"Elena," Theo greeted warmly, stepping forward. "You made it."
"Of course," she replied with a soft smile, handing over a neatly wrapped box tied with a dark silver ribbon. "Happy birthday!"
Before Theo could say anything else, Nora came bouncing toward Elena with her usual burst of energy. "Finally! You're late!" she said, hugging her tightly. The scent of Nora's perfume — light and sweet — filled the air for a second.
"I'm only ten minutes late," Elena said with a small laugh as Nora pouted.
Theo chuckled, taking the gift from Elena's hand. "What's this? You didn't have to bring anything."
Elena raised an eyebrow playfully. "You can open it and see if you like it."
Curiosity glimmered in his eyes. Theo carefully undid the ribbon and peeled open the wrapping paper, revealing a small box. Inside was a single folded card. When he took it out, Nora leaned in from the side, her curiosity getting the better of her.
