The journey home was a blur. Lisa practically collapsed onto her bed the moment she stepped through the door. Exhaustion washed over her, but a smile tugged at her lips. The trip had been a whirlwind – the grueling hike (thanks to Selene's questionable navigation skills), the cozy inn filled with laughter, and most importantly, the intriguing Luka.

As she drifted off to sleep, thoughts of Luka swirled in her mind. Who was he? Why did he make her feel so inexplicably warm and happy? Her dreams were filled with visions of them laughing together, a sense of familiarity washing over her.

Night had fallen when Lisa awoke, a gnawing hunger in her stomach. Padding to the local convenience store, she grabbed a pack of instant noodles for a quick dinner. On her way back, a figure on a nearby bench caught her eye. It was him.

Hesitation melted away as she recognized the familiar mop of hair and the way he sat, lost in thought, gazing up at the star-dusted sky. A rush of excitement surged through her.

"Luka?" she called out cautiously, her voice barely a whisper.

The figure's head snapped up, and a relieved smile spread across his face. "Hey Lisa! You found me."

Relief battled with a wave of questions. "Where have you been? I thought I lost you after you helped me with the storm."

Luka chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "Sorry about that. I had some...unforeseen errands to run."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

They fell into conversation easily, the warmth radiating from him as familiar and comforting as a favorite sweater. They talked for hours, about everything and nothing, their laughter echoing in the quiet night. It felt like they'd known each other forever, two pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into place.

As the clock struck a ridiculously late hour, Luka glanced down at his wrist. "Shoot, Lisa, I gotta go. I shouldn't stay out too long."

Disappointment tugged at her, but she understood. "Wait, Luka," she called after him as he stood to leave. "When can I see you again?"

He turned back, a playful smile dancing on his lips. "Same place, same time tomorrow?"

Lisa's heart skipped a beat as a smile bloomed on her face. "Absolutely," she confirmed. "Though," she added with a playful frown, "maybe next time I could snag your number so I don't have to rely on blind luck to find you?"

Luka laughed, a rich, genuine sound. "Good thinking, Lisa. Consider it done."

With a promise hanging in the air, Luka disappeared into the night, leaving Lisa with a giddy feeling in her stomach and a burning question in her mind. What was it about Luka that made her feel so complete? One thing was certain: tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

Lisa practically floated through her work the next day. Every task, every meeting, was tackled with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. Sarah, her coworker, couldn't help but notice the newfound pep in Lisa's step.

"Alright, spill it, Lisa," Sarah finally declared, leaning across the desk. "What's got you glowing like a neon sign?"

Lisa hesitated, a blush creeping up her neck. "Well," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "I met someone."

Sarah hooted with laughter. "Finally! I thought you were allergic to human interaction outside of work."

Lisa swatted her arm playfully. "It's not like that! It just feels...different. Like I've known him forever, even though I've only met him twice."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Twice? Spill the details, Lover Girl!"

But Lisa clammed up. "Love? Psh, no way," she scoffed, a little too quickly. "It's nothing like that. Look, I gotta go."

With a flustered escape, Lisa practically bolted out of the office, leaving a confused (and slightly suspicious) Sarah in her wake. "Love? Not in love? Make up your mind, Lisa!" Sarah muttered to herself, shaking her head.

Needing a serious caffeine intervention to cool her burning cheeks, Lisa grabbed a coffee after work. The minutes ticked by like hours as she finished her work and raced home. Tonight was the night! She met Luka at the park, and butterflies erupted in her stomach as she waited, nervously checking her watch every few seconds.