Just as Moly finished her declaration, two striking women boarded the bus, and every head turned at once.
Fidelia came first — blue jeans, an asymmetric pink shirt, sneakers, a warm smile for everyone aboard. She greeted the bus with a polite bow and, without overthinking it, took the open seat beside Leila, who was absorbed in a book.
Alex followed naturally behind her. She wore wide-leg black jeans with a white off-shoulder asymmetric top and black sneakers, her makeup light as always — a cherry tint on her lips, soft smoky eyes — her long black hair swept up into a high, deliberately messy bun. Simple, comfortable, and somehow more striking for the total absence of effort involved.
It was a gorgeous sunny day, and Alex had started it right: a proper breakfast, plenty of energy, ready for whatever the schedule threw at her. A small smile already sat on her face when she boarded — and the moment she spotted Ethan sitting there, it widened considerably.
