"Yep. Confirmed. Mango legend," Liyana giggled.
Tasha covered her face with her hand. "You guys, stop!"
Ryan looked at her, amused. "Slush Boy? So that's him?" He laughed. "Wait right here."
Tasha shot up. "Ryan, no. Ryan—"
But it was too late. He was already halfway across the garden.
Tasha slumped in her seat. "I hate all of you."
Moments later, Ryan returned — with Adam and Katty in tow.
Adam's eyes landed on Tasha like a magnet. For a split second, he looked like a deer caught in headlights — and then his face lit up with that familiar crooked smile.
"Well, well," he said, hands in his pockets. "Look who's not covered in mango today."
Tasha folded her arms, trying not to smile. "Don't get used to it."
"Too late," he said with a wink. "I already am."
They spent the evening laughing, trading jokes, and getting to know each other beyond spilled drinks and ruined outfits. Adam was charming without trying too hard, and Tasha, despite her usual sass, found herself softening.
But soon, the music faded into the background. The crowd thinned. It was getting late.
Tasha stood, brushing her dress. "I should head out. My dad's gonna think I eloped."
Before her friends could even react, Zara piped up, "Oh, our ride's full. Ryan's dropping us."
Amani added quickly, "Yeah, no space in the car. But hey — Adam has a car, right?"
Adam straightened. "I do. I mean—yeah. I can drop you."
Tasha narrowed her eyes at her friends. "You guys are so obvious."
Zara grinned. "You're welcome."
With no real excuse to say no — and a smile tugging at her lips — Tasha nodded. "Fine. Let's go, Slush Boy."
Adam chuckled, holding the door for her like a gentleman. "Name's Adam, by the way. In case you ever want to upgrade from 'Slush Boy' to something more dignified."
She looked at him over her shoulder, smirking. "We'll see."
And as they walked out together under the soft moonlight, Adam couldn't help but think — this ride home might just be the beginning of something he hadn't expected.
_____
Adam opened the car door for her like a gentleman, and Tasha slid into the passenger seat, the hem of her blue dress pooling softly around her knees. She kept her eyes fixed out the window, her fingers playing with the edge of her bracelet.
She was trying to act normal.
Just a girl catching a ride home.
But inside, her heart thudded louder than the music playing in the background. She didn't know if it was the air or the silence, or the way he smelled like warm cologne and a summer night — but something about sitting next to Adam made everything feel a little too real.
She'd seen him before. Long before the mango slush incident.
More than a year ago, in fact.
It was early morning. She had gone to a park ten miles away from her house — a place she never usually visited. And there he was. Jogging, earphones in, a hoodie pulled over his head. She might've looked away... if he hadn't stopped mid-run to help a girl whose bag had been snatched by two bikers.
She had watched, stunned, as he chased them down with no hesitation — knocking one to the ground with a punch that could've been straight out of an action movie and retrieving the bag like it was nothing. Then, calmly, he handed it back to the girl, checked she was okay, and went right back to jogging.
That was the first time Tasha noticed him.
And after that… she couldn't stop.
Week after week, she would find a reason to end up at that park. Just to catch a glimpse of him. Just to see if that guy — the one who'd risk a fight to help someone else — was real.
And now… now here she was, sitting beside him. After a mango slush mishap. After a party. After all this time.
She almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
"Hey…" Adam's voice broke into her thoughts, his tone soft. "You okay?"
She turned quickly, blinking. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just spaced out a little."
He smiled at her, eyes warm. Then, without saying anything else, he pulled over gently to the side of the road.
Tasha looked around, confused. "Why did you stop?"
He tilted his head toward the glowing sign just ahead — a little ice cream parlor nestled between two shops. "Zara said you love ice cream. I thought… maybe we could grab some? If you're not in a hurry?"
She looked at him — the hopeful spark in his eyes, the slightly nervous way he scratched the back of his neck.
Her heart fluttered.
"Okay," she said, smiling softly. "Sure."
They stepped inside. The place smelled like melted sugar and childhood memories.
Adam didn't even ask — he just went straight to the counter and ordered a chocolate ice cream.
Tasha's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
He gave a playful shrug. "Lucky guess."
She took the cone and licked it slowly, savoring the richness. "You're lucky I'm not picky," she teased.
They sat outside on a small bench under fairy lights, the night air cool around them. Adam looked at her, his tone suddenly a little more serious — but still sweet.
"So... I was wondering..." he began, eyes avoiding hers, "If maybe... I could have your number? I mean—not for slush emergencies or anything, just... maybe we could talk... sometime... like, normal people... or—"
Tasha tried. She really did.
But the way he stumbled over his words — the way his fingers fidgeted with the ice cream napkin — it was too much.
She burst into laughter.
Adam blinked. "That bad, huh?"
"No," she giggled, shaking her head. "It's just... you looked like you were asking me to marry you."
He laughed too, finally relaxing.
She leaned forward, licking her cone. "Tell you what — since you bought me my favorite ice cream, I'll think about it."
He smiled, that genuine, eyes-sparkling kind of smile.
"You drive a hard bargain."
She stood, brushing imaginary dust off her dress. "And I'm getting late. We should go or I'll be sleeping on the road tonight."
Adam laughed, holding the door open for her. "Wouldn't let that happen. Though I do have a spare blanket in the trunk."
She shook her head, rolling her eyes, but couldn't help smiling as she got into the car.
They pulled up in front of her house, streetlights casting a soft glow across the lawn. The ride had been quieter this time — not awkward, just... gentle.
Tasha unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to him. "Your phone."
Adam blinked. "Huh?"
"My number. Don't tell me you forgot what you came here for."
His eyes lit up like Christmas.
She took his phone, typed in her number, and handed it back with a casual, "Bye."
Before he could even process what just happened, she was out the door and walking to her front gate.
Then, as the door clicked behind her, he sat there for one stunned second.
Then shouted:
"YEEEEESSSSSS!!!"
Tasha paused in her hallway and heard his victorious scream echo through the quiet night.
She smiled.
And for the first time in a long time, her heart laughed too...