🌸 A Quiet Morning
Weekend arrived with the kind of quiet that begged for small routines.
The sun had barely climbed high, spilling soft light through my curtains, when I rolled out of bed and stretched the heaviness from my limbs.
I moved through the motions of the morning almost without thinking, gathering the scattered clothes from the week,
Loading them into the washing machine, the hum of water and soap fills the silence of my room.
While the machine worked, I tidied the small clutter around my desk, stacked the books I had abandoned in mid-study, and dusted off the shelves.
Something was soothing about it, the way small acts of order made the space breathe again.
By the time the laundry was hung to dry and the last of the dishes put away, I felt lighter, as though the weekend itself had been reset.
I brewed a quick cup of tea, sipping it slowly by the window, watching the street below in wake to the weekend rhythm: children tugging at parents' hands,
The distant chatter of neighbors, the steady buzz of cars weaving through traffic.
But beneath the calm, my thoughts kept circling back to Mateo.
He'd been quieter than usual, his smile never quite reaching his eyes, his jokes landing softer than they used to.
I had caught glimpses of something deeper, worry, maybe even exhaustion, that he tried too hard to hide.
That was why I texted him the night before.
Just coffee, I had suggested.
A chance to step away from the noise of deadlines and the trip we were all preparing for.
He had agreed, though his reply carried a hesitance I couldn't ignore.
I glanced at the clock, set my empty mug down, and grabbed my bag.
Sliding on a light sweater, I checked my reflection one last time, simple, casual, but presentable.
I wasn't dressing to impress; I just wanted to show him he mattered enough for me to make the effort.
With the soft weight of the envelope tucked safely inside my bag, I locked the door behind me and stepped into the warm weekend air.
Today wasn't about assignments or even myself.
Today was about reminding a friend he didn't have to face his burdens alone.
The café smelled of roasted beans and soft pastries, a quiet haven tucked into the corner of the street.
Mateo arrived a little late, his shirt slightly wrinkled, his steps dragging as though the weight on his shoulders followed him everywhere.
But when he spotted me waving, he forced a small smile, the kind people wear when they're trying not to burden others.
We ordered coffee and sat by the window, sunlight spilling across the table.
For a while, we spoke about nothing in particular, the conference and the professors who seemed determined to drown us in assignments, Saraph's latest dramatic outburst that had us all laughing earlier in the week.
But I could see it, the shadows still tucked behind his laughter.
So I reached into my bag and pulled out a plain white envelope, sliding it across the table.
He frowned. "Nuella, what's this?"
I took a breath, steadying myself.
"Mateo… I know things have been hard.
I see you trying to hold it all together, and I admire that more than you realize.
But friends don't let friends carry everything alone."
He hesitated, his hand hovering over the envelope. "Nuella"
"Wait," I interrupted softly.
"I know this isn't much.
But it's from my heart.
I hope it helps solve something, even a little.
We were brought together by the presentation and by this travel opportunity, but… beyond all that, you're my friend.
Seeing you break down, pretending to be fine when you're not, it wouldn't sit right with me.
As friends, we stand by each other. Always."
For a long moment, Mateo didn't move.
His eyes softened, glassy with emotions he tried to swallow down.
"Finally, he picked up the envelope with both hands, holding it as if it weighed more than paper."
"Thank you," he whispered, voice breaking slightly.
"I don't even know what to say. You… you didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to," I replied simply. "Because you matter."
He nodded, blinking hard, then managed a shaky laugh. "You've got no idea what this means.
Thank you, Nuella. Truly."
The heaviness between us eased after that.
We drank our coffee slowly, letting the warmth settle in our bodies, then decided to take a walk down the nearby street.
The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fried food from street vendors and the laughter of children chasing a ball down the sidewalk.
For the first time in weeks, Mateo's shoulders looked a little lighter.
As I walked beside him, a quiet gratitude swelled in me, not just for his smile, but for the fact that I'd been able to help.
All thanks to my dad, I whispered to myself.
He had listened when I asked, understood without bitterness, and given without hesitation.
For once, he was loving me as his daughter, not holding the past against me.
The thought left my chest warm, like something fragile healing inside.
I was still lost in that reflection when my phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Saraph's name.
Saraph: Lover girl, where are you? Don't tell me you're hiding with Daniel again.
I chuckled under my breath and typed quickly.
Me: Not Daniel this time. I'm at a café with Mateo.
Her reply came almost instantly.
Saraph: Ohhh. Interesting. Should I be jealous? Or is this you running an underground therapy session?
Me: More like the second one. He's been carrying a lot. I just wanted to check in.
Saraph: I knew it. You always notice these things before the rest of us.
That's what makes you our glue. Still, don't burn yourself out trying to fix everyone, Nuella.
Me: I'm not fixing him. Just… reminding him he's not alone.
Saraph: (after a pause) That's why I love you, you know.
Not because you're perfect, but because you make space for people's imperfections.
You see what others try to hide.
I blinked at her words, my steps slowing a little.
Mateo was distracted by a street musician strumming his guitar, so he didn't notice the small smile tugging at my lips.
Me: That's deep for you, Saraph. Usually, you'd tease me about being soft.
Saraph: Oh, don't worry. Lover Girl is still my favorite name for you.
And don't think I missed the fact that you're playing guardian angel, while Daniel is probably sulking somewhere because you're not giving him all your time.
Me: He'll live. Besides, he needs to learn the world doesn't revolve around him.
Saraph: Careful. If you say that to his face, "he might just kiss you until you forget your own name."
I laughed out loud, drawing a curious glance from Mateo. I waved it off, tucking my phone closer.
Me: You're impossible.
Saraph: And you adore me for it. Now, hurry up and finish your angel duties.
We've got plans tonight, and don't even try to escape.
I shook my head, smiling down at the screen.
Me: Fine, fine. I'll see you soon. And thanks. For always being… you.
Saraph: Always, babe. "Now go make sure Mateo knows he's not just a teammate, but family."
We all are.
I slid my phone back into my bag, heart full.
Between Mateo's grateful smile and Saraph's steady presence, I realized how lucky I was to have a team that wasn't just bound by deadlines or trips, but by something deeper.
And for once, the weight didn't feel so heavy.
Plans That Glow in Neon
After a long walk with Mateo, I hugged him tightly before heading home.
The air was cool, brushing against my face, and though my heart felt lighter after our talk, I was ready to sink into something fun.
By the time I dropped my bag and kicked off my shoes, Saraph was already sprawled on my bed, scrolling through her phone like she owned the place.
Saraph: "Finally! Took you long enough. Tonight needs a plan, and no, I refuse another boring evening of Netflix reruns."
Me: "Patience. I just walked back. But fine, let's make it a group thing."
Saraph: "Fun. We need it. Tonight. No excuses."
She laughed. "Finally. My brain needs a holiday, even if my body can't take one yet."
We agreed on a video call first, a way to loop in everyone before deciding what came next.
"Within minutes, she had a group video call going."
Caleb's camera showed his guitar on his lap, Timi was crunching chips, Jordan leaned back with his usual smirk, and Daniel, naturally, looked like he'd set up his lighting on purpose.
Saraph (dramatically): "Alright, my beautiful disasters. Tonight, we escape. Suggestions?"
Caleb: "Bowling."
Jordan (snorting): "Bro, bowling is for retirees. We need real energy. Karaoke!"
Timi (munching): "Nah, that's lame. Picnic. Cheap, easy, fresh air."
Daniel (grinning at me through the screen): "Picnic? You serious? We need a proper night out. Nuella, you decide."
Me (raising a brow): "Don't drag me into this. Besides, Saraph's clearly steering us somewhere."
Saraph (smirking): "She knows me too well.
Guys, clubbing. Neon lights, music so loud we lose our voices, dancing till our legs give out.
That's the plan."
Caleb (mock gasp): "You're trying to kill me."
Jordan: "Don't lie, you'll be the first one on the dance floor doing air guitar."
Timi (grinning): "Clubbing, huh? I can live with that. But someone's buying my first drink."
Daniel (pointing at Timi): "Not it. I'm busy making sure Nuella doesn't get stolen on the dance floor."
Saraph (rolling her eyes): "Relax, Romeo. She can take care of herself."
Me (teasing): "He's right, though. You know I'm irresistible."
The group howled with laughter. Daniel's smile softened but didn't fade.
Then Jordan, as usual, dropped the twist.
Jordan: "But hold up. Can we actually afford this? Between trip costs and everything else, are we sure everyone's good?"
The laughter dimmed for a moment.
Caleb put down his guitar, Timi stopped chewing, and Saraph looked briefly at me, like she knew exactly who had been on my mind earlier.
Caleb (serious for once): "Jordan's not wrong. We should be real with each other.
If anyone's struggling, say it now. We'll figure it out."
Me (softly): "We've got each other. That's what matters."
A silence stretched, then Saraph clapped her hands loud enough to make us all jump.
Saraph: "Okay! Enough heavy vibes.
If we're broke, we'll dance like broke kings and queens.
Tonight, it's settled, club.
Daniel: (grinning, leaning back in his chair) "Relax, all bills on me. Tonight, you don't need to worry about a single coin."
The call suddenly turned noisy; everyone spoke at once.
Caleb: "Boss man! This is what I've been waiting for."
Timi: (clapping his hands together dramatically) "Bless you, Daniel. May your pockets never run dry."
Jordan: (laughing now) "Look at you saving us like Romeo saving Juliet. You're the real MVP."
Saraph: (teasing) "Daniel, just say you're trying to impress Nuella. All this generosity can't just be random."
Daniel: (rolling his eyes with a smirk) "Please, don't start. I'm just making sure my guys and girls have fun."
Caleb: "Nah, nah, you can't fool us. You don't just throw 'all bills on me' unless you're trying to score points."
Timi: (pretending to wipe tears) "Romeo Daniel saving us broke Capulets from suffering.
Everyone burst into laughter, even me. I shook my head at the ridiculousness, unable to hide my smile.
Nuella (me): "You all are unbelievable. Just take the offer and stop dramatizing."
Jordan: "We're not dramatizing, we're appreciating. There's a difference."
Saraph: (smiling) "Well, either way, I'm ready. Let's accept and pick a time before Daniel changes his mind."
Daniel: (smirking) "Too late. Once I've said it, I'm locked in. Tonight's on me."
The screen was full of laughter, playful bickering, and light-hearted teasing, the kind of chaos that always seemed to bind us tighter.
Caleb (grinning, strumming one dramatic chord): "To the club!"
Everyone cheered. Plans began spilling over, who'd pick who up, what to wear, who was guaranteed to embarrass themselves on the dance floor (Caleb, unanimously),
And who was most likely to end the night holding someone else's shoes (Saraph, obviously).
And just like that, the call ended in laughter, neon dreams already waiting for us.
The club was alive the moment we stepped in, bass pulsing through the walls, strobe lights flickering across the crowd, and laughter mixing with the DJ's beats.
Caleb and Timi darted straight to the dance floor, already moving like they owned it.
Jordan hung back, scouting the drinks menu, while Saraph pulled me to the middle, twirling me with a laugh.
Saraph: "Tonight, no stress. Just fun."
I nodded, letting myself go with the rhythm.
But even with all the noise, I felt Daniel's eyes on me.
Every time I turned, he was there, leaning against the bar, sipping casually, watching me with that half-smile that always made my stomach flip.
Eventually, the group gathered for a round of shots Daniel insisted on paying for.
Caleb raised his glass dramatically.
Caleb: "To Romeo, our sponsor!"
Everyone: "Cheers!"
The laughter faded into dancing again, lights spinning above us.
At some point, Daniel slipped through the crowd and found me.
His hand brushed against mine, gentle and intentional, sending a shiver down my spine.
Daniel: (leaning close, his voice low against my ear) "Want to get some air?"
I nodded.
The music was too loud, my heart louder still.
He guided me through the crowd, out to a quieter corner of the back lounge where the city lights shimmered against the night sky.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The muffled music thumped in the background, but here, everything felt slowed down.
Daniel: (softly) "You look… unreal tonight."
I laughed nervously, tucking my hair behind my ear. "You're just saying that."
Daniel: "I don't say things I don't mean, Nuella."
The bass from the club shook through the walls, but in the shadowy corner of the back lounge, it was just us.
The others were lost in the music and laughter, but Daniel's focus never left me.
His hand slid up my side, slow and deliberate, until his thumb brushed the curve of my breast beneath my shirt.
The touch was so careful and so hungry all at once that I shivered.
"Daniel…" I whispered, my protest melting into a sigh when his lips claimed mine.
The kiss wasn't gentle.
It was deep, messy, and consuming, pulling all the air from my lungs.
"Baby…" his whisper burned against my lips. "I can't get enough of you."
His mouth moved against mine like he'd been starving for days, and I let myself sink into him, fingers gripping the back of his neck.
"You drive me crazy," he murmured between kisses, his breath hot against my cheek.
"I've missed you, missed you."
The lounge's shadows wrapped around us, shielding us from the pulsing lights and the crowd.
The music throbbed through the walls, a rhythm that seemed to match the pounding in my chest as Daniel pressed me deeper into the velvet seat.
Every kiss is rough and wet, leaving me breathless.
I tried to laugh against his lips, to remind him we were still inside a club, but the sound broke into a moan when his hand slid boldly beneath my shirt again.
His thumb grazed my nipple, already hard under the fabric, and the sharp jolt of pleasure made me arch into him.
"Daniel…" I gasped, meaning to stop him, but it came out as an invitation.
He smirked against my lips, his breath hot. "You don't sound like you want me to stop."
Before I could argue, he kissed me harder, tongue slipping against mine, pulling me under.
My hands tangled in his hair, desperate, holding him close as if the world outside had dissolved.
My breath caught at the feel of him hard against me, and in that fleeting second of hesitation, I realized just how badly I wanted this too.
His free hand moved lower, skimming my thigh, parting it slowly, deliberately.
The heat of his palm burned through my skirt, making me tremble.
When his fingers reached the edge of my panties, I sucked in a sharp breath, clutching at his shoulders.
"Here?" I whispered, half in disbelief, half in desire.
"Right here," he said, voice low, rough, certain.
And then he slipped his fingers inside, pushing past the thin barrier of lace to find me wet and ready.
I gasped so loud I was sure the music was the only thing covering it.
His lips swallowed the sound, kissing me deep as his fingers moved with quick, teasing strokes inside me, playful, almost taunting, keeping me on edge.
But soon the pace grew faster, more desperate, each thrust deeper and harder, the mix of his teasing play and urgent need left me trembling, my body arching against his fingers, steady strokes that left me shaking.
"God, Nuella…" he groaned into my mouth, his forehead pressed against mine.
"You feel so good."
My thighs tightened around his hand, my hips rocking helplessly to meet his rhythm.
The pleasure built fast, sharp, and dizzying, until I was clutching at him, biting his shoulder to keep from crying out.
He kissed me through it, swallowing every broken sound, his fingers relentless until I trembled in release, shuddering against him.
Before I could catch my breath, he pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes, his own dark and wild.
"I need you," he said, "Now."
My answer was pulling him closer, my hands fumbling with his belt.
He kissed me like a man drowning, desperate and tender all at once, and when he finally pushed deep and thrust into me, it was a perfect, aching relief, so overwhelming, and I gasped so sharply."
He set a rhythm, hard and steady, his hips snapping against mine while his hands anchored me in place.
Every thrust made the seat creak beneath us, every movement a risk that someone might hear, might push the curtain aside.
And still, I clung to him, nails digging into his shoulders, chasing the pleasure that built fast, hot, consuming.
"God, you're so tight," he groaned into my neck, his breath hot against my skin.
"You're driving me crazy."
I bit down on my lip, fighting to keep quiet, but a broken moan slipped free when he angled his hips just right, hitting deep, hitting where I couldn't resist him.
My hands slid under his shirt, clawing at his back, needing him closer, needing more.
"Daniel… don't stop."
He groaned, kissing me fiercely, his rhythm faltering only because he was just as close, just as undone.
"Never. I'll never stop with you."
The tension inside me snapped all at once.
I cried out into his mouth, my body shuddering around him, every nerve lit up with pleasure.
The rhythm was rough, urgent at first, but it softened with each movement, turning into something deeper, something that felt like claiming and giving all at once.
His lips never left mine for long, kissing me through every thrust, his hand gripping my waist to hold me against him.
He held me tight through it, his thrusts rough and erratic now, chasing his own release until he buried himself deep with a guttural moan, collapsing against me as if I was the only thing keeping him standing.
For a long moment, neither of us moved, breathing hard, tangled together in the heat and the dark.
My heart was still racing, the aftershocks making me tremble as his lips pressed soft, lazy kisses along my jaw.
Finally, he lifted his head, his eyes heavy-lidded but still sparkling with that teasing grin.
"See? Best idea I've ever had."
I laughed weakly, swatting at his chest. "You're insane. We could've been caught."
"And?" He smirked, kissing me again, slow and tender this time. "That just made it even better."
I shook my head, still breathless, still flushed. "You're impossible."
"And you love me for it," he whispered, pressing one last kiss to my lips before tucking me against his chest.
Outside, the club roared on, unaware of the storm we'd just created in its shadows.
The music, the crowd, the danger of being caught, it all melted away.
It was just us, tangled in the shadows, lost in a rhythm that belonged only to us.
We slipped back into the noise and lights, my hair a little messy, my lips still tingling.
I prayed no one noticed, but of course, Saraph did.
She caught my arm the second I tried to blend in with the crowd, pulling me toward her with that sly grin that gave everything away.
Saraph (whispering): "You had him inside you, didn't you? Don't even lie, Nuella.
I saw you two disappear, and it's been almost an hour, lover girl."
Her words made heat rise to my cheeks, but I still laughed, trying to shove her lightly.
Me: "Shut up, Saraph."
But the smile on my face betrayed me.
I leaned in, lowering my voice so only she could hear.
Me: "Well… it was fun. More than fun. Having him fuck me right in there."
Her eyes went wide, and then she burst into laughter, covering her mouth so no one else heard.
Saraph leaned in close, her voice low but full of mischief.
Saraph (smirking): "That smile says it all… "Girl, with the way you are glowing, he must've fucked you real good, huh?" Didn't he?"
I bit my lip, heat rushing to my cheeks.
Me: "Saraph!"
She just laughed, winking.
Saraph (teasing): "Bad girl. Bad, bad girl."
My cheeks burned, but I couldn't stop smiling either.
Me: "You're impossible."
Saraph (teasing whisper): "And you're a bad girl. Having him fuck you right in the club, no wonder you're walking lighter."
She laughed before I could respond, dragging me back toward the dance floor while I shook my head, grinning despite myself.
I just laughed harder and spun back into the dance with Saraph, my body still thrumming from more than just the music.
We let the music swallow us up again, twirling under the strobe lights, our laughter mixing with the bass.
Across the room, Daniel had rejoined Caleb, Timi, and Jordan at the bar.
They were all laughing at something, Caleb throwing his arms around Daniel's shoulder like he was the king of the night, Jordan probably teasing him about being our "Romeo" again.
Daniel's eyes found me through the crowd, and that knowing smirk curved on his lips.