All these incidents, everything that had happened, I couldn't seem to forget. Every moment, every second I spent with Christopher replayed over and over in my mind like a cherished movie reel. I noticed how, unlike every other day, I felt slightly warm, as if that perpetual coldness that always seemed to freeze me had vanished for a while.

I picked up my phone and called Lucy, my best friend and confidante. "You won't believe what happened today," I said, excitement evident in my voice. "Wait a second, Eve, you are excited? It's been months since I last heard your voice sound so happy. What happened? Tell me everything!" she exclaimed, her own excitement mirroring mine. "It's a long story, Lucy. It's not something I can explain over the phone," I replied, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing on me.

"Well, in that case, I'll be over first thing tomorrow morning," she declared. As I hung up, a sense of anticipation filled me. It had been so long since I had anything positive to share, anything that made my heart race with joy instead of anxiety. I spent the night replaying every detail of my encounter with Christopher: the way his eyes bore into mine with a mix of concern and intensity, the gentle yet firm touch of his hands as he bandaged my wounds, and the warmth of his presence that seemed to melt the icy walls around my heart. that night i couldn't sleep.

The next morning, I sat at the breakfast table, the aroma of fresh coffee mingling with the scent of toast and eggs. My mother, seated across from me, looked up with a concerned expression. "Where were you last night, and why did you leave so suddenly?" she asked, I took a sip of my coffee, gathering my thoughts. "I wasn't feeling well," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady and nonchalant.

"Isn't her slack-off behavior very normal, Mom? What else do you expect?" Ary interjected with a smirk, laughing at her own joke. Her words, usually sharp enough to pierce through my thin armor of self-assurance, rolled off me today.

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I stared at my plate, the events of last night replaying in my mind like a cherished film reel. such care and protectiveness—it was all I could think about. Ary's mocking laughter seemed distant, almost irrelevant. "Why are you smiling to yourself, Eve?" Melissa's voice broke through my reverie, her tone tinged with suspicion. "Just… thinking about something," I said, my cheeks flushing slightly. Melissa raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, returning to her breakfast.

….

I could hardly contain my excitement as I waited for Lucy to arrive. When she finally walked through the door, her eyes widened in surprise. "Eve, you look different. There's a glow about you," she remarked, hugging me tightly. "Sit down, Lucy," I said, guiding her to the couch. "I have so much to tell you." We settled into the soft cushions, and I began recounting everything. From the moment I bumped into Christopher outside the venue, to the way he had carried me out of the hall with such protectiveness. Lucy listened intently, her eyes growing wider with each passing detail. "He carried you out? Like, in his arms? Eve, this sounds like something out of a romance novel!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.

"I know, it's surreal. And the way he looked at me, Lucy, it was like he could see right through me, like he knew everything I was feeling without me having to say a word," I said, my voice softening as I relived the moment. "Sounds like he cares about you a lot," she said, her tone more serious now. "What are you going to do about Anvir?" A shadow passed over my face at the mention of Anvir. "I don't know, Lucy. Things have been difficult with him. He's not the person I thought he was," Lucy reached out and squeezed my hand. "Whatever you decide, Eve, I'm here for you. But it sounds like Christopher might be someone special."

As we were deep in conversation, a sudden knock on my door interrupted us. I got up, the remnants of a smile still on my face, and walked over to answer it. Ary stood there, her expression unreadable."Someone's here to see you," she said, her tone clipped. "Who?" I asked, a flicker of curiosity sparking within me.Before she could respond, Anvir stepped into view from behind her, his presence immediately casting a shadow over my mood. He looked determined, his jaw set and eyes unwavering.

"He wants to talk to you"