By the time she got home, Max was already at the door, paws tapping against the floor, ears perked as if he'd been listening for her all along.His tail wagged so fast it thumped against the wall.
"Oh, baby," Lily laughed softly, crouching down to hug him. "You were waiting for me?"
Max licked her hand, warm and enthusiastic.
The house smelled faintly of soap and dinner cooking somewhere nearby.
After washing up, Lily entered her room.
The familiar space settled around her — her desk, her curtains, her small shelf of books.
Her diary lay open where she had left it yesterday.
She sat down and picked up her pen.
For a few seconds, she only stared at the blank page.
Then she began to write.
Today Aiden came very close to me.
Her pen paused.
She swallowed before continuing.
I'm really happy Mira became my friend. Because of her, I get to talk to him more. Maybe that's why my little crush is going smoothly.
She stopped.
Crush. The word felt heavier than it should, pressing in her chest without warning.
She tapped the pen lightly against the paper.
I hope I can help Mira too. I wonder who the person she loves is.
And then—
Uninvited memory forced its way into her mind, twisting cold and heavy. Her chest tightened, heart thudding painfully, like it had been holding its breath for this exact moment.
Aiden's smile earlier.
The way he had smiled at Mira when she teased him about art.
The way he listened when she spoke.
Her pen froze mid-air.
"Mira said he is her friend."
Her heartbeat shifted.
Slow at first.Then heavier.
What if…
She didn't finish the thought fully.
She didn't dare.
But the possibility had already formed.
What if it was Aiden?
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Her grip on the pen tightened.
She placed it down slowly on the desk.
The page remained open.
The question remained unanswered.
And for the first time since she met Mira—
Lily felt something that wasn't only embarrassment.It felt like standing at the edge of something she wasn't ready to name.
After closing her diary, Lily lay on her bed without turning off the lamp immediately.
The room felt quieter than usual.
Max had already curled himself near the foot of her bed, his breathing steady, soft paws twitching slightly as if he were chasing something in his dreams.
She stared at the ceiling.
The question she had written earlier lingered somewhere above her, like it had followed her into the dark.
What if it's Aiden?
She turned to her side quickly, as if the movement could shake the thought loose.
"No," she whispered into her pillow. "Don't think like that."
Max lifted his head at the sound of her voice.
She reached down and scratched behind his ear.
"Tomorrow is the weekend," she murmured, forcing her tone lighter. "We don't have anything special to do… so what about a walk, hmm? Just you and me."
Max's tail thumped against the mattress twice. Then again. A soft, pleased sound left his throat.
She smiled.
"At least you don't overthink," she told him quietly.
Her gaze drifted toward the window. The curtain shifted slightly from the night breeze. Beyond it, the sky stretched dark and wide, scattered with faint stars.
Because of Mira… I became closer to him.
She traced the edge of her blanket with her fingers.
Not close… not really. But enough to know his name. Enough to talk.
That should have been simple.
But it didn't feel simple anymore.
"Mira is such a wonderful friend," she whispered to the darkness. "She's kind. And beautiful. And brave."
Her chest tightened slightly.
How did they meet?
How did they become that comfortable?
Why did they choose this major?
Who is the person she has loved for so long?
The questions layered on top of each other.
She pressed her lips together.
"No matter what happens… I'll help her," she said firmly.
Her voice sounded steady.but her heart did not feel steady.
She closed her eyes before she could argue with herself further.
---
Morning arrived gently.Sunlight slipped through the curtain and settled across her face like a warm hand.
Max was already awake.
His nose nudged her cheek first.
Then his tongue.
"Mm… Max," she mumbled, turning away and burying her face deeper into the pillow.
He persisted.
She laughed softly, finally opening her eyes.
"Okay, okay. I'm awake."
She pulled him closer and pressed a quick kiss against his head. His fur smelled faintly of shampoo and something earthy from yesterday's walk.
"Let's go out after breakfast," she told him, her voice still thick with sleep. "Be patient."
After washing up and tying her hair loosely, she prepared breakfast. The kitchen carried the scent of toasted bread and warm milk. Max circled her legs impatiently while she filled his bowl.
"Wait," she scolded gently.
He waited. Barely.
The walk was simple.
The air was cool but not cold. Leaves shifted along the pavement when the wind passed. Max trotted proudly beside her, ears alert and tail held high, like he was guarding her.
Some people crossed to the other side of the street when they saw him.She noticed the way his steps slowed slightly when that happened.
"It's okay," she murmured, squeezing the leash gently. "You're a good boy."
He looked up at her with those steady dark eyes as if he understood.
When they returned home, her cheeks were flushed from the breeze.
She fed him water, then sat at her desk, scrolling through the photos she had taken for drawing references.
Faces. Light. Shadows.
Her mind wandered.
Just as she began to settle on an idea, her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She startled slightly at the sudden vibration.
"Mira" flashed across the screen.
"Hello?" Lily answered.
"Lily! What are you doing?" Mira's voice came bright and energetic through the speaker.
"I'm trying to draw something," Lily replied, glancing at the unfinished sketch. "Why?"
"Oh my God, it's a free day and you're drawing again?" Mira laughed. "If you don't have plans, come with me. Let's watch a movie."
A movie.
Lily froze for half a second.
I haven't gone to a movie since I was little… since Dad—
She stopped the memory before it could fully form.
"Okay," she said instead. "That sounds nice. What time?"
"Six p.m.! Send me your address. I'll pick you up around five."
"I'll text you."
They hung up.
Lily stared at her reflection in the black screen for a moment.
Then she turned to Max, excitement rising unexpectedly in her chest.
"Max," she whispered, crouching down and wrapping her arms around his neck. "This is the first time I'm going to a movie with a friend."
Her voice carried disbelief.
"I'm happy."she said, her voice full of happiness.
He barked once in response, tail wagging wildly.
---
By late afternoon, she stood in front of her wardrobe longer than usual.
Her fingers brushed past her usual simple clothes.Then paused.
The baby blue dress.
She had bought it for a special day she never used.
The fabric felt light between her fingers.
She changed slowly.
The dress fell just above her knees, soft against her skin. The color made her complexion look brighter, almost glowing under the warm light of her room.
She braided one side neatly, letting the loose strands slip over her shoulder. Then she fussed with her bangs, shifting them twice, maybe three times, until they framed her face the way she thought looked right.
Her small white bag rested neatly against her hip.
She studied herself in the mirror.
She did not think she was beautiful by her own standards.
But someone had once told her she was.And she had chosen to believe that voice.
She looked away from the mirror quickly.
The clock read 4:56 p.m.
"Oh no… Mira said five."
She grabbed her phone, then bent down to Max.
"Be good, okay?" She kissed his head softly. "I'll be back soon."
He watched her with calm eyes as she stepped outside.
The evening air carried the faint smell of distant rain and warm pavement.
She stood near the roadside where she had told Mira to stop.
Her fingers intertwined nervously in front of her.
Each passing car made her glance up.
It's just a movie, she told herself.
But her heartbeat didn't feel calm.
It felt like something was about to shift again.
She adjusted the strap of her bag.
"Mira should be here any second now…"
And she waited.
Lily stood near the bus stop, fingers curled around the thin strap of her small white bag.
The evening sky had shifted into a pale gold fading slowly into blue. Cars passed one after another, headlights flickering on as the light thinned.
The wind was stronger than before.
It kept lifting the edge of her dress. It kept pushing her hair across her face.
She tucked a strand behind her ear.
Then another.
"Why is the wind so high today…" she murmured to herself, forcing a small smile as if someone were listening.
Another car passed.
Then another.
Her heart felt strangely alert. Not calm. Not exactly anxious. Just… waiting.
A black car slowed near the curb.
Her breath caught.
"Oh… is it Mira?"
She stepped forward slightly, squinting through the moving strands of hair that blurred her vision.
The wind picked up again, wrapping her hair across her mouth and cheeks. She turned her face away, laughing softly in embarrassment.
"Why now…?" she whispered, trying to smooth it down.
She heard footsteps behind her, each one closing the distance between them.
"Winslow."
Her name in that voice.
Everything else faded.
The wind.
The passing cars.
The noise of the street.
She turned slowly.
It wasn't imagination.
It wasn't her mind playing tricks on her.
It was him.
Aiden stood a few steps behind her, one hand in his pocket.
He wore a simple sweater and tailored trousers. Nothing flashy. Nothing loud. The sleeves were pushed up slightly, revealing his forearms in a way that looked effortless.
But on him, nothing looked ordinary.
He looked untouched by everything around him—like even the wind kept its distance.
Her heart did not.
End of Chapter 24