Luna's POV
The message from Antonio sat on my screen, burning into my thoughts. The idea of seeing Selene—seeing her again, after all this time—felt like a wild dream. Could it be real? Would she remember me? Would she even want to see me?
I had so many questions, but the one that stuck the most was: What happened there to her?
But when I read Antonio's words again, especially the part where he said she misses me, something inside me shifted. I had to do this. For her. For the friendship we once shared, the bond we'd let slip through our fingers like sand. She deserved more than just a message. She deserved me showing up, no matter how long it's been or how awkward it might feel. I wasn't going to be the one to hide anymore.
I swallowed my doubts and set my phone down. Her birthday was soon, and I had no time to waste. I'd find a way to make this work.
The 6th of July was just a few days away, and I knew I needed to prepare. I couldn't just show up empty-handed. I thought of all the memories we shared—the things she loved, the things we used to do together. She'd always been so creative, always sketching, always dreaming. She was an artist, and her heart was just as vibrant as the colors she put to paper.
I pulled out an old sketchbook, the one I hadn't touched in years, and flipped through its pages. I'd forgotten how much joy it brought me to create things with my hands. Maybe I could sketch something special for her—something that would remind her of the good times, something that might help bridge the gap that had grown between us.
I could feel my nerves creeping in. I was scared—scared of what I might find when I saw her again, scared of how she might react. But I also knew this was something I couldn't back down from. Her happiness.
And so, with a steady breath, I started to sketch, pouring my heart into the lines, hoping it was enough even though my sketches are not good duh!
Atasha's POV
The days were moving in a blur. With my birthday around the corner, I felt a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. It wasn't like any other birthday. Something inside me was restless, like there was a surprise just waiting to unfold, but I couldn't quite figure out what it was. Antonio had been acting a little secretive lately, and though I had tried asking him what was going on, he always managed to change the subject or distract me with a smile.
It was strange, the way he'd look at me sometimes, like there was something he wasn't saying. His eyes seemed to hold a million thoughts, and yet he kept them hidden behind that confident exterior. I couldn't help but wonder what he was planning, especially when he'd casually drop little comments about how my birthday would be special this year.
"Just wait and see," he would tell me, a knowing look on his face. "You'll love what I've planned. Trust me."
I'd laugh it off, teasing him about how cryptic he was being. But deep down, there was a part of me that felt the weight of anticipation. What could he be up to?
And then, the day before my birthday, I got a message from him that sent my heart racing. It was a simple text, but the weight of it made my pulse quicken.
> "I think it's time you finally get to meet someone who's missed you."
I stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity, confusion swirling in my chest. Who could it be? What did Antonio mean by that? I had so many questions, but no answers. The mystery was killing me.
I spent the whole night trying to figure it out, my mind racing through possibilities. Maybe it was just a joke. Maybe he was just being his usual teasing self, trying to build up my excitement. But the thought of someone wanting to meet me, someone who had missed me, it stirred something deep inside.
When the day finally arrived, I tried to focus on the celebration, on the friends, the cake, the small gifts that had already started trickling in. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Antonio. To the text. To the surprise that he promised would be so special.
As the evening drew near, the time for the 'surprise' was fast approaching. I found myself getting more and more anxious, the unknown gnawing at me. What was he going to do? Was it a gathering of friends? A romantic gesture? Or something entirely different?
Antonio was being elusive, only telling me that I was going to love it and that everything would make sense soon.
He arrived at the party early, wearing a grin that was far too mischievous for my liking. And as the night went on, I couldn't help but notice how he was constantly watching me, his eyes sparkling with an unreadable emotion.
Finally, as the clock struck closer to midnight, Antonio led me outside. My heart skipped as we walked down the path, the soft hum of the celebration fading in the background. I could feel the weight of his words from earlier, the promise of a surprise that I could not yet grasp.
We came to a stop in front of the garden where the moonlight cast soft shadows on the flowers. And that's when I saw her.
At first, it was just a silhouette, but as she stepped closer, my breath caught in my throat. It was Luna. She stood there, her familiar smile lighting up her face. I didn't know what to say. My heart surged with emotion. I hadn't seen her in years, hadn't heard from her in what felt like forever.
Luna.
I stared at her, speechless, as she walked toward me, her arms open wide. The reunion was so much more overwhelming than I had expected. And there, in that moment, everything clicked. Antonio had been planning this. He had arranged for Luna to be here, to surprise me. It was the best gift I could have ever asked for.
"Happy birthday, Selene—oh sorry—Atasha," Luna said, her voice breaking through the fog in my mind.
And all I could do was smile through the tears that welled up in my eyes.