EXT – BACK OF CONVENIENCE STORE
"Fyre?"
Dhylan's voice was hesitant as he stepped closer to the girl slumped on her knees, face buried in her arms like a child hiding from the world.
He tilted his head slightly.
Same bag. Same shoes. Same stood out presence.
It was her.
The bag of food rustled in his hand as he crouched down to her level. The wind carried a faint sniffle — quiet, trembling, and painfully familiar.
"Dhylaaaan!" Fire lifted her head, eyes puffy, nose red, lips forming a pout that could melt anyone's heart.
Dhylan blinked. "What happened?"
At the question, her eyes glistened again — the tears threatening a second wave.
"Okay, maybe not here," he muttered, scanning the parking lot behind the convenience store. It was quiet but not private enough.
He stood up and offered a hand. "Let's go."
Fire looked at the hand, then at his face. That soft, patient smile. That tone that always felt… safe.
Why can't you be this warm? she thought, not at him — but at someone else entirely.
INT – ICE CREAM PARLOR
They sat across from each other — Fire with a mountain of ice cream, Dhylan with his usual glass of iced coffee.
"You got rejected?" he asked, one brow raised, head tilted on the side.
Fire nodded with the spoon still in her mouth, sniffing from yesterday's tears. "Mm-hm."
Dhylan sighed, leaning back. "Maybe you're mistaken."
"He" she paused, staring at the glass of treats on the front of her. "Basically said he sees me as a sister." She stabbed her strawberry ice cream like it had committed a crime.
"Maybe he just doesn't know how to say it?" Dhylan offered, watching her pout.
She shook her head hard — the universal Fire language for 'nope, that's denial.'
"You still don't know for sure unless you confess properly," he said, raising a fist in encouragement. "Don't give up like that."
"Dhylan! Not everyone has a strong heart like you!" she groaned, dropping her head onto the table, eyes on her melting ice cream.
"I was too taken aback when he was patting me, my heart was racing so fast…" she murmured. "I didn't even digest what he said until now. I just—ignored it."
Dhylan stayed quiet, listening. He wished Oriel was there — she'd know what to say. He bit his lip slightly, feeling that small ache only a friend could feel.
"I pushed it back because I didn't want to cry at school," Fire said, suddenly sitting up. "Also! I thought I wouldn't cry because…" She scooped another spoonful, waving it dramatically. "Because it was just a crush!"
She took a bite, cheeks puffed. "Just a tiny, small crush!" Then pouted again. "But it still hurts!"
"Ahh, Dhylaaann…"
"I know, I know. We'll get more ice cream," Dhylan said, nodding like a tired big brother.
"Really!?" Her eyes instantly brightened into hearts.
"Yes, really." He raised a hand to call for the menu again.
As he watched her — shorter hair now, slimmer and taller than Oriel, still radiating that bright, chaotic energy very different from her Oriel but both of them are gentle — Dhylan felt a quiet ache. Someone like her… didn't deserve to be heart broken.
Oriel always idolized Fire, and Dhylan had always envied her. Maybe even jealous of her.
The waiter placed another menu on their table. Fire smiled, her eyes curving into crescents — too forced, but still brave.
"Hey, this one's on me. Just keep me company, okay? I'll pay for everything," she said cheerfully.
He knew that tone.
The one people used when they were doing their best not to cry.
"Okay. Then you pick something for me too," Dhylan said softly.
"Oh! You'll like the tiramisu one!" she said, holding the menu up to show him.
He nodded, smiling faintly.
She doesn't want Oriel to know. She doesn't want her to worry.
"At least my ice cream will always love me." She heard her mutter with a pout. He couldn't help but to chuckle.
Dhylan leaned back, watching her quietly as she scanned the menu again, pretending to study it like it was the most important thing in the world.
It was enough just to be there — to let her breathe, to remind her she wasn't alone.
For now, that was all he could do.
Next Chapter:
Crying over ice cream? Check.
Comforted by an unexpected prince-like Dhylan? Double check.
Ambushed by the one person Fire absolutely wasn't ready to face tonight?
…Triple check.