The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the city as Raisa stood on the balcony of her apartment, her heart pounding. She had spent the last hour staring at her phone, re-reading the messages Zayn had sent her. His words echoed in her mind, each syllable dripping with sincerity. Yet, as the sky darkened, so did her thoughts.

"Ugh!" she exclaimed, throwing her phone onto the couch with a thud. The device bounced, but she felt no relief. “Why is it so complicated?”

Kendra, who was sprawled on the couch, looked up from her camera lens with a raised eyebrow. “What’s going on with you? You look like you just saw a ghost. Or a bad selfie?”

Raisa shot her a glare, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward. “No ghost. Just... Zayn.”

“Ah! The architect?” Kendra leaned forward, excitement lighting up her eyes. “What did he say?”

“He wants to meet again.” Raisa paced back and forth. “But it’s not just that. He keeps asking about my life, my feelings… It’s like he wants to know everything, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

Kendra sighed, sitting up straight. “Raisa, that’s a good thing. It means he cares. So what’s the problem?”

Raisa stopped, turning to face her friend. “The problem is I don’t know how to open up! I’m so used to putting on a façade for my followers, for everyone. What if he sees the real me and doesn’t like it?”

“Pfft!” Kendra waved her hand dismissively. “If he’s worth it, he’ll love you for who you really are. You’re amazing! And the ‘real you’ is definitely more interesting than a filtered version.”

“Maybe,” Raisa mumbled, glancing out at the cityscape. The lights began to flicker on, and she felt a twinge of longing for connection.

“Then just go for it!” Kendra urged, her voice rising with enthusiasm. “Meet him! Tell him how you feel! You’ve got to stop hiding behind your screen. Face to face, it’s just you two. No filters.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll think about it,” Raisa said, her heart racing at the thought of seeing Zayn again. “But what if—”

“Wait! Before you start spiraling, let’s talk about the positives,” Kendra interrupted, her camera clicking as she captured the moment. “You’re taking steps forward, not back. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Raisa took a deep breath, letting Kendra’s words settle in. She needed to hear them. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Good! Now, how about we celebrate this mini-victory? I have a new project that needs your touch.” Kendra grinned, her camera at the ready.

Just then, a soft knock echoed through the apartment. “Ah, who could that be?” Raisa frowned, glancing toward the door.

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“Go check!” Kendra nudged her playfully. “Maybe it’s your knight in shining armor.”

Rolling her eyes but feeling a flutter of hope, Raisa walked over to the door and opened it. To her surprise, Zayn stood there, looking just as handsome as she remembered. “Hey, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Oh, um, not really,” Raisa stammered, her heart racing. “Kendra’s just—”

“Creating art with her camera,” Kendra interrupted from behind Raisa, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You caught me right in the middle of a masterpiece!”

“Ah, good to know!” Zayn chuckled, his eyes warm and inviting. “I just wanted to see if you’d be interested in grabbing dinner. Just the two of us?”

Raisa's breath caught in her throat. “Dinner?”

“Yeah. I thought we could talk—really talk,” Zayn said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “And maybe clear the air?”

“Ah!” Kendra exclaimed, elbowing Raisa gently. “I think that’s a yes!”

Raisa shot her a glare but couldn’t ignore the flutter in her chest. “Sure! Just give me a second to get ready.”

As she closed the door, she turned to Kendra, who was bouncing on her heels with excitement. “I can’t believe he just showed up!”

“Believe it, girl! Now, go get all dolled up!” Kendra clapped her hands together. “You’re going to knock his socks off!”

A burst of energy surged through Raisa as she hurried to her bedroom, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She quickly changed into a fitted dress that accentuated her figure and ran a brush through her hair. “Okay, Raisa. You’ve got this!” she muttered to herself, trying to calm the fluttering in her stomach.

Moments later, she emerged, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. Zayn was leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone, and when he looked up, his eyes widened in admiration.

“Wow,” he breathed. “You look stunning.”

“Thanks,” Raisa replied, trying to keep her composure. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

“Shall we?” Zayn offered his arm, and Raisa took it, feeling a spark as their skin brushed against one another.

As they walked toward the elevator, Raisa couldn’t help but wonder if tonight would finally be the moment she’d been waiting for—the moment when she would reveal her true self to Zayn and let him in.

But as they stepped outside, the chilly night air hit them, and the weight of her fears settled in her stomach. “What if he doesn’t like what he finds?” she thought, a shadow of doubt creeping into her mind.

“Hey, everything okay?” Zayn asked, glancing down at her.

“Yeah! Just... a little chilly,” she lied, forcing a smile.

“Let’s get you warmed up then,” Zayn said with a gentle grin, leading her toward the car parked nearby.

As they drove through the bustling city, the streets lined with lights that twinkled like stars above them, Raisa felt her heart race in anticipation. Tonight, she promised herself, she would be brave.

But as they pulled up to the restaurant, a text notification chimed from Raisa’s phone, breaking the moment. It was a message from Luca: “I need to talk to you. Can’t wait any longer.”

Raisa’s heart sank, and a knot formed in her stomach. What did he want? Did he know about her growing feelings for Zayn? The realization that her past was catching up to her sent a shiver down her spine.

“Raisa?” Zayn’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You good?”

“Uh, yeah! Just a lot on my mind,” she replied, shoving her phone into her bag, trying to mask her unease. “Let’s go in.”

But as they entered the restaurant, a familiar face caught Raisa’s eye across the room—Luca, seated at a table, looking directly at her. The sudden jolt of recognition made her heart drop.

Oh no. Reality had just struck.