The night air was cool when I stepped out of the house, and I pulled my jacket tighter around me. Cali had already left earlier, saying that he might not make it to the reunion right away, but I decided that I would go on my own. The Uber taxi that I booked was still ten minutes away, according to the app. I stood in front of our gate, scrolling on my phone and waiting.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed headlights slowing down near our street. When I lifted my gaze, I froze. It was the same couple that I had seen earlier, the man and his wife from across the street. The car stopped in front of me, and the passenger-side window rolled down.
"Where are you going at this hour?" the man asked. His voice was deep and casual, but I felt the heat rise to my face immediately. His wife was sitting beside him, and she smiled softly as if nothing unusual had happened earlier.
I cleared my throat and answered, "I'm going to L City. I have a college reunion tonight."
The man leaned closer against the steering wheel. "We're heading there too. Why don't you join us instead of waiting for your ride?"
My first instinct was to refuse. The memory of them on the veranda that morning rushed back into my mind.
The way his eyes had locked on me while he was inside his wife. My cheeks burned, and I shook my head quickly.
"It's fine. I already booked a car. It should be here soon."
His wife leaned toward the window, and her tone was gentle but insistent. "No need to wait. Just cancel your booking. It's late, and it's safer to ride with people you know than with a stranger."
What she said was reasonable, but hesitation stayed with me. Did they even realize how shameless they had been earlier? Or maybe they knew, and that was exactly why my heart was beating faster.
The man glanced at my phone. "Go ahead. Cancel it. We'll take you. L City is about forty minutes from here."
I bit my lip and stared at the app. After several attempts, the cancellation went through, though with a small penalty fee. I sighed under my breath and muttered, "Alright… thank you."
He stepped out of the car and opened the back door for me. His tall figure moved with calm confidence, and for a moment, I couldn't help but glance at the lines of his shoulders under his shirt. My pulse quickened again, and I silently scolded myself as I slipped inside the backseat.
The wife gave me a polite smile through the rearview mirror. The man returned to the driver's seat and started the car.
I tried to act normal and said, "I didn't expect you'd be going to the city tonight as well."
"We have some business there," his wife answered casually. Her tone was kind, as if there had never been a moment earlier when I had seen her pressed against her husband in the open air.
The man's eyes met mine briefly through the mirror, and I quickly looked down at my hands resting on my lap. My cheeks were still hot.
They began talking lightly about traffic and the best shortcut routes. I nodded whenever a question was directed at me, forcing myself to sound calm. But the more casual their voices were, the more unnatural I felt.
When we reached the city lights, I breathed with relief and said, "You can drop me at the corner near Aurelio's Restaurant."
The man slowed down in front of the entrance, and before I got out, his eyes flicked to mine once again, steady and unreadable. My stomach tightened, but I forced myself to smile and thank them before closing the door.
---
The reunion was held in a small but cozy restaurant that was not particularly popular but familiar enough for gatherings. The moment I entered, I was welcomed by laughter, voices were calling my name, and their arms were wrapping around me.
"Dana!" Clair rushed forward and hugged me tightly. "You haven't changed at all! Same pretty face, same aura!"
"Still sweet as ever," Sofia teased, giving me a once-over before laughing.
Samson, flamboyant as always, pushed through the group and placed his hands dramatically on his hips. "Excuse me, can we talk about the size of her boobs? It's unfair. Absolutely unfair. Dana, are you hiding extra storage in there?"
Everyone burst into laughter. My cheeks burned, and I swatted at him lightly. "You're still the same, Samson."
"And you're still blessed. Life isn't fair," Samson groaned, pretending to sulk while the others laughed even harder.
The room was alive with noise and chatter. Kael and Celeste arrived with bottles of wine, making the table louder. Plates of food filled the long tables as more classmates trickled in, and the restaurant buzzed with nostalgia.
Then Rafael walked in. My heart skipped when I saw Cali right behind him. They looked like they had walked together, showing they were inseparable.
Samson whistled dramatically. "Look at those two! If this was a BL webnovel they'd be the main couple."
Kael joined in, smirking. "And to hide their love, they'd both marry the most desirable woman. Classic plot twist."
My throat tightened. I coughed suddenly, trying to hide my reaction, but Sofia leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "Don't mind them. They're just talking nonsense."
Her giggle was light, and I forced myself to laugh along, though my cheeks betrayed me with a faint blush.
Cali finally sat down beside me, offering me a quick smile as if nothing had happened. The others continued joking, pouring drinks, and sharing stories of the past.
The night grew lively. Stories flew across the table—funny tales of college pranks, embarrassing confessions, and exaggerated memories that made everyone laugh until their stomachs hurt.