Mark watched Anna walk back to her table, her smile lingering in his mind longer than it should. He hadn't felt that spark in a long time.
Meanwhile, Anna's heart was still racing as she sat down next to her friends, who immediately noticed her distraction.
"Who was that?" Claire asked, nudging Anna with a knowing grin.
Anna shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just some guy at the bar. He was... nice."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Nice? You barely know him."
"Yeah, but sometimes that's what you need," Anna replied softly, eyes drifting back toward the bar.
For the rest of the night, their conversations were interrupted by glances toward each other, subtle smiles, and the kind of tension that hinted at more than just a casual encounter.
When the restaurant began to empty, Mark gathered his things, hesitating for a moment. He felt compelled to say something more.
He approached Anna's table and caught her eye.
"Can I walk you home?" he asked, voice tentative.
Anna blinked in surprise. "I—okay."
Outside, the night air was cool and fresh, and the city lights shimmered like stars.
They walked side by side in comfortable silence.
"So, what do you do, Anna?" Mark finally asked.
She smiled. "I'm a graphic designer. What about you?"
"Architect. I design buildings, but mostly I'm trying to design a life."
Anna laughed softly. "Aren't we all?"
They reached her door.
"I'm really glad I bumped into you tonight," Mark said, meeting her gaze.
"Me too," Anna replied, her smile sincere.
He hesitated. "Maybe we can do this again sometime?"
Anna's heart fluttered. "I'd like that."
And with a final smile, she stepped inside, leaving Mark standing on the sidewalk, hopeful for what was to come.