I woke up with Nia's teasing still echoing in my head. You're blushing, Serena. Admit it.
I had rolled my eyes and denied it until she laughed me into submission, but the truth lingered deep inside me I had blushed. And I hated that she was right.
Adrian. His name alone had the power to mess with my calm. He had asked me out yesterday, and instead of boldly saying yes, I gave the coward's answer: I'll think about it. Nia, of course, nearly shoved me into my own phone and demanded I accept. But I hadn't. I couldn't.
This morning, though, everything felt heavier. The air around me pressed against my chest as if the universe wanted me to remember the one thing I worked so hard to bury my past.
By the time I dragged myself out of bed and into the small kitchen, Nia was already awake. She leaned against the counter, dark curls tumbling past her shoulder, those deep brown eyes catching the faint sunlight like melted chocolate. She was beautiful in a way that seemed effortless, wild, free, and unashamed. A little thicker than me, curvy in a way that made people stare without her trying.
Nia was my opposite in every way, extrovert to my introvert, daring to my cautiousness, loud to my quiet. But she was also my anchor. We'd been friends since childhood, bound together by something deeper than similarities.
"Morning, sleeping beauty," she said, smirking as she sipped from her mug. "Or should I say, blushing beauty?"
I froze mid-step. " You're awake?"
Nia's smirk widened. "Of course I am,lover girl. Do you know how excited I am on your behalf about your mysterious Adrian? Apparently, you couldn't keep your cheeks from burning from giving me the juice last night."
I groaned, dropping onto a chair. "Why are you like this?"
"Because I love you, and because I know you deserve to be happy." She slid the mug toward me. "And because, unlike you, I'm not afraid to admit when someone makes my heart skip."
I stared at the steam curling from her coffee. Happy. Such a simple word, and yet, so complicated for me.
"Don't forget today is Thursday," Nia added, eyes twinkling with mischief. "The big date. Or are you already pretending to forget?"
I bit down on my lip. The word date felt like a stone lodged in my throat. "I… don't think I'm going."
"What?" Nia's voice rose, sharp with disbelief. "You're kidding, right? You've been sulking around here for weeks, and then finally a guy you actually blush for asks you out, and you want to say no?"
"I don't feel like it," I muttered, pushing the mug away. "I'm not feeling well."
Her eyes narrowed, not buying it. "This isn't about being sick. This is you running. Again."
I winced. She wasn't wrong. Memories clawed at the edges of my mind, memories I'd locked away. Pain that whispered, don't trust, don't fall, don't let anyone close again.
"What if he's just like the others?" I whispered, my voice cracking despite myself. "What if this ends worse? What if he's even more of a devil than what I've known?"
For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then nia leaned across the table, her hand warm over mine. "Serena, not every man is your past. Don't punish yourself forever for what someone else broke."
I swallowed hard. My chest felt tight, like the words she spoke had struck a nerve I wasn't ready to touch. I wanted to believe her, but fear was louder.
My phone buzzed on the table, making me jump. Adrian.
Adrian: Hey, good morning. Just checking in. Are you doing okay today?
I stared at the screen too long before typing the dullest response ever.
Me: Yeah, I'm fine.
It felt empty, cold. His reply came fast.
Adrian: How's the scene today? Still good for tonight?
Normally, I'd smile at the way he called it "the scene," like meeting me was more than just a date it was an experience. But instead, I typed back without thinking.
Me: Yes, probably.
The moment I hit send, I hated myself. Probably. What kind of answer was that?
Nia leaned over my shoulder. "Seriously, Serena? 'Probably'? That's ice-cold."
I sighed. "I can't do this."
Hours passed with me dragging my feet through the day. Everything felt off. Even when Nia cracked jokes or when she stopped by to rant about her boyfriend, I couldn't shake the gloom shadowing me.
By evening, my phone buzzed again.
Adrian: So, seven tonight? I'll be there early.
My fingers hovered. I could almost see his easy smile, almost hear the calm in his voice. And for a second, I wanted to say yes. I wanted to go. But then, the walls I'd built slammed back into place.
Me: Sorry, I'm busy. Can't make it.
I dropped the phone like it burned me.
That night, I didn't hear from him again.
A week passed. A whole week of silence.
Every day, I told myself it was for the best. That my avoidance saved me from heartbreak. That Adrian would move on, and so would I.
But still, when my phone stayed quiet, an ache spread through me. I kept pretending it didn't matter. Pretending it was done.
One afternoon, I sat curled on the couch, scrolling aimlessly, when Nia dropped beside me with a bowl of chips.
"You're moody again," she said.
"I'm always moody."
"True." She popped a chip in her mouth, then grinned. "But don't think I've forgotten about Adrian. You ghosted him, didn't you?"
I looked away. "It doesn't matter anymore. He's gone."
As if on cue, my phone dinged on the table.
I didn't even look up. "That's probably you.Nobody texts me anymore, remember?"
Nia snatched it before I could protest. She frowned at the screen, then gasped. "Oh. My. God."
My heart skipped. "What?"
She turned the phone toward me slowly, her eyes wide with mischief.
"He's back," she whispered.
My stomach dropped. "Who?"
She grinned. "Him."
And just like that, my world tilted. "Not again" I whispered.