The morning sunlight streamed gently through my window as I placed the breakfast tray on the sink and thanked Mom for the meal. My brothers were still at the dining table, busy talking and laughing with Dad. I was about to head out when I heard Mom call from behind me.
"Laranie!"
"Yes, Mom?" I turned back, stepping into the dining room again.
She crossed her arms, giving me that familiar look of curiosity mixed with concern. "Where in the world are you going this early?"
"I'm going over to Jeremy's place. We're planning to go out later," I said, trying to sound casual.
Her expression tightened. "Laranie, I don't want you going out with Jeremy today."
"What? Why?" I asked, my heart tightening. "He's my best friend."
"I don't care. You always tell me you're with him. Are you... dating him?"
Her question hit me off guard. My mouth opened, but no words came out.
"No," I finally said, avoiding her eyes. "He's my best friend. After Emily moved away, he's been the only one I'm close to."
"I forbid you to go," she said firmly.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Mom," I snapped, turning toward the door. I left the house, slamming the door behind me harder than I intended.
Outside, I stood for a moment, breathing deeply, trying to calm the storm inside me. The cool morning air brushed my face as I started walking down the road, my heart still pounding.
By the time I reached Jeremy's house, I'd already passed Louis's home. For a second, I glanced at it, letting out a quiet sigh before knocking on Jeremy's door.
A tall girl with long blonde hair and a soft smile opened it—it was Jeremy's older sister, Sofia. She looked effortlessly graceful in her floral dress.
"Hi, Laranie," she greeted warmly.
"Hey, Sofia. Is Jeremy home?"
"Yeah, he's right here." She turned and called, "Jeremy! Laranie's here!"
Moments later, Jeremy appeared, wearing a light grey shirt and his usual easygoing smile.
"Hey, Laranie," he said.
"Hey, Jeremy," I replied, smiling back.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm all yours."
He grinned and gently took my hand. "Then let's go. I've got a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" I raised an eyebrow, curious. "I thought we were just hanging out here."
"We are," he said, leading me toward his car, "but this time, I've planned something a little different."
As we drove off, he turned on the radio, knowing how much I loved music. My favorite song—'Baby, You Make Me Crazy' by Sam Smith—began to play, and I couldn't help singing along.
"Jeremy, this song's for you," I teased, glancing at him.
He chuckled as I sang, nodding to the rhythm, his hand tapping the steering wheel in time. When the song ended, another one started—his favorite, 'How Deep Is Your Love' by Bee Gees.
"Now this one's for you," he said, singing along in a soft voice.
"I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain…"
I blushed, my heart fluttering as he sang, his voice warm and full of emotion. For a moment, it felt like the world outside the car didn't exist—just the two of us, caught between music and something deeper neither of us wanted to name too soon.
By the time the song ended, we'd arrived in front of a beautiful grey house. I looked at it in awe—it looked new, modern, and peaceful, surrounded by flowering hedges.
"Where are we?" I asked, still taking it in.
He smiled. "At our home."
"Our home?" I blinked in disbelief. "Jeremy, what do you mean?"
"I bought this place for us," he said, his eyes steady on mine. "Even before you became my girlfriend, I wanted a place that could be... ours someday."
I stared at him, speechless. "I can't believe it."
"Come on," he said softly, "let me show you inside."
He opened the door, and I stepped into a warm, beautifully furnished living room. A sleek black sofa faced a large flat-screen TV mounted on the cream-colored wall. Everything felt so calm and tastefully arranged.
To the right, the kitchen gleamed—modern, spotless, with a few small plants by the window that gave it life. My heart swelled.
Jeremy led me upstairs to a room with glass doors that opened into a bright, airy bedroom. The walls were painted a gentle sky blue, and the bed was neatly made with matching covers and pillows. Sunlight spilled softly through the curtains, painting everything in a dreamlike glow.
"Jeremy," I whispered, overwhelmed. "It's beautiful."
He smiled, watching me take it all in. "I wanted you to have a place where you could always feel safe and happy," he said quietly.
I turned to him, tears forming in my eyes. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"
He nodded. "Always."
And as I stood there, in that sky-blue room filled with light, I realized—this wasn't just a surprise. It was a promise.