Kara lay sprawled on her sofa, the cushions still faintly carrying Avery's scent, warm, safe, like a piece of last night's hilltop air had followed her home. She hadn't even turned the lights off after her shower, just collapsed in her loose T-shirt with her damp hair against the pillow, staring up at the ceiling.
The call with Willow still echoed in her ears, every word tugging at old knots she thought she'd loosened by now. The way Willow's voice broke when she said she missed her. The way guilt pulled sharp through Kara's ribs when she imagined Willow overseas, reaching for her out of loneliness. A part of Kara still ached, still cared... maybe always would.
But then there was tonight. Avery's laugh. Avery's kiss. Avery's arms around her on the sofa, holding her in a way that didn't feel heavy with expectation, only safe. Kara had never thought she'd sleep that easily in someone's hug. She'd never thought she could.
Her phone buzzed on the table, cutting through her spiral. Kara blinked, reaching for it. A new message.
Yes, ma'am. Goodnight, Karr.
Her lips parted. She read it once, then again. Karr. She sat up slowly, pressing the phone against her chest as if she could hold the word closer.
"Karr," she whispered to herself. The nickname Avery gave her starting from tonight. For Avery to call her that, playfully, yes, but still... it made something tender unfurl in her chest. It made her feel seen in a way that was almost too much to bear.
Kara typed back quickly, her thumbs hesitant before settling on:
Goodnight, Ave. Sweet dreams. Text me when you wake up, okay?
She hesitated, then added a small star emoji at the end, heart pounding as she hit send.
The reply tick appeared, but Kara didn't expect Avery to answer tonight. She could imagine her already asleep, tangled in blankets, lips still curved in that soft grin Kara adored. The thought alone made her cheeks flush.
She placed the phone back down but couldn't stop staring at it, couldn't stop replaying everything... the hill, the constellations, Avery's eyes glimmering in starlight before she leaned in. It was the kind of memory that wouldn't blur with time; Kara knew it in her bones.
Her gaze drifted to the ceiling again, but instead of replaying Willow's voice, she replayed Avery's. That gentle, teasing tone when she said Kara was predictable with her food order. The serious lilt when she promised Kara she'd be safe in the ocean. The whisper of her name on the hill before their kiss.
"Maybe…" Kara murmured to herself, curling into the sofa cushions, "…maybe this is what it's supposed to feel like."
Her chest still ached, she wasn't naïve enough to think she could untangle years of old love and heartbreak in one night. But as she scrolled back through Avery's chat thread, rereading the silly lines and sweet check-ins, the ache softened. It didn't disappear, but it felt lighter, shared somehow.
Her last act before letting her eyes close was simple: opening the camera roll, landing on the photo she'd secretly taken earlier that evening. Avery laughing with her hair messy from the breeze, her smile tilted toward Kara, eyes bright in a way that looked like freedom.
Kara exhaled, clutching her phone like it was an anchor.
"Sleep well, Karr," she whispered to herself, the word tasting different now.
When she finally drifted off, it wasn't Willow's ghost that followed her into dreams, but Avery's laugh echoing under the stars.
***
The sunlight slipped through the curtains of Kara's guest house, painting her room in soft gold. Her alarm blared at 6:30, and she groaned, rolling over, hair tangled against her cheek. For a moment she didn't move, letting the memory of last night wash over her, the stars, the kiss, Avery's arms. It made her smile before her eyes were even open.
Dragging herself up, Kara shuffled into the bathroom, splashing water on her face. She caught her reflection in the mirror and laughed at the puffiness in her eyes. "Great look, Kara," she muttered, but even so, the corners of her lips tugged upward. Somehow she didn't mind today's tiredness.
She pulled on her uniform, adjusting the collar until it sat neatly, then grabbed her phone. Without overthinking, she snapped a mirror selfie.. messy hair tamed just enough, her uniform crisp. She typed quickly:
Morning, Ave. Hope you're up. Don't forget breakfast. Or coffee. Coffee is important. Here's proof I actually put my uniform on today.
She attached the picture before she could chicken out, then hit send.
The reply came fast. Avery's message popped up:
Good girl. You look cute, Karr. Now go conquer your class.
Kara's laugh bubbled out, light and genuine. For once, the idea of stepping into class didn't feel heavy.
Campus was already buzzing when Kara arrived. Usually, the stares from her classmates made her chest tighten... Jakarta kid, spoiled, doesn't belong. She'd heard it all, felt it in the way they whispered when she walked past.
But today, something shifted. When someone muttered under their breath as she slipped into her seat, Kara just exhaled slowly, her fingers brushing against her phone like a reminder: Avery.
The lecture dragged on, but instead of shrinking in her chair, Kara took notes, even cracked a small smile when her professor made a bad joke. During break, she glanced at her phone again, no new texts yet. Still, she scrolled back to Avery's messages from last night, her lips curling unconsciously.
One of her classmates noticed. "Wow, Kara smiling at her phone? Who's the lucky guy?"
Kara didn't answer, just tucked her phone back into her bag and shook her head, still smiling. Let them wonder. For the first time, their words didn't sting.
Across town, Avery's alarm blared at 7:00 sharp. She slapped it off and sat up slowly, head still pounding faintly from last night's wine. But when she reached for her phone and saw Kara's selfie, the crisp uniform, the shy confidence... her hangover didn't stand a chance. She grinned, lying back against her pillow, staring at the screen longer than she should.
"She's too cute," Avery whispered to herself, thumbs flying: Don't let them bully you today. Text me when you're done, okay?
She tossed the phone aside and pulled herself up. A quick shower later, she was buttoning her blouse, tying her hair back neatly, the corners of her mouth refusing to fall. Even with four meetings stacked on her calendar, she felt… buoyant.
Downstairs, her mom caught her humming as she made her coffee. "You're awfully cheerful for someone who hates mornings."
Avery nearly choked on her sip. "I'm just... uh, motivated today, Ma."
Her mom narrowed her eyes knowingly. "Motivated, huh?"
"Work!" Avery said quickly, ducking out the door with her tumbler in hand.
By lunchtime, Avery had survived two of her meetings, her energy still steady thanks to a few stolen glances at Kara's chat thread. At the café near her office, she joined her colleagues, laughing at their stories as they scrolled through Instagram.
"Ave," one of them suddenly said, shoving their phone across the table. "This your story? What's with the poetic vibe?"
Avery's stomach flipped. She'd forgotten she posted it last night: a blurry shot of the starry sky, captioned with a meaningful lyric that had felt perfect in the moment.
Her coworker teased, "Who's the mysterious girl behind that 'woman-shaped shadow'? Spill."
Another chimed in, "That's not your usual vibe. You're glowing, Ave. We're onto you."
Avery rolled her eyes, grabbing her iced latte. "It was just a night out with a friend. You guys read too much into things."
But her smile betrayed her, soft and secretive. The table erupted into laughter and more teasing, but Avery didn't mind. If anything, it made her heart race, because they were right. Something had shifted.
Her phone buzzed again under the table. Kara:
Survived class. Not dead yet. Reward me with a voice note later?
Avery bit back her grin, fingers flying: Only if you promise to send me one first. Kara.
Her friends kept chattering, but their voices blurred into background noise. Avery's chest was full again, tethered across the city to the girl who made even four back-to-back meetings feel like nothing.
***
Kara sprawled across her bed, her notebook half-open but untouched. Her phone rested against her cheek, playing Avery's voice note on repeat.
Avery's laugh, low and a little shy, drifted through the speaker: "You're impossible, Karr. I'm not sending another until you send me yours. Fair's fair."
Kara giggled softly, hugging the pillow closer. Her own reply had been clumsy, her voice cracking a little: "This is embarrassing, Ave… but, fine. Hi. You better save this one. Don't delete it."
The exchange left her restless. Avery's voice didn't just fill her ears, it sank under her skin, steadied her in a way she couldn't quite explain. She typed out a message before she could overthink it:
Can I pick you up after work today? I don't really have a reason… I just want to see you again.
The moment she hit send, her stomach flipped. What if Avery was too busy? What if she thought Kara was being too eager, too clingy? But she couldn't help it... after last night, the thought of waiting days to see Avery again felt unbearable.
Minutes ticked by. Ten. Fifteen. Kara refreshed her chat over and over, her chest tightening each time it wasn't Avery's name lighting up her screen. By twenty minutes, worry started to creep in—was Avery ignoring her? Did she say something wrong?
A knock startled her.
Kara swung her legs off the bed and padded barefoot to the door. When she opened it, Carmen stood there, leaning against the frame with her usual easy smile.
"Hey," Carmen said. "Got a minute?"
"Yeah, sure. Come in."
They settled on the edge of Kara's bed. Carmen looked different, her smile softer, her fingers restless against the strap of her bag.
"So…" Carmen exhaled. "I'm going back to Jakarta. Tomorrow."
Kara's face fell. "Tomorrow? That's so sudden."
"Yeah. My parents want me home. Honestly…" Carmen hesitated, then looked at her with an intensity Kara hadn't seen before. "I don't mind. I was only staying this long because... because of you."
Kara blinked. "Me?"
Carmen nodded, voice trembling. "I like you, Kara. More than a friend. I want you to be my girlfriend."
Kara froze. Her heart pounded, but not in the way it had last night beneath the stars. Her mind flashed with Carmen's kindness, the nights she walked her home after class, the comfort of having someone steady nearby when everything else felt hostile. And yes, the stolen kisses, soft, uncertain things that Kara had let happen because she didn't know how to say no.
But the truth pressed in like a weight: Carmen had never made her feel like she did last night with Avery. Not the grounding warmth. Not the electricity. Not the sense of being seen.
Kara swallowed. "Carm…" Her voice was small. "I care about you. You've been such a good friend. But I don't feel the same way."
Carmen's face faltered, and she searched Kara's expression desperately. "Don't feel the same way, or don't want to?"
The silence stretched too long. Kara's throat went dry, but she forced herself to say it. "There's someone else. Avery. These past few months… we've been getting closer."
Carmen's whole body stiffened. Her eyes glossed with unshed tears, but anger surged in to mask it. She stood abruptly, her voice sharp. "So that's it. All this time, me walking you home, being there after your accident, kissing you... you let me think I mattered. And the whole time, you were just waiting for someone better."
Kara shook her head quickly, panic rising. "No, it's not like that. I never wanted to hurt you. I was confused, I..."
"Confused?" Carmen cut her off, her voice cracking. "That's not confusion, Kara. That's selfish. That's manipulative. You don't get to use me to fill the empty space in your life and then toss me aside when Avery shows up."
The word manipulative sliced deep. Kara flinched, her chest constricting. "I never wanted to string you along. I'm sorry, Carm. I should've been clearer from the start."
Carmen's hands curled into fists at her side. "Good luck with Avery, then. I hope she never has to wonder if you're playing her the way you played me."
The door slammed shut behind her, the sound ringing in Kara's ears long after Carmen was gone.
Kara sank back onto the bed, trembling, guilt clawing at her. Maybe Carmen was right... maybe she had been selfish. But hadn't she been trying to survive? To find comfort where she could? To feel safe again after everything?
Her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down, heart lurching when Avery's name lit the screen.
Avery: Karr… I'd love that. Pick me up at 7?
Kara exhaled a shaky breath, her hand pressed to her chest. Warmth spread through her like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
She whispered into the quiet, as if Avery could hear her even without the phone. "Thank you."
For the first time that day, Kara let herself smile.
***
Avery leaned back in her chair, the last meeting of the day finally wrapped up. Her head was buzzing, not from exhaustion this time, but from anticipation. She washed her face in the office restroom, patting her skin until it looked less tired, then applied a swipe of lipstick, something simple, but enough to make her feel fresh.
She stared at her reflection for a moment. The woman looking back was smiling without even realizing it.
Her phone buzzed.
Karr: I'm here. Where should I park?
Avery's grin stretched wider as she typed back quickly.
"Just park your motorcycle. Come inside. Let's hang out in the mall a little before we go anywhere else."
She slipped her phone into her pocket and headed out, weaving through the crowd with light steps. Every turn of the corridor, every reflection in the glass walls, she half-expected Kara to appear.
When she finally reached the main gate, there she was... waiting, scanning the crowd, standing like she owned the space without even trying. Avery's heart stumbled. Kara was dressed simply, jeans and a tucked-in blouse, but she had that effortless kind of style that made her look like she belonged on the cover of a magazine.
"Karr," Avery called out, her smile blooming.
Kara turned, and the moment her eyes landed on Avery, her whole face lit up.
"You didn't tell me I was coming straight into paradise," Kara teased as Avery reached her. "Look at you."
"Oh, stop," Avery rolled her eyes, trying to hide how flustered she felt under Kara's gaze. "Come on. Dinner first. I know you're hungry."
They ended up at a sushi restaurant tucked on the third floor, sliding into a booth across from each other. Avery ordered quickly, she already knew Kara's comfort food patterns and Kara shot her a mock glare.
"You didn't even let me decide."
"Because I know what you'll pick," Avery said smugly. "Chicken teriyaki salad. Always chicken."
Kara's eyes narrowed, but her lips twitched. "Fine. But you're not stealing all the ginger again. That was cruel last time."
Avery smirked, deliberately reaching for the small dish of pickled ginger as soon as it arrived. "What, this? My favorite?"
Kara gasped dramatically, reaching across the table to snatch it back. "Mine. Hands off."
They burst into laughter, the kind that spilled over loud enough to draw a glance or two from other diners, but neither of them cared. The comfort between them was too warm, too easy.
After dinner, Avery caught the faint echo of fireworks from outside. Her ears perked up, and she turned to Kara with a mischievous grin.
"Come with me."
Kara blinked. "Where?"
"Just trust me," Avery said, grabbing her hand before Kara could protest.
They ran through the corridors, laughter bouncing off the walls as they dodged another shoppers and security guards giving them amused looks. Avery led her straight to the garden at the second floor of the mall... a space most people overlooked until festivals. Tonight, it was glowing.
Rows of lighting installations lined the paths, trees wrapped in golden strings, and above the bridge between gardens hung rows of twinkling bulbs and mistletoe. The air shimmered faintly with machine-made mist, making the lights look almost otherworldly.
And above it all, fireworks bloomed over the beach, the sound echoing in their chests.
They stopped, breathless from running. Kara stood frozen, her lips parting as her eyes reflected every spark in the sky. The smile on her face was wide, unguarded, childlike in its wonder.
Avery, catching her breath beside her, couldn't look away... not from the fireworks, but from Kara.
"Karr?" she asked softly.
Kara turned, her cheeks flushed from running, her eyes bright with light. "Avery," she whispered, almost as if the moment demanded reverence. Then her smile deepened. "Thank you for always knowing how to make me smile. And happy."
The world seemed to still. They are sitting together on a bench at the bridge, Fireworks cracked above, lights shimmered around them, but Avery felt rooted to the ground, caught in Kara's gaze.
She reached up instinctively, brushing a strand of Kara's hair away from her cheek. Her fingertips grazed warm skin, lingering for a heartbeat longer than they should have. Kara startled slightly at the touch but didn't move away. Instead, she shifted, leaning her back lightly against Avery's front, her shoulders brushing Avery's chest.
Avery froze, her entire body pulsing with the urge to wrap her arms around her, to anchor her there. But she didn't. Not yet. Her eyes darted upward and her breath caught.
Above them, tied neatly between two beams of light-strung archways, was a mistletoe.
Her lips parted, her chest tightening with the weight of it. If this had been anywhere else, if they weren't surrounded by families and couples and mallgoers with phones out, Avery would have leaned in. She would have kissed Kara until the fireworks blurred into nothing.
Instead, she swallowed, the ache of restraint sharp in her chest.
Kara moved suddenly, pulling her phone from her pocket. She turned, her grin shy but eager. "We should take a picture. You know, proof we didn't imagine this."
Avery blinked, then let out a small laugh. "A selfie? Here?"
"Yes, here," Kara said firmly, raising her phone. "Come on. Don't be shy. This is… special."
Avery leaned in, shoulders brushing as they squeezed into the frame. Kara snapped one picture, then another, then another, angling the phone to catch the fireworks behind them.
Avery pretended to fuss. "That one's blurry. Do another."
Kara laughed, bumping her shoulder against hers. "You're so picky."
"Perfectionist," Avery corrected, smirking.
They took more, Kara tilting her head against Avery's, Avery catching the faint scent of Kara's shampoo. On the last one, Avery caught herself staring at Kara instead of the camera, her smile soft, unguarded. When Kara pulled the phone back to check, she beamed.
"This one," she said, showing the screen.
Avery's chest tightened. Kara glowed in the photo, her eyes wide with wonder, and Avery was looking at her like she was the only light worth watching.
"You're right," Avery whispered. "That's the one."
Kara saved it quickly, tucking her phone away before turning back to the fireworks. She leaned into Avery again, her shoulder pressed close, and Avery let herself stay there, her gaze flicking once more toward the mistletoe above them.
Her lips curved into the faintest smile.
Not tonight, she thought. But soon.
And when Kara tilted her face up toward the sky, laughter spilling out at the crack of another firework, Avery knew she would wait as long as it took.
Because she was already gone.
Because she was already hers.