"Ready?"
Rowan asked softly, balancing two bottles of wine in one hand and a bag of food in the other. They stood just outside Ash's apartment door, the hallway bathed in the mellow glow of early evening.
Celeste gave a playful grin, gripping a glittery party popper in both hands.
"Yuh. Ready."
Rowan smiled like a child holding back a secret.
"Alright… I'm knocking now."
He lifted his foot and gave three overly dramatic knocks—firm, impatient, theatrical.
Celeste snorted.
"Desperate much?"
Inside, the sound of muffled footsteps began to approach. Slow. Unhurried.
"Okay, okay—he's coming!" Rowan whispered excitedly, practically bouncing where he stood
The door creaked open slowly—
*POP!
"Happy Birthday, Ash!!" both of them shouted.
Confetti shot into the air in a burst of color and glitter, catching the light like falling stars.
Ash blinked at them, frozen in the doorway. He was in a plain oversized shirt and gray sweatpants, his short hair slightly tousled, glasses crooked on his face.
"Wh—" he stammered.
Then a soft smile curved his lips. He looked down briefly, as if trying to collect himself, then back at them. His ears were already glowing red
Celeste smiled wider. There it was—that flustered expression she adored.
"Surprise~" Rowan added with a sing-song tone, stepping in first. He casually brushed confetti off his hoodie, dropped the wine bottles and food onto the nearby counter, and turned back to wrap Ash in a quick hug.
Ash stiffened momentarily but returned the gesture with an awkward pat on the back.
Then Rowan suddenly pulled away and narrowed his eyes.
"Wait… hold up. Your hair?"
Ash blinked.
"You cut your hair?!" Rowan said, a bit louder this time, stepping back for a better look. "Y-You actually—wow."
Ash scratched the back of his neck, sheepish.
"Uh… yeah. Last week."
"Damn. You look good," Rowan said bluntly, grabbing Ash's shoulder and tilting his head left and right like he was inspecting a sculpture. "It actually suits you. Like… a lot."
Ash's smile twitched wider, ears burning even redder now.
"T-thanks."
Rowan laughed, stepping back.
"Anyway—happy birthday, Princess. And yeah, you better cry or something, 'cause we did this outta pure love."
Ash chuckled, lowering his head slightly.
"T-thank you… really."
His gaze flicked toward Celeste.
She walked past him with a wink, her party popper still faintly smoking in her hand, the corner of her lips curled into that teasing smirk of hers.
"Let's go~~" she sang as she slipped inside the apartment with a skip in her step.
Ash watched her go for a second, then gently closed the door behind them, still smiling to himself.
•
•
•
The living room floor of Ash's apartment had become their party space.
No balloons. No fancy decorations. Just the scent of garlic from pizza boxes, three mismatched mugs for wine, and one chocolate cake still half-frozen in the middle of the floor.
Rowan sat cross-legged in pajama pants and a hoodie, pouring more wine like it was the last bottle on Earth.
Celeste lounged beside him, legs crossed at the ankle, sipping with elegance far above the boys beside her.
Ash sat between them, shoulders a little tense, smile a little too tight.
Laughter filled the space as Rowan finished telling his story, something about being followed by a cat all the way home, which he was sure was cursed.
Ash was doubled over.
"Y-You put out a plate of rice for it?"
"I thought it was hungry!" Rowan threw his hands up. "Or possibly… you know… my grandma reborn."
Celeste raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, taking a long sip of wine.
Rowan sighed contentedly and leaned back on his palms, eyes flitting between them.
"Y'know, we've really been good friends, huh?" he said casually, but there was a softness under it.
Ash looked up.
Rowan gave a half-smile.
"Not to get sappy or whatever, but… I really appreciate you, man. I mean it. It's been kinda lonely lately, but you? You're like… I dunno. A stable presence."
Ash smiled awkwardly, warmth fluttering in his chest.
"You too."
Rowan gagged dramatically.
"Ugh. That's enough. I'll vomit if this gets any more heartfelt."
But Ash wasn't laughing anymore.
Instead, he looked over at Celeste.
She didn't say anything. Just met his eyes calmly from behind her wine glass. Then slowly, almost imperceptibly—
She tilted her head.
And nodded.
Ash's throat dried.
"Rowan," he said, sitting up straighter, fingers fidgeting nervously in his lap. "I… have something to tell you."
Rowan glanced over, blinking.
"Hm? What's up?"
Ash inhaled. Looked down.
"I'm… already dating someone."
The room fell quiet.
Rowan blinked again, slower this time.
"You… what?"
Ash looked up at him with all the bravery of a kitten in a thunderstorm.
"I'm dating someone."
Rowan blinked faster now.
"S-Since when?!"
"Uh… a week before winter break."
Rowan's mouth dropped open.
"WHAT?! That's like—" He held up his fingers, muttering. "One… two… three—that's almost three months, Ash!! Three entire months!"
Ash winced.
Rowan grabbed him by the shoulders dramatically.
"And you didn't tell me?! Your best friend?! Your emotional support knight?!"
"I wanted to," Ash said quickly. "I just—didn't know how."
Rowan leaned back, crossing his arms.
"Alright, alright. I'm not mad. Just—surprised." He smirked. "So, who is it? Is it a man?"
Ash choked.
"N-No! It's a girl!"
Rowan raised a brow, eyes lighting up mischievously.
"Ohooo? Then who? Is it someone from your workplace? Or—wait—is it from our college batchmates? Don't tell me… is it a sugar mommy??"
Ash hesitated.
And then… he looked.
Not down. Not to the cake.
But at Celeste.
Rowan followed the look slowly. His gaze moved toward Celeste, who hadn't said a word.
She was still sipping her wine.
"…Huh?" Rowan said, confused. "Why are you looking at—?"
Celeste exhaled through her nose.
She stood up gracefully. Walked across the floor.
And without a single word—grabbed Ash by the collar and kissed him full on the lips.
Ash's body stiffened like someone yanked the power cord out of his soul.
Rowan's jaw hit the floor.
"C—CEL?!" he yelped, scrambling to his knees and lunging like a wild animal. He grabbed Ash's arm and yanked him backward like a mother pulling her child from a burning oven.
"What the hell was THAT?!"
Celeste simply wiped her lip with her thumb and smiled.
"Brother," she said casually, "I'm his girlfriend."
Rowan froze.
The words hit him in waves.
"…What?"
I'm. His. Girlfriend.
He blinked. "…No."
I'm. His. Girlfriend.
He looked at Ash, who was still frozen, lips pink, eyes wide.
I'm. His. Girlfriend.
His heart broke. Like Ash had cheated on him.
I'm. His. GIRLFRIEND.
It kept repeating in his head like a broken alarm clock. Echoing. Mocking.
I'm his girlfriend. I'm his girlfriend. I'm his—
"No, no, no. No, this can't be real." Rowan looked between them, shaking his head like he was about to cry. "Y-You—You snatched him! You—you little goblin sister! You KIDNAPPED my best friend!"
Celeste only raised a brow.
"Kidnapped? He came willingly."
Ash whispered,
"P-Please stop talking."
Rowan staggered back like he'd been punched.
"I treated you like a princess," he told Ash, pointing dramatically. "And you—you let her corrupt your pure soul!"
Ash, burning red, could only mumble: "W-We're happy?"
Celeste leaned her head on Ash's shoulder, smug.
"We're very happy."
Rowan flopped onto the floor like a dying Victorian aunt, arms splayed.
"Someone unplug me. I don't wanna exist."
___________