The evening heat clung to Kara's skin as she hurried down the narrow street, sneakers tapping against the pavement. Her chest ached with nerves, and no matter how many times she rehearsed the words in her head, they kept unraveling.
When she pushed open the glass door of UNION, the familiar chime rang out.
And there she was.
Willow sat by the window, light falling across her hair like a frame. Her phone was raised at just the right angle, lips pursed in concentration. She snapped a selfie, frowned, adjusted her hair, then tried again. The sight made Kara's heart ache in the sweetest, sharpest way. That smile—the one Willow would send later with a text that said waiting for you—was the one Kara never wanted to be the reason to break.
She knew Willow's history, the cracks in her foundation. No father. A mother working double shifts to keep afloat. A little sister, Michelle, who needed her more than anyone ever admitted. Willow had built her smile on fragile ground, and Kara… Kara was terrified of being the one to shake it loose.
Kara stepped closer, sliding into the seat beside her.
"Hey."
Willow jumped, cheeks flushing pink. "God, you scared me."
Kara smirked. "Caught you practicing your model shots?"
"Shut up." Willow swatted her arm but she was laughing, already blushing harder. "I was gonna send you one."
"Guess I got the live version," Kara teased, leaning just close enough to make Willow hide her face behind her phone.
For a few minutes, they let the air lighten. They ordered—Tiramisu for Kara, cheesecake for Willow, iced lattes that clinked when the waiter set them down.
Kara dug into her dessert first, humming dramatically. "God, I missed this."
"You always miss this," Willow said with a grin. "Half the reason you come here is the Tiramisu."
"Half the reason," Kara repeated softly, eyes lingering on her.
Willow caught the look, rolled her eyes, and stabbed her fork into her cheesecake. "Smooth."
Kara laughed, but it fell short. Her pulse thundered. The words she'd been holding sat heavy at the back of her throat. She slipped her hand beneath the table, finding Willow's fingers.
Willow blinked, startled. "Kara?"
Kara swallowed. "There's something I need to tell you."
The smile faded. Willow set her fork down slowly. "Okay… tell me."
Kara squeezed her hand, desperate for courage. "I applied to a university. In Bali. And I got in."
For a heartbeat, silence. Then Willow's eyes glossed, her lips parting as if the air itself had betrayed her.
"You… you what?" Her voice trembled, quiet but sharp enough to cut.
Kara's throat tightened. "I should've told you earlier. I was scared. Scared you'd think I was choosing something else over you. But this is about my future. About proving to my parents I can do something right."
Willow looked down at their joined hands, her thumb trembling against Kara's palm. Tears welled but she bit them back. "So you were keeping this from me? All this time?"
Kara shook her head quickly. "Not because I don't trust you. God, Willow, I do. I just… didn't know how. I didn't want to see this look on your face."
Willow tried to pull her hand away, but Kara held tighter.
"Please. Just let me explain everything."
Willow's chest rose and fell sharply. She nodded once, jaw tight, voice barely above a whisper. "Then explain. Because right now, I don't know if I can believe you."
Kara drew in a shaky breath, searching Willow's eyes. "It's not forever. I swear. The program runs for four years, but I'll come back every four, maybe six months. I already planned it. I don't want you thinking I'm just… leaving you behind."
Willow's lips trembled. "Every four to six months?" She gave a watery laugh, one that cracked in the middle. "Do you know how long that feels when I'm waiting here?"
"I know." Kara's voice broke. "But if I don't take this chance, I'll regret it forever. You know how my parents look at me, like I'm drifting, like I'm never enough. This is my shot to make them proud. To make myself proud and to make sure that I'm gonna be ready when my mom give me one of her companies"
Willow's hand finally stilled in hers, fragile but still there. "And me? Where do I fit in this big, proud plan?"
Kara leaned closer, desperate. "You're the reason I want to be better. You're the reason I even have the courage to try. Willow, I love you. I love you so much it scares me. That's why I have to do this, so when I come back, I'm someone worthy of the way you look at me."
Tears slipped free down Willow's cheeks, catching the glow of the café lights. She shook her head, half in disbelief, half in pain. "You make it sound so noble, Kara, but all I hear is distance. Empty chairs. Missed birthdays. Nights I can't call you because you'll be busy proving yourself."
Kara's throat ached. She pressed their joined hands to her lips. "I don't want empty chairs. I don't want distance. But I also can't stay still just because I'm afraid of losing you."
Willow finally looked at her really looked and the sight broke Kara's heart.
There was love there, burning and bright, but tangled in fear.
"God, Kara…" Willow whispered, her voice trembling. "Do you know what you're asking me to do? To believe you won't get swept away by all the new people, the new life, while I'm still here?"
"I'm asking you to believe in me." Kara's eyes stung. "That no matter where I go, you're still the one. I'll prove it every time I come back. Every time, Willow."
Willow bit her lip, fighting back another wave of tears. She glanced down at the cheesecake, untouched, then back at Kara.
"I don't know if I can handle this," she admitted, voice breaking. "But I don't want to lose you either."
Kara's breath caught. She reached across, brushing a thumb over Willow's cheek, wiping at the tear that had already fallen. "Then don't. Please. Don't let this be the thing that ends us."
For a long, fragile moment, Willow said nothing. Just sat there, hand in Kara's, breathing unevenly. The café around them blurred into background noise, clinking cups and soft jazz.
Finally, Willow whispered, "Then explain everything. Every detail. If I'm going to try… I need to understand exactly what you're walking into."
Kara exhaled, relief and fear twisting together. She nodded quickly, holding tighter to her hand like it was the only thing anchoring her.
"Okay," she said. "I'll tell you everything."
And she did.