Ryu stared at the brown envelope, heart thudding like a stray dhol still playing in her chest.
It wasn't just a note.
It was... an invitation.
Handwritten. Faded ink. No school logo. No sender name.
Just this:
"Come find what you've forgotten. 7 PM. Hotel Oakridge, Banquet Hall A.
White dress, open hair. –R"
Her name wasn't on it.
But she knew it was for her.
"Ooooooh YOU got a secret admirer invite?" Maya squealed that evening, practically climbing onto Ryu's bed like a hyper squirrel.
Ryu tried hiding the envelope under her pillow.
Too late.
"I knew it! I told you—something is brewing in those Pahadi eyes of yours!" Maya was now dramatically gasping, holding Ryu's makeup brush like a mic. "Tell us, Miss Mysterious, who's the anonymous Romeo?"
"It's probably a prank," Ryu muttered.
But her cheeks betrayed her. Pink, flustered, blooming.
That night, she dreamt.
Or... remembered?
A boy stood under the flickering streetlight just outside the old abandoned post office.
His face was shadowed.
But the wind carried something—his scent? His silence? His presence?
Familiar.
He didn't speak.
But Ryu smiled.
Because somehow, she knew him.
Then suddenly—
She gasped awake.
Eyes wide. Breath ragged.
The clock blinked: 5:23 AM.
The Party
She almost didn't go.
But Maya dragged her.
"You don't wear a mysterious white dress and then ghost the party like a side character. You're the MAIN ONE tonight."
Ryu stood at the entrance of Hotel Oakridge, nerves building like static. She clutched the framed portrait of Rey and his siblings she'd sketched in pencil—something she'd started weeks ago without realizing why.
Maya nudged her. "Breathe. You look ethereal. Like a snow princess with anxiety."
The banquet was glowing in warm yellow light. Strings of paper lanterns, low hum of music, boys from Section C dressed better than usual.
She spotted Anika first—jumping near the cake, dressed in an over-the-top lavender gown with light-up sneakers.
Aarav was doing a terrible moonwalk nearby.
"Ryu Didi!" Anika sprinted over and hugged her.
"You came!" Aarav beamed. "I told Rey you would. He was acting cool but kept looking at the door every five minutes."
Ryu laughed nervously, holding out the chocolate box and the framed drawing. "These are for you guys."
"WHOA!" Aarav flipped the frame. "This is us?"
"It's... not perfect," she said softly.
Anika hugged the frame like it was gold. "It's better than perfect."
From across the hall, Rey watched them.
Ravi stood beside him, sipping cola. "That drawing's insane. She made you look less grumpy."
Rey didn't respond. His eyes stayed on Ryu.
She was smiling. Her white dress floated gently around her knees. Her hair open, glinting in the fairy lights.
For a second, the world felt slow.
Like snow falling in reverse.
But then—Arjun appeared beside Rey.
"Happy birthday, bro," Arjun said, clapping his back. "Ivy's looking for you."
Rey didn't move. "She found you instead."
Arjun smirked. "You're the one she's trying to impress."
"Not interested," Rey said quietly.
But he was still watching Ryu.
To be continued...