Grace's breath caught. No one had ever said something like that to her before—not so openly, not with so many people walking around just a few steps away. The boy's words seemed louder than the drums beating somewhere across the festival grounds.
Her palms were damp. Her throat felt like it had closed up. She wanted to reply, but her tongue wouldn't move.
Andrew shifted beside her, fingers tightening around the bag he was carrying. He didn't speak, but his eyes stayed locked on the boy.
"I…" Grace stammered, barely audible. Her heart was racing so hard it almost hurt. Why me? What am I supposed to say?
The boy—Ryan, she remembered hearing his name during sports practice—just tilted his head, still smiling with that confidence that didn't waver.
Finally, Grace found her voice. "I-I can't. I'm sorry."
The silence that followed was heavy. Then Ryan just laughed, easy and careless, like she had only turned down an offer to share popcorn. He stepped back with his hands raised.
"Fair enough," he said. "No harm in asking, right? Guess I'll just have to win you over another time." His grin widened, unfazed. "Mind if I tag along with you guys instead? You look like you're having way more fun than I am alone."
Grace blinked, thrown off by how casually he brushed it off. She'd expected disappointment, maybe irritation. But Ryan acted like nothing had happened.
Andrew didn't look thrilled, but he didn't stop him either when Ryan slid into their little group. Sophia showed up right then with cotton candy, raising a brow at Ryan's sudden appearance but still handing him a polite smile.
And just like that, the boy who had just asked Grace out was part of their evening.
Grace forced smiles and laughter as Ryan threw himself into every game, joking with Sophia, dramatically sulking when he lost ring toss, or pretending to be a fortune-teller. Outwardly, it was fun. Inside, her chest was heavy.
Her first time being asked out had ended in a shaky, stuttered "no." She hadn't said it because Ryan was bad or because she disliked him. She said it because letting someone in—close enough to see the truth—terrified her.
They wouldn't get it, she thought while handing flyers at the booth. Not Andrew. Not Sophia. Not Ryan. Nobody knows what my house feels like when the shouting starts. Nobody knows why I never bring up my family.
The weight of it clung to her, even as laughter surrounded her.
When Ms. Takeda, their teacher, stopped by later to check on their stall, she praised their work and then casually asked Grace, "Have you spoken to your parents about volunteering for cleanup tomorrow? We still need names."
Grace froze.
The lantern light blurred for a second. She gripped the table edge too hard.
"I… I don't think they can," she answered quickly, her voice small.
Ms. Takeda just nodded and moved on, but Andrew had caught it. The hesitation. The stiffness in her shoulders. The way her voice shook.
Grace ducked her head, busying herself with flyers. Don't ask. Please don't ask.
When the fireworks began, Ryan sprawled out on the grass like he owned the place, cracking jokes about the sky celebrating him. Sophia shot back with sarcastic comments, and even Andrew fought a smile at their antics. The laughter rang out around Grace, warm and bright.
She hugged her knees, staring up as bursts of green and violet painted her face. For everyone else, it was joy, celebration. For her, it was bittersweet. She wanted this moment—this belonging—to last. But she couldn't shake the fear that one day the cracks in her life would show and ruin everything.
Ryan turned suddenly, flashing her an easy grin. "Hey, Grace. Thanks for letting me hang out today. You're way cooler than wandering alone."
She blinked. "I… sure. You're welcome."
"See? Progress," he said, acting like her single word was a grand victory.
Sophia laughed. Andrew muttered something under his breath. Grace laughed too, surprising herself. Ryan's humor was infectious.
But even as she laughed, she thought, If only they knew. If only they knew what home feels like. If only they knew why I said no, why I'll always say no.
The festival wound down with food stalls and last-minute snacks. Ryan made a scene about paying, only to come up short, which led to Andrew covering for him while Sophia groaned at the dramatics. They sat under the lanterns, eating noodles, skewers, and taiyaki, surrounded by warm golden light.
Grace smiled and laughed with them, but her mind kept circling back to Ms. Takeda's question. The way her stomach had dropped. The way Andrew had looked at her like he knew.
She couldn't let them know. Not Sophia with her blunt cheer, not Ryan with his endless jokes, and not Andrew—especially not Andrew.
"Hey," Ryan said between bites, pointing his skewer at her, "you were awesome at badminton today. Even if you didn't win, you looked like you were having fun."
Grace blinked, caught off guard. "I… yeah. I did."
"That's all that matters," Ryan said with a grin. "Winning is overrated anyway. Look at me—I'm a professional loser at ring toss."
Sophia nearly choked laughing. Grace smiled softly. For a moment, it almost felt easy.
By the time the festival closed and lanterns flickered dimmer, they started walking home. Sophia and Ryan led the way, still bickering playfully. Grace and Andrew trailed behind in the quieter shadows.
"You okay?" Andrew asked quietly.
Grace nodded too quickly. "Yeah. Just tired."
But Andrew's gaze lingered, like he didn't buy it. Grace looked away before he could say more.
At the corner, they split paths. Sophia waved, Ryan gave a goofy bow, and Andrew lingered a second longer, searching Grace's face before turning away.
She stood still, the laughter fading with distance. The night smelled of smoke and fried food, but ahead lay only the heaviness of home.
The festival was filled with light, laughter, and a sense of belonging. But as she walked into the shadows, Grace couldn't help but wonder how long she could keep hiding her truth.