"Ahem."
Kai cleared his throat softly, his voice cutting through the quiet and drawing Ruby's attention. She spun around, startled at first. Then her face lit up like a thousand tiny stars as she whispered.
"Kai!"
"Hello beautiful." Kai voice was like the soft murmuring of the breeze.
"What are you doing here?" Ruby's gaze flicked past him briefly, as though expecting someone else to appear from the shadows.
He gave a small, easy shrug. "Just wanted to check if you were alright," he said casually, stepping onto the patio but maintaining a polite distance.
"Oh really?" Ruby arched a brow, her tone teasing but gentle.
"Well, if I'm being honest," Kai said, glancing toward the glowing lights and laughter drifting from inside, "it's a bit too loud in there. This place feels better for… a quiet conversation. Don't you think?"
