As grilled meat sizzled and laughter echoed by the riverside, the old ladies turned their attention to Mira.
Then Maggie broke the silence with a dreamy sigh. "How lovely," she murmured, eyes twinkling. "Tell me, Mira—are you in love with someone?"
The question floated across the circle like a teasing breeze.
She leaned in just a bit more. "Do you have a boyfriend yet?" Then, with a mischievous glance toward Adrian, she added, "Or… is there any possibility… you two are dating?"
Mira blinked, then grinned, unbothered and playful. "I don't have a boyfriend yet," she said, shrugging lightly. "And this man—he's already in a very serious relationship… with his lab."
Adrian gave a helpless laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's not wrong."
That brought chuckles from the group.
Then finally, from behind the smoky curls of the grill, Franklin—who had been almost meditative over the sizzling skewers—spoke up for the first time.
"Oh, young man…" he said with a voice low and gravelly, flipping a piece of chicken. "Life is too short to only work. It's rare to meet someone this cheerful, this lovely, this beautiful." He glanced up, pointedly. "Hesitate too long… and another man will swoop in."
The group burst into laughter.
Quillan pointed at Franklin and said, grinning, "Spoken like a man with regrets. That's just his bitter experience talking."
Rosa nodded, eyes warm with memory. "Too good to be young again," she said, folding her hands in her lap. "You two… you remind me of forty years ago. Life passes in the blink of an eye."
As the laughter settled into warm chuckles and the sizzle of skewers filled the evening air, Maggie leaned over with a gentle smile, her curiosity piqued. "So tell us, young man—what exactly are you studying at Vermillion? You've been suspiciously quiet about that."
Adrian, still tending the grill with practiced focus, glanced up. His voice was calm, modest. "I work across a few research fields... but if I had to name the main ones—neuroscience, biotech, and cognitive enhancement."
There was a beat of silence. Then, all at once—
"What?" Rosa's eyes widened.
"You're not kidding?" Franklin blinked. "You mean… brain science?"
"Quillan!" June turned, laughing in disbelief. "Do you know who you adopted? We thought he was just a botanist!"
Quillan was sipping from a cup, and nearly choked mid-sip, wheezing with laughter. "Well, excuse me for thinking he was just growing mint and feeding ducks!"
Adrian gave a small, sheepish grin. "Botany is my part-time job."
That sent the group into another burst of laughter.
"Oh, heavens," Maggie said, wiping her eyes. "A genius grill master who dabbles in brain science and plants."
Rosa leaned toward Mira, whispering loudly enough for all to hear, "Girl, you better not let this one get away!"
Mira, half a marshmallow in her mouth, just winked and said, "He's already dating his lab, remember?"
As Adrian flipped another skewer and Mira carefully toasted a marshmallow to golden perfection, June took a sip from her cup and looked thoughtfully at the two students.
"So, what are your plans for autumn? And winter too? The scenery around here is something special during those seasons—fiery leaves, foggy mornings, snow-covered trails. You should take some time to explore, not just bury yourselves in books."
Mira's eyes lit up with interest. "That sounds amazing. What do people usually do to enjoy autumn here? Any chance of… mushroom picking?"
June gave her a mischievous side-glance and chuckled, "So, you're a mushroom fan, eh? If you're up for a hike with an old lady like me, we might just find some good ones. But you'll have to keep up."
Mira clapped lightly, delighted. "Definitely! That is… if I don't disappear into the library or faint during exams first."
That earned another hearty round of laughter from the group. Rosa reached out and gave Mira's back a warm pat, smiling. "But at least you're here with us now, dear. That's what matters. Take this moment to breathe. Relax."
As the conversations swirled again—memories shared, jokes passed, the warm glow of the fire crackling against the cool night—Mira reached for her cup. She paused and sniffed.
"Huh… why does my citrus tea smell a little… like sake?"
Robert, who had just added another fish to the fire, turned his head. "Oh! You don't drink alcohol? I thought you'd been sipping from the adult batch—did I pour it into the wrong cup?"
Mira gave a small, flustered laugh, her cheeks already flushed a gentle rose. "Well… I usually don't drink. But just a bit shouldn't be a problem… I think."
Adrian leaned sideways just enough to glance at her. "You think?" he murmured teasingly.
The group turned, laughing as they noticed Mira's glowing cheeks in the moonlight.
"Oh dear," Rosa said, reaching out to touch her warm face, "someone's already halfway to dreamland."
Mira groaned and covered her face, giggling. "It was just one sip…"
"You're among friends," June said, lifting her cup. "To first sips, warm nights, and unexpected company."
As the embers from the grill glowed low and the last songs faded into quiet laughter, Mira sat with her hands wrapped around her warm cup, her eyes drowsy and her cheeks still softly flushed.
Quillan stretched and stood, looking around at the happy but slightly tipsy group. "Well, too bad we all had a drink tonight—no one's in shape to drive you two back to campus. Mira, are you okay to walk?"
Mira blinked, then gave a sleepy nod. "I'll be fine… it's not that far."
Adrian glanced sideways at her, noting her still-crimson cheeks. Before he could say anything, the others burst out laughing.
"Oh-ho!" Clara grinned. "Young man, looks like your opportunity is here."
"Escort this lady back safe and sound," said Robert, raising an eyebrow with amusement. "Chivalry isn't dead, especially not under a sky like this."
"The night's clear, the air is cool—perfect for a little walk," June added warmly.
And just like that, the BBQ came to an end. Together they cleaned up, doused the fire, packed away the leftover food and empty cups. Mira waved sleepily, calling out "Good night!" as everyone wished them well, telling them to visit again anytime.
They brought the BBQ supplies back to Quillian's porch, stacking them neatly by the door. Then, with the warmth of smoke still clinging faintly to their clothes, they made their way back under the quiet, starlit sky.
Under a sky full of stars, the two young students began the quiet walk back toward the campus. The road was long, the night still, and the laughter from the gathering slowly faded into the hush of autumn leaves.
They had left the riverside behind, their footsteps now quiet on the gravel path leading back toward the campus. The night air was crisp, scented with earth and smoke, the moon casting silver patterns through the trees.
Adrian glanced at Mira, walking beside him, hair fluttered softly with the breeze, and her steps—though steady—were just a little slower, a little more deliberate.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked, watching her with mild concern. "How much did you actually drink?"
Mira turned to him with a sheepish grin, her eyes a little glassy, her voice light. "I'm totally okay. Just a sip. Or two. Or…maybe half a cup." She held up her fingers close together to emphasize the size—then wobbled slightly. "You know, that citrus sake..."
"Wait, do you… not usually drink?"
"I have zero tolerance," she admitted with a small laugh. "But don't worry. It's not like I'm gonna pass out."
"That bad?" he chuckled. "Is walking even okay for you?"
Mira squinted ahead, then glanced around. "Well… do I have any other option?"
"Nope," Adrian replied, amused. "But I can help somehow."
He held out his hand.
Mira blinked at it, then smiled again—this one softer, slower. Instead of taking his hand, she slid her hand around his arm, holding onto it with both warmth and necessity. "Thank you," she said, her voice low and slightly slurred.
Mira leaned her head slightly against his upper arm, then squinted up at him. "You know," she muttered, "walking next to you is kind of unfair. It's like trying to match pace with a tree."
Adrian looked down, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Then maybe you shouldn't have picked the tree to lean on."
She hummed. "Tall. Steady. Kind of cold. Yep. Definitely your type."
Adrian didn't respond. But the way his gaze slid toward her—half amused, half unreadable—made her wonder if the silence was its own kind of answer.
They continued walking side by side.
"By the way," Mira murmured, "it's kinda nice… drinking just enough to enjoy the barbecue, the night, and the moonlight."
Adrian still flushed under the moon's glow. "Just don't make a habit of it," he said, his voice gentle. "You're dangerous when tipsy."
"I'm charming when tipsy," she countered.
As their footsteps crunched softly along the main road, Mira asked, "Hey… what about that shortcut you mentioned earlier?"
Adrian shook his head with a light chuckle. "Too dark now. That trail cuts through the trees—it's not safe without a flashlight. Better stick to the main road."
"Oh, right," she nodded, tugging the coat closer around her shoulders. "So… how long do we have to walk?"
He glanced ahead. "If you keep a straight line and don't wander off chasing fireflies or stars—around thirty minutes."
She laughed. "Great. Night jogging session, here I come."
They walked on in comfortable silence for a while until Mira suddenly slowed and came to a stop. Adrian halted too, then followed her gaze upward.
"The moon is beautiful tonight," she whispered. "No streetlights, no noise… just us and the sky."
Adrian looked up. The moon hung low and soft in the navy blue, a pale lantern among the stars.
Mira raised her hand toward the sky, her fingers outstretched like she could pluck a star from its place. Then she lowered her hand with a soft sigh and continued walking beside him.
"Do you believe in horoscopes?" she asked out of the blue. "What's your star?"
Adrian side-eyed her, amused. "Nope. And why does that matter?"
"Just for fun," she grinned, thinking. "Let me guess. You're calm. Don't talk much. Brilliant. Serious, probably a workaholic. Grounded… like the earth. Hmm. Born in January?"
He paused and blinked at her, then laughed quietly. "Are you a fortune teller now?"
"Answer me."
"Well," he said, smiling, "yeah. January. New Year's Day, actually."
She stopped again, turning to him with wide eyes. "Wait, seriously? I was right? And it's New Year's Day?"
Adrian nodded, still smiling. "Technically, I've had fireworks on every birthday."
Mira laughed. "That's so special. But now I'm sad—we won't have the chance to celebrate your birthday while we're here."
He tilted his head, curious. "So when's yours?"
"End of October."
"That's soon."
"Yup," she replied, giving him a playful nudge. "Now you know. Don't forget my birthday gift."
Adrian looked at her, eyes glinting with mischief under the moonlight. "What kind of gift?"
"Surprise me," she said, with a grin that softened into a sleepy smile.
They kept walking—two silhouettes under the stars, their shadows stretching long in the quiet night.
The night air grew cooler as they continued along the quiet road, their steps echoing softly under the moonlight. The citrus-sake haze hadn't lifted—if anything, it made her even more unguarded, less mindful of the space between them.