The bedroom was dim, lit only by the soft glow of fairy lights draped across the walls and the pale blue hue from her phone screen.
Laying on the bed was 19year old Lyra Starcrest the only daughter of chairman and CEO of ArcnumConsortium , Alaric Starcrest. She had a dark blue coloured oversized hoodie draped over her body, pink hair spilling loose across her shoulders.
In the absence of light her face was illuminated by the shifting lights coming from the phone - the same one she was currently glued to.
What was she doing?Chatting with her one and only childhood Friend Evan.
Her thumb hovered over the screen, not even scrolling—just… staying there, right over his words.
"Tch. You finally tell me now? Hah, as if I didn't already know. I always know, don't I? Iknew before even you did. Isn't that how it should be? For me to know your every step, your every endeavour, before the rest of the world catches up?"
Of course you were accepted, she thought, her eyes softening. You were destined to be. I would never allow the world to deny you something so rightfully yours.... wait or something rightfully mine. You don't know how much I miss you in the academy.
"Finally… we will walk the same corridors. Finally, I will never need to imagine where you are or who you are with. At last, you will be where you belong—beside me."
A sudden thought broke through her reverie, drawing her upright.
Oh, right—the date.
She clapped her hands together, a stupid grin threatening to spread across her face.
"Ahh—what am I even doing spacing out like this? Idiot, idiot, idiot. It's today. Our date. My date. How could I be daydreaming?"
"Wait for me my prince charming!!!"
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*DingDong*
The bell's chime rang out, clear and bright in the quiet street.
Click. A lock turned from within.
Rustle. I smoothed the hem of my dress, though it was already flawless. My lips curved in a gentle smile, rehearsed to perfection.
The door creaked open. Creak. Light spilled out, warm and golden. A feminine figure appeared.
"Good Afternoon Aunty", I said softly, my voice calm, almost musical.
For a moment she blinked, then let out a soft laugh.
"Aunty? Oh dear, don't call me that. It makes me sound like an old woman."
Her words were teasing, but I tilted my head ever so slightly, feigning innocence.
"Then… how about Mom?"
Pfft. She nearly choked on her own breath, clearly caught off guard. Her eyes widened before she broke into laughter again, waving her hands in mock protest.
"Oh, you cheeky girl… you're just like Rey, always making me laugh."
I smiled sweetly in return, though behind that smile a quiet thrill stirred within me. Mom… yes, that fits rather well.
"Is Evan ready? Where is he?"
"Yes, he's ready! He's upstairs in his room. Why don't you go and get him?"
I clasped my hands together politely. "Of course. I'll bring him."
Step, step, step. God, these stairs are so damn loud. Can't they not announce my arrival to the whole house? Every creak felt like it was mocking me, telling him I was coming.
His room. His space.…
I slipped into his room with a soft smile, hands folded neatly behind my back.
"Hey handsome! Watcha doing? Your mother told me to fetch you," I said sweetly.
"Though honestly… I wouldn't mind keeping you all to myself up here."
He sighed, shaking his head. "You're joking again."
"Am I?" I leaned forward slightly, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Because if I were serious, you'd already be tied up on the bed."
"Oi." His voice was flat, but the faint flush on his cheeks betrayed him.
I giggled softly, covering my mouth with my hand. "Fufu~ I'm only teasing. Unless… you'd like that?"
His face stiffened. "…You're impossible."
"Let's go otherwise we would be late! My icecream's waiting!"
Evan whispers 'Glutton'.
"Okay let's get moving."
---
We descended the stairs together, my footsteps light and unhurried, his somewhat heavier as if he wanted the ground to swallow him after my little jokes. At the bottom, his mother was waiting, smiling warmly.
"Oh, you two finally came down," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "Evan, it's not nice keeping a young lady waiting?"
I bowed politely. "Thank you for having me, Mom."
"Oi," he hissed under his breath, "stop calling her that. She's my mom not yours."
His mother laughed, clearly amused. "Ara~ you're welcome anytime, dear. Be careful out there, both of you."
"Of course," I said sweetly, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. "I'll make sure to look after your son."
He groaned. "Please don't say it like that."
The front door shut behind us with a gentle click, and the evening air wrapped around us. My car waiting for us.
I tugged lightly at his sleeve, my lips curving in a satisfied smile.
"Come on, slowpoke. The magical district won't wait for us, … and neither will my ice cream."
He muttered something again, but followed anyway—just as he always did.
Yes. Just as it should be.