POV: Sebastian
I've stared down the barrel of a gun without blinking. I've walked into boardrooms with billions on the line and not broken a sweat.But tonight? My palms won't stop sweating.
The garden's quiet. Lanterns flicker overhead. The moon's throwing soft silver light across the hedges, and I'm standing here like an idiot with a ring box burning a hole into my hand.
Then she steps out.
Hair messy from rushing, oversized hoodie swallowing her whole, mumbling something about Kai burning the pasta again. I almost forget how to breathe.
She sees me.
Stops.
Brows pull together. "Why do you look like someone died?"
I keep the box behind my back. "I wanted to talk to you."
Immediately, her entire face twists. "Oh God. You're breaking up with me, aren't you?"
I blink. "No."
"Are you dying?"
"No."
"Is someone dying? Because if Kai's dead, I—well, I'll mourn later."
"Ray."
"Wait—are you going to do one of those mafia love speeches? 'I love you, but I have to let you go to protect you'—because I swear I'll stab you—"
"I'm not breaking up with you."
She freezes. "...Oh."
I step forward, take her hand. Her fingers curl instinctively into mine, warm, familiar. She still doesn't notice the box. "Ray. Do you trust me?"
Her voice softens. "Always."
I inhale. Hard. "I've done a lot of terrible things. A lot I'll never be proud of. But if there's one thing in this world I want to get right... it's this."
Her eyes widen. "Seb...?"
I pull out the box. Flip it open.
She stares.
Then stares harder.
"Are you serious?" she whispers.
I lift an eyebrow. "Does this look like a breakup?"
She screams.
Actually screams.
Throws herself into my arms with all the force of a tiny, chaotic, love-struck meteor. She's laughing and crying and shouting "yes" into my neck like the word's trying to burst out of her lungs.
And then—
"OH MY GOD SHE SAID YES!" a voice shrieks from the bushes. "I'M THE FAIRY MAFIA GODFATHER! I MADE THIS HAPPEN! THIS IS MY DOING!"
I groan. "Please tell me that's not Kai."
Ray's still crying—but giggling now, breathless. "You didn't notice the glitter trail behind the hedge?"
I close my eyes.
I just proposed to the love of my life with our feral mutual best friend in a bush.
And somehow... I wouldn't change a thing.
The end.
Signing off.
Siddhii Singh.