The celebration began before the sun even set over Evermore University.There was a buzz across campus — the kind that only comes after victories stacked on victories, after feelings build quietly and then burst all at once.
Adrian had won the rally the previous day.Reina had won her badminton match this morning.And now… the night belonged to them.Not just as athletes.Not just as students.But as young souls who'd finally found something worth smiling for.
The party was taking place in one of the senior girls' apartments — a spacious place near the sports complex, already glowing with warm lights and loud music. Reina arrived with her team, still wearing the soft afterglow of triumph on her face. Her ponytail swayed as she walked, and her cheeks flushed from hours of people hugging her, congratulating her, teasing her like she was finally part of their world.
She was.For the first time in a long time, she really was.
Inside, music thumped like a heartbeat.Warm, golden fairy lights wrapped around the windows.The smell of food — pizza, noodles, fried chicken — filled the air.Laughter echoed from every corner.
Reina stepped in and blinked at the sudden brightness.
"Renaaa! The star of the badminton court!" Mira shouted, grabbing her by the wrist.
Reina laughed, almost tripping forward. "Stop exaggerating!"
"You smashed that last point like you were trying to kill someone's ex," Mira said dramatically.
Reina choked on air. "I— why would I—"
"Leave her!" another girl yelled. "Let her blush in peace!"
Reina rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling. She felt light — not the fragile kind, but the kind that made her want to dance, breathe, exist.
Then she saw him.
Adrian walked in from the balcony, a soda can in his hand, his hair slightly messy from the evening breeze. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and even from across the room, that same effortless aura clung to him — confidence wrapped in charm.
He saw her instantly, like she was the only one he'd been waiting for.
He didn't smile at first.He smirked — that kind of little half grin that reached his eyes slowly.The kind that always made Reina forget what her heart was supposed to be doing.
"Congrats, champion," he said when he reached her, lightly tapping her shoulder.
She shrugged like it was nothing. "You too. Rally king."
"Rally king?" His eyebrows shot up. "I like that."
Mira groaned loudly. "Please don't encourage him."
Adrian ignored her, gaze still fixed on Reina.
Their eyes locked just one second longer than friendly.Just enough to make Reina feel her chest flutter.Just enough for her to look away.
The music shifted.Someone raised the speakers.The party pulsed into motion.
Games That Break the Distance
Someone dragged everyone into a circle for games.
"Truth or dare!""No— spin the bottle!""Never have I ever!""Waterfall drinking game!"
It became chaos, but fun chaos — the kind that pulled Reina into the center whether she liked it or not.
She ended up sitting next to Adrian.She didn't plan it.He didn't plan it.But it happened — like gravity had made the choice.
The bottle spun.People howled and teased each other.Reina laughed more in that hour than she had in entire months.
At one point the bottle landed between her and Adrian.
Everyone screamed.
"Ohhhhhh!""This is destiny!""This is foreshadowing!""This is romance in the making!"
Reina wanted to bury herself alive.
Adrian simply leaned closer, resting his elbow on his knee, voice low enough for only her to hear.
"We don't have to do anything you don't want."
His tone was warm.Gentle.Real.
Reina swallowed. "I'm not scared."
"You sure?"
She nodded, though her heart was a mess.
The group shouted, "Truth or dare?!"
Reina chose truth.Adrian smirked. "Coward."
She glared. "Say that again, and I'll pick dare."
"Good," he murmured.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
But the truth question was simple — embarrassing, but harmless.
"Who's the person at this party you notice the most?"
Reina froze.
Adrian chuckled under his breath — quiet, low, almost proud.
"Pass," she muttered.
"NO PASSING!"
She cursed internally.
Her eyes met Adrian's.He raised a brow, daring her to say it.
Reina took a breath and pointed vaguely toward the window."Um… the fairy lights. They're very… noticeable."
The group exploded in laughter.
"COWARD!""WEAK!""BOOOOOO!"
Adrian laughed the most — gently, warmly — not mocking but enjoying her reaction.
"You're cute," he whispered.
She looked away instantly. "Shut up."
But she was smiling.
Dancing Until The World Fades
Close to midnight, the lights dimmed.Someone shouted, "DANCE FLOOR!"
Reina was dragged again — this time by two girls who refused to take no for an answer. The living room transformed instantly into a dance space, people jumping and swaying under the dim golden glow.
Reina moved carefully at first.Then freely.Then wildly.
Her hair loosened.Her laughter spilled out.Her body felt lighter than it had in years.
Adrian eventually joined in, not beside her… but close enough to find her rhythm.Close enough for their shoulders to brush.Close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him.
At one point, a slow-but-not-too-slow song played — soft, addictive, dreamy.
Adrian looked at her.Not with his usual teasing smile.But with something softer.
He held out a hand — not grabbing, not pulling — just offering.
"Come on. Just one," he said.
Reina hesitated — heart loud, breath unsteady.
Then she placed her hand in his.
They didn't dance like lovers.They didn't dance like strangers.They danced like two people learning each other's breaths, step by step, without rushing, without fear.
He guided gently.She followed lightly.Their eyes met and broke and met again.
Reina didn't know what this was yet.But she knew how it made her feel —seen, held, and alive.
When the song shifted, Adrian leaned down, lips close to her ear.
"You look happy tonight."
She swallowed. "I… am."
He nodded a little. "Good. You deserve nights like this."
Her chest tightened.Not painfully — beautifully.
Food, Laughter, Chaos
After dancing, everyone collapsed around the table full of food.
Reina and Adrian ended up sharing a plate because someone accidentally dropped half the cutlery out the window.
She tried to keep her distance, but he kept stealing her fries.
"Adrian!" she smacked his hand.
He smirked. "What? You weren't eating them fast enough."
"Buy your own."
"Nope."
"Why?"
He leaned back, eyes warm."Yours taste better."
She kicked him under the table.He didn't stop smiling.
They played karaoke next — people screaming, laughing, hitting the worst notes in history. Adrian and another guy rapped terribly. Reina and Mira sang loudly off-key. The entire apartment felt like a burst of youth.
Reina felt… free.Truly free.Like she'd stepped out of her past and into something brighter.
And every time her gaze drifted toward Adrian…he was already looking at her.
The Ride Home
The night eventually thinned out.People began leaving.The air smelled like perfume, sweat, and the last traces of music.
"Reina, I'll drop you," Adrian said simply, grabbing his keys.
She hesitated.Her friends nudged her hard.
"Say yes.""Go!""He likes you, idiot!"
Reina flushed and nodded. "Okay."
The ride home was quiet but warm.He drove with one hand, the streetlights casting soft lines across his face.Reina sat beside him, holding her bag, looking out the window.
"You had fun?" he asked.
"Yeah. It was… perfect."
Adrian smiled faintly. "Good. I liked seeing you like that."
She turned to him. "Like what?"
"Alive."
Reina's breath caught.
Before she could reply, the car stopped in front of her house.
He looked at her one more time — that slow, steady gaze that made her feel naked but safe.
"Goodnight, Reina."
She nodded, stepping out. "Goodnight, Adrian. And… thank you."
He waited until she was at the door before driving away.
The House Notices
The door opened before she touched it.
Her mother stood there, eyebrows raised.
"You're glowing," she said immediately.
Reina blinked. "I'm— what?"
Her sister peeked from behind. "You look like you came back from a movie scene."
Reina pressed her lips together to stop smiling too hard. "Stop."
"We'll talk in the morning," her mother said, smiling knowingly. "Go sleep."
Reina hurried upstairs.
Inside her room, she collapsed on her bed, face buried in her pillow.
Her heart still thumped in rhythm with the music.Her skin still felt warm from dancing.Her mind still replayed Adrian's voice —You look happy tonight.You deserve nights like this.Alive.
She smiled into the darkness.
Tonight wasn't magic.It wasn't fate.It wasn't some dramatic twist.
It was just… life.Beautiful, messy, loud, warm life.
And it made her wonder —for the first time in a long, long while —if she was finally stepping into something good.