That morning, they faced the truth as the sun's laughter slowly faded: they had decided to leave their small, embracing town. And now, as the time for departure neared, they bid farewell to that small world to welcome "Izora" – or as the locals call it, "Night Sky" – the city of glowing jewels that awaited them with its shimmering lights and endless promises.
The taxi slowed to a halt on the dew-kissed pavement, its front tire letting out a soft squeal as it met the polished marble. Eileen lifted her head in wonder, her gaze slowly ascending the facade of the glass tower that seemed to pierce the clouds. The sun's rays reflected off its blue windows, glittering like scattered stars.
Eileen (in an astonished voice brimming with life): "Wow... are we going to live here?!"
She darted off like a child released from the shackles of boredom, lightly running towards the front garden, her heels clicking on the ground like a rapid piano melody. She stopped before the main gate, where a revolving door of dark glass slowly spun, surrounded by artificial palm trees whose leaves gleamed from a subtle, hidden irrigation system.
Eileen (dramatically, opening her arms): "Welcome, ladies, to Arcadia Vaulte, where luxury touches imagination!"
Then she quickly turned to Rina, waving her phone: "Rina! Take a picture of me here. This moment will set social media ablaze… I'll make all my old friends regret leaving me!"
Their mother, who was pulling a wheeled suitcase, stopped beside them, sighing.
Mother (with a tired smile): "Eileen, enough screaming… you've exhausted me. Let's go up."
Sera approached with quiet steps, her eyes examining the place as if trying to believe what she saw. Black floors gleamed like a still lake, white pillars adorned with helical lamps pulsed with a faint golden light, and a soft classical music melody wafted from inside.
Sera (whispering): "Why did we move here? And… do we each get our own room?"
Mother (pressing the elevator button): "Of course, this is only temporary. Eileen will finish her bachelor's degree soon, and I can't leave her alone in student housing. As you know, your girl here flies more than she walks…"
Rina chuckled softly: "So, protection from college troubles… a wise decision."
Sera (with a sideways smile): "Amazing… I'll start looking for a new job tomorrow."
Rina (nudging her with her elbow): "A new pharmacy? Didn't you say you intended to change?"
Sera (with a light laugh): "I did… but the salary is irresistible. I'll stay in the field temporarily. I have something new I want to study, so I'll save money first."
Rina (curiously): "Something new? What would that be?"
Sera (entering the elevator and looking in the mirror): "When the time comes, I'll tell you. For now, focus on your fiancé and train your fingers… phone sports can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome!"
Rina (laughing): "You're rude…"
Sera (playfully, pressing the top floor button): "Confident. If Mom gets to the suite before us and doesn't find us… you know the outcome."
The elevator doors closed smoothly and ascended, their faces reflecting in the mirrors.
The elevator chimed softly, then the door opened to a corridor carpeted in light beige, illuminated by soft lighting from elegant wall lamps resembling flower petals. Eileen stepped out first, her eyes darting around as if exploring a secret palace.
The mother stepped forward and took the electronic entry card from her bag, swiping it in front of the door with the number: 8706. Cool, scented air rushed towards them, like a gentle breeze carrying the scent of jasmine.
They entered one after another into a spacious foyer with glass walls on three sides, revealing a view of the illuminated city below. The towers shimmered like suspended glass flakes, and the glittering street beneath them looked like a necklace of stars. The suite's dark, polished wooden floor reflected the ceiling lights with a silky sheen. To the right, a spacious living room with light ash-colored velvet sofas and a transparent coffee table topped with a glass bowl full of colored crystals. To the left, an open kitchen with a gleaming marble counter.
Eileen (running towards the sofa and jumping on it): "Oh my God! Are we in a drama? I want to stay here forever!"
Rina started moving between the doors as if in a treasure hunt:
Rina (counting quickly): "One… two… three… four bedrooms? And each with its own bathroom?! But… wait, there's one room with a circular balcony!"
She opened the door to that room, and sunlight streamed in from the glass balcony as if it were a gateway to a celestial world. The sheer curtains moved gently, as if the room was breathing.
Rina (louder, turning to the others): "Of course… besides the balcony, the room itself is larger than the rest—"
Mother (interrupting firmly, placing the suitcase on a side table): "Wait! Wait! I know those looks. No screaming, no hair pulling. We'll solve it with a drawing."
She took a small piece of paper from her notebook, tore it into three equal pieces, and wrote the girls' names one by one. She folded them carefully, then placed them in a small hat, passing it from hand to hand.
Mother (pointing to Rina): "Go on, you start."
Rina drew a paper, then mixed them again. Three times… and each time, the same result:
Mother (holding up the paper with a smile): "Sera. You're lucky today."
Rina (with a wink and raised eyebrows): "Bad… her luck!"
Eileen (lifting Becky the cat high and spinning him around): "But the house is amazing, right Becky? Don't you see this ceiling?"
Mother (in the voice of a mother trying to maintain order amidst playful chaos): "First… feed the cats. Then prepare your things and your rooms. After that, arrange your belongings. I'll make something for us to eat, and by the time I return, I expect everything to be in its place. Understood?"
Eileen (stamping her foot like a soldier in training): "Yes, Captain! We're off!"
Sera opened a small bag full of cat food and began calling out in a warm voice: "Emma… Itachi… Becky… it's dinner time, come here."
The cats appeared one by one, as if they understood the commands well. Emma walked gracefully like a queen, Itachi yawned and surveyed the new place, and Becky… hopped like a rabbit, making Eileen chuckle softly.
[A brief moment of silence hangs over the place; everyone is busy, but nostalgia is present.]
The mother stood on the balcony, looking at the horizon, then whispered as if talking to herself: "Since your father left… we've become even more attached to each other."
Sera raised her head, and her eyes met her mother's. They said nothing, but a small glance was enough to convey everything.
After a long, tiring day, everyone retreated to their rooms for rest. On the high floor, Sera stood alone on her semi-circular balcony, breathing in the cool night breeze. She wore earphones, a calm melody seeping through them, mingling with the whispers of the wind, while her three cats slept peacefully on the large bed.
Her deep brown eyes reflected the twinkling lights, as if the entire city was mirrored within them. The city skyline before her was a fantastical painting: scattered lights like jewels, towering skyscrapers, and a sky adorned with tiny crystal balls… stars gleaming softly.
And suddenly… the silence of the moment was broken by a faint sound from the adjacent balcony.
A young man stood on the neighboring balcony, leaning against its cool glass, wearing a short-sleeved white shirt, eating pink strawberry ice cream. His bluish-black hair fell over his forehead, gently caressed by the breeze. His eyes were strange: a mixture of sky blue and night black, their gleam a bright blue, and small black earrings shimmered in his ears like silent embers. He seemed to belong to a different world, detached from all the noise of this life.
Sera stood frozen, a strange stillness settling on her features, and her face began to flush. Something about him drew her in… every detail captivated her.
The breeze ruffled strands of her hair, but she didn't notice. She just stared.
A magical moment was interrupted by a young man's shout from inside:
Voice: "Aiden!"
Another young man ran to the balcony, calling to his friend with an enthusiastic tone: "Aren't you going to watch the game?"
Aiden (bored): "You watch it… I hate football games."
Young Man: "Come on, stop being gloomy and come!"
Sera remained in place, staring, breathing slowly, as if afraid to break the image.