Raisa stood before her closet, clothes spilling out like the chaotic thoughts in her mind. "Ugh!" she exclaimed, tossing aside a trendy blouse. The flickering light from her phone signaled an incoming message, pulling her out of her fashion dilemma. It was Zayn.
“Are you free tonight? I have a surprise for you.”
Her heart raced as she read the message. Surprise? What kind of surprise? The last time Zayn had said that, it had led to an impromptu trip to a rooftop café with stunning views of the city skyline. The memory sent a wave of warmth through her, but doubt soon crept in. What if it was something too serious? Too soon?
“Sure! What should I wear?” she typed back, her fingers dancing over the screen, hesitant but excited.
Later that evening, Raisa arrived at the designated meeting spot—a chic restaurant with a lively ambiance. The chatter and clinking of glasses provided a warm backdrop as she scanned the room. Her breath hitched as she spotted Zayn at a corner table, looking effortlessly handsome in a fitted shirt and dark jeans.
“Wow!” Zayn greeted her, standing up and flashing a smile that made her stomach flutter. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks! You don’t look too bad yourself,” she replied, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
“Let’s order some drinks first, shall we?” he suggested, waving over the waiter.
The waiter arrived with a menu, and Raisa found herself stealing glances at Zayn, who was deep in thought about what to order. His intensity made her heart skip a beat. She could sense an underlying nervousness in him, despite his confident demeanor.
As the waiter took their drink orders, Zayn turned his gaze to her, his expression shifting from casual to serious. “I’ve been thinking… about us.”
“Oh?” Raisa felt her heart race at the implications of his words. “What about us?”
“About how much I enjoy spending time with you and how… different you make me feel,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair in a way that made her want to reach out and comfort him. “I know life can be complicated, but I want to explore this—whatever this is.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
A silence hung between them, filled with unspoken feelings. Raisa’s heart thumped loudly in her chest. Could this be the moment where everything changed?
“Zayn, I…” she started, her voice faltering. The weight of his words pressed down on her, and a part of her longed to leap forward into the unknown.
Just then, Kendra entered the restaurant, camera slung around her neck, her vibrant energy lighting up the place. “Hey, you two!” she called out, her voice cutting through the tension. “Mind if I crash your date?”
Raisa’s heart sank, the moment abruptly disrupted. “Oh, um, hey Kendra!” she managed to say, trying to hide her disappointment.
“Actually, I’d love to hear about your surprise!” Kendra chirped, plopping down next to Zayn. “You two look cute together!”
“Thanks?” Zayn replied, a hint of awkwardness in his voice as he looked between the two women. Raisa couldn’t help but feel a tinge of annoyance. Just when she was about to open up, here was Kendra, blissfully unaware of the delicate moment she had interrupted.
“Uh, we were just talking about…” Raisa trailed off, struggling to find the right words. She glanced at Zayn, who seemed equally perplexed.
“Right! Let’s talk about something fun!” Kendra said, her excitement infectious. “I just came back from a photo shoot at the old pier. You guys should see the sunset! It was breathtaking!”
Zayn and Raisa exchanged knowing looks, both trying to mask their frustration. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, but Kendra’s enthusiasm began to chip away at the tension. Soon, the three of them were animatedly discussing photography, architecture, and the bizarre moments of city life.
As the night wore on, Raisa found herself laughing at Kendra’s stories, the earlier heaviness dissipating into a comfortable camaraderie. Still, a part of her felt a lingering sense of unfulfillment, like a song that never quite reached its crescendo.
When it was time to leave, Zayn caught her arm gently. “I’m sorry about earlier,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “I really do want to talk about us.”
“Let’s pick it up soon, okay?” Raisa replied, her heart swelling at his sincerity, even amid the chaos. “I had a great time tonight.”
“Me too,” he said, the warmth of his smile igniting a spark of hope in her chest. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Raisa felt the promise of something new hanging between them, waiting to be explored.
Drip… drip… The sound of rain began to patter against the pavement, adding a melodic backdrop to their lingering moment.
“Ah, the rain!” Kendra exclaimed, pulling out her camera. “Let me get a shot of this! The lights reflecting on the wet streets will look amazing!”
Raisa and Zayn watched as Kendra knelt down, capturing the world through her lens. Raisa turned to Zayn, her heart racing as she pondered the feelings swirling within her. What if this was the moment they needed? What if tonight was just the beginning?
“Hey,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Can we talk about it now?”
Before Zayn could respond, a flash illuminated the street as Kendra captured the scene. Raisa felt her heart leap, unsure if the moment would lead them to deeper feelings or keep them wandering under the same sky, yet always a step apart.
As they stood there, the rain drenching the city around them, the question hung in the air—were they ready to face what came next, or would their ambitions lead them further apart?
Ring! Raisa's phone chimed, breaking the silence. It was a notification from her social media account, and as she glanced at it, her heart sank. She knew the pressure was only beginning.
To be continued…