Avery's palms were sweating. She wiped them down her trousers as she is walking from behind the girl she'd only ever seen through a phone screen. Long black hair, striped blouse, neat trousers, a small handbag hanging effortlessly from her shoulder. She was scanning the mall's atrium like she was memorizing it, and even from a distance Avery's chest tightened.
Before Kara could push open the glass door to the gourmet food court, Avery reached out and lightly touched her shoulder.
"Summer?"
Kara turned, startled, but when her eyes landed on Avery, recognition flickered. A smile tugged at her lips. "That's me," she said, then laughed softly. "Well, not really." She straightened, offering her hand. "I'm Kara."
Avery stared at her hand for a moment before sliding hers into it. The handshake should have been quick, casual, but neither of them let go right away. Something passed between their palms, a warmth, a little jolt like the world had tilted in their direction. Avery's throat tightened as she repeated the name under her breath. "Kara."
Kara tilted her head, her smile widening. "Much better, right?"
"Yeah," Avery admitted, her voice low. "Much better."
They walked side by side into the food court, both pretending not to notice how close their shoulders brushed. Avery gestured toward the big bowls of any kind of salads. "Go ahead, you pick first."
Kara squinted at the salads, nervousness rushing her words. "Uh… this one?" She stepped aside confidently, only to end up being serve a plat of Japanese ginger salad when they're being seated.
Her cheeks warmed.
Avery hid a laugh "You… do know that's not salmon, right?"
Kara glanced down, mortified. "Wait... what? Oh my god!" She groaned, pressing her palm to her face. "Great first impression. I can't even order food."
Avery's grin was kind, not mocking. "Hey, don't worry. Worst case, you'll smell amazing after all that ginger."
Kara peeked at her through her fingers. "Smooth save." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "You're just trying to make me feel better."
"Maybe," Avery said, unashamed.
When Kara finally looked at Avery's plate, she smirked. "And what about you? That steak looks like it's still breathing."
Avery sighed, stabbing at it with her fork. "I said medium well. This is… definitely medium rare."
For a beat, the air was awkward. Then both of them broke into laughter loud, unrestrained, the kind that drew a few stares.
"So," Kara said once she caught her breath, "you're eating raw cow, and I'm eating leaves. What a pair."
"Balanced diet," Avery replied, smiling so much her cheeks hurt.
As they settled by the wide windows, sunlight spilling across their table, Kara tilted her head. "So tell me… why'd you swipe right on me?"
Avery blinked. "That's your first deep question?"
"Of course," Kara teased, twirling her fork. "I need to know if it was my bio, my photos, or maybe my very obvious charm."
Avery chuckled, but her answer was careful, earnest. "Honestly? It was your smile. You looked like someone who… actually meant it."
The words made Kara's chest tighten unexpectedly. She smirked to cover it up. "Careful, Avery. That's dangerously close to flirting."
"Maybe I'm just honest," Avery countered, her eyes soft.
"And here I thought I was the flirty one." Kara leaned her chin on her hand, eyes dancing. "Guess I'll have to step up my game."
Avery rolled her eyes, though her pulse skipped. "So why'd you swipe on me then?"
Kara didn't hesitate. "Because you said, 'If you want to feel all the love languages, maybe we should meet up.'" She grinned, shrugging. "I thought… anyone brave enough to write that must be worth meeting."
Avery felt her ears heat up. "That was supposed to be a joke."
"Mm," Kara hummed, smiling shyly. "Too late. Now you have to prove it."
They both laughed again, and the nerves between them eased into something softer, something easier. Avery found herself talking more than listening, watching the way Kara's expressions shifted, how she tilted her head when she was curious, or leaned in when she wanted to tease. Kara, meanwhile, noticed the way Avery's caring nature slipped into every exchange, how she reassured her about the salad, how she tried to make her laugh when she saw her nervous.
It was clumsy, awkward, and a little messy but it was theirs.
And neither of them could ignore the tiny spark that kept flickering between them, as if the handshake at the door hadn't ended at all, it had just found new ways to keep going.
***
Avery cut a piece of her steak, carefully, in case it really did try to moo and leaned forward. "Okay, rapid-fire. Favorite drink?"
Kara tilted her head. "Coffee, less sugar, less ice, but usually just Iced Americano. You?"
"Coffee, Hazelnut latte to be exact," Avery answered without hesitation. "Refreshing. Not bitter." She smirked. "Opposite of your coffee."
Kara pretended to gasp. "Wow. Did you just call me bitter?"
"Not you," Avery grinned, "just your drink."
Kara jabbed her fork in mock offense. "You should be careful. You're on your first date with me, and you're already roasting my coffee choices."
Avery's smile softened. "First date, huh?"
Kara shrugged, suddenly shy but covering it with a teasing tone. "Well… unless you plan to ghost me after this or want to call this one of your lunch meeting."
"Not a chance," Avery said before she could stop herself. Her words hung there, more earnest than intended, and Kara's heart skipped.
To steer the conversation, Kara nudged. "Okay, your turn. Why Bali? Why'd you stay here instead of chasing big city chaos like Jakarta?"
Avery hesitated, rolling her fork between her fingers. "Because… this is home. I grew up here. The beaches, the sunsets, the sound of scooters zipping past, it's all messy and loud and… especially less traffic." Her voice softened. "I don't always fit, but I can't imagine leaving."
Kara leaned back, listening. Something in Avery's tone tugged at her. "That's kind of beautiful," she said quietly, before teasing again. "Though, I feel like you're just trying to make me jealous that I had to deal with Jakarta traffic every day."
Avery chuckled. "Tell me about it."
"Oh, where do I start?" Kara sighed dramatically. "The endless honking, the floods, the motorbike that splashed me every morning last year…" She laughed at her own story. "Jakarta is like… living in a house party where no one invited you."
Avery burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "That's the best description I've ever heard."
They ate, slowly, distracted more by conversation than food. Kara caught herself watching Avery's expressions, the way she tilted her head when she listened, how her chipped tooth peeked through when she smiled. It didn't look like a flaw at all; it looked like something real, something human.
Avery, meanwhile, kept sneaking glances at Kara's hands as she gestured while speaking, at the way her eyes lit when she got carried away with a story. Every detail felt mesmerizing.
"So…" Kara's voice dropped playfully, snapping Avery out of her thoughts. "What's with the scars?"
Avery stiffened for a moment. Her fork paused midair. "They're just… life. Accidents. Things I'd rather not put on my dating profile." She tried to smile but it wavered. "Sorry if it bothers you."
Kara tilted her head, studying her face carefully. Then, with a small smirk "Bothers me? I barely noticed them. Except the chipped tooth. That one's… kinda cute."
Avery blinked at her, then laughed, really laughed, the tension in her shoulders melting away. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously honest," Kara corrected, her grin spreading.
They fell into easier conversation again, trading favorites, small secrets, silly confessions. Kara admitted she had a habit of smoking and drinking when she was anxious, Avery admitted she had an unhealthy obsession with it too since her accident. Kara teased Avery about sounding like a "serious adult" when talking about work, Avery teased Kara about her clumsy food order.
At one point, Kara leaned in, eyes sparkling. "You know, I swiped right on you because of your bio."
Avery raised a brow. "Really?"
"Yeah. 'If you want to feel all the love languages, maybe we should meet up.'" Kara grinned, tapping her fork against her plate. "I thought, wow, that's either the bravest or the cheesiest thing I've ever read. Turns out, it's both."
Avery covered her face with her hands, groaning. "It was supposed to be a joke."
"Too late," Kara said, voice softening as she reached forward to tug lightly at Avery's wrist. "Now you have to prove it."
The touch was brief, but the warmth lingered, and both of them felt it.
***
Hours passed without either of them noticing. The nerves that hung heavy at first had slowly unwound, replaced with easy conversation, the kind that made everything else fade.
Until a voice broke in.
"Hey, lovebirds."
A man with glasses grinned at their table. Avery groaned. "Archie," she muttered.
"Can I borrow Avery for an hour? Meeting starts soon." His smirk widened.
Kara chuckled softly, hiding it behind her hand, while Avery rolled her eyes. Still, she began gathering her things. "Guess duty calls."
At the register, Avery rushed to pay for both, despite Kara's protest. "My treat. I invited you, remember?"
They walked together to the mall's entrance. Kara adjusted her bag strap and smiled. "Thanks. For lunch, next time its on me"
Avery swallowed, her heart still racing. "Anytime, can't wait for that next time" she said, and meant it.
Kara lifted her hand in a small wave before turning away. Avery watched her disappear into the stream of shoppers, time snapping back into focus only when her phone buzzed.
Three hours had passed. Three hours that felt like minutes.
Neither of them realized it yet, but the distraction they thought they were chasing had just turned into something else entirely.