The evening breeze was cool and comforting, wrapping around Bella like a soft shawl as she stepped out of her apartment gate. Her and Justin had agreed to take a walk earlier. The soft hum of crickets and distant chatter from other students filled the air. She looked around and spotted Justin leaning casually against a tree by the side of the estate road, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, his lips tugged into that familiar, easy smile that always made her feel at ease.
"Hey stranger," Bella said playfully, walking toward him.
He turned fully to her, laughing. "You're the one who kept me waiting."
"It's been five minutes," she replied, nudging his arm gently.
They began strolling down the quiet, tree-lined estate walkway. The streetlamps flickered to life above them, casting a soft golden glow over the pavement. The estate was peaceful in the evening, with only the sound of passing cars in the distance and the occasional bark of a dog echoing in the background.
"Nice evening for a walk," Justin said, looking up at the sky where stars had started to twinkle faintly.
"It really is," Bella replied, inhaling the fresh scent of night air. "Calming too. Much needed after all the noise today."
"Speaking of noise…" Justin began with a smirk, glancing sideways at her. "I saw the news."
Bella raised a brow, feigning innocence. "What news?"
He chuckled. "You know what I'm talking about. Mr. Stephen. Noble Hotel. Armed escorts. Flashing cameras. Whole media parade."
Bella laughed, her cheeks warming. "Oh gosh. Kathy showed me. My dad didn't even tell me he'd make such an entrance."
Justin shook his head, still smiling. "He didn't just make an entrance, Bella. He shut down half of Noble. That place already screams luxury, and now your dad has turned it into a live show."
She laughed again, leaning into his shoulder slightly. "He doesn't like attention, ironically. He only acts like that for security's sake. He says he can't take chances, especially not here."
"I get that," Justin nodded. "But funny enough, I don't think the Lifetime students have figured it out yet. If they had, the freshman group chat would've exploded."
Bella laughed again, brushing her fingers through her hair. "True. I'm enjoying the silence while it lasts."
"Oh, don't worry," Justin said, eyes twinkling. "After matriculation, that'll be the hottest gist on campus. You'll be that girl, the daughter of Mr. Stephen. The billionaire politician with a private convoy."
Bella groaned, mock-dramatically. "Why do you make it sound like a movie?"
"Because it is one," he replied, nudging her. "You're living the plot twist."
They both laughed, their steps syncing as they continued down the curved sidewalk. The estate grew quieter, and the twinkling estate lights reflected off nearby cars parked neatly along the street. Justin suddenly looked at her, more thoughtful now.
"So… you're visiting him tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said with a soft smile. "He wants to see me before the matric. Kathy and I are going there after class. He's sending his driver."
"That's nice," Justin nodded. "It must feel good to finally see him again after all this time."
Bella slowed her pace a little, her voice lowering. "It does. It's been years. We've only spoken over the phone and video calls. Seeing him in person again… it's still surreal."
He reached for her hand gently, lacing their fingers together. "I'm happy for you."
"Thank you," she whispered, the moment soft between them.
"Let's sit for a while," Justin said, nodding toward the bench.
"Sure," Bella replied, smiling as she followed him.
They settled into the seat, the branches above shielding them like a quiet guardian. The night was still, save for the faint buzz of cicadas and the distant hum of traffic. It was the kind of silence that made you feel like the world had paused just for you.
"Anyways, Our clothes have arrived."
"Already?" he raised a brow.
"Yep," she nodded proudly. "They were delivered yesterday."
"Wow. Full-on red carpet prep."
"You know it," she giggled. "We even have our hairstyling and makeup appointments locked in. We're not playing."
Justin whistled, amused. "I like that. No half measures."
"Exactly. Kathy and I scouted inspiration pictures for weeks. Pinterest, Instagram, IG boutiques... you should've seen our saved collections."
"I bet," he chuckled. "You two take slaying very seriously."
Bella shrugged with a mock grin. "We have to. It's the first major event. Plus, everyone will be watching."
"Well, you'll shut it down, no doubt," he said, looking at her sincerely.
She lowered her gaze for a second, smiling. "Thanks."
Justin adjusted slightly, stretching one arm over the backrest, comfortable. "So… nervous?"
"A little," she admitted. "It's a big day. I'm excited though."
They sat there, exchanging small thoughts, cracking soft jokes about how wild the group chat would be when pictures of their outfits dropped. The air between them was light but full of anticipation, like two people standing at the edge of something new, both in school and maybe, in each other.
The wind rustled the leaves gently above their heads, and for a while, they just sat in the silence, taking it all in the night, their laughter, and the warmth of shared moments beneath a quiet sky.
As they sat beneath the tree, their conversation slowly quieted. The silence wasn't awkward, it was comfortable. That kind of silence where words were no longer needed. Just the presence was enough.
The breeze was cool, brushing Bella's curls across her face, and Justin instinctively reached out to tuck a loose strand behind her ear. His touch lingered for a second too long. Bella looked up, their eyes meeting, and holding.
Everything around them seemed to pause.
Justin's gaze dropped slightly, lingering on her lips. Bella could feel her heart thudding against her chest, slow and heavy. Her breath caught, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in slightly, her lips parting the tiniest bit.
"Bella…" Justin whispered, his voice barely audible.
She didn't speak. She didn't need to.
Justin's hand slid gently into hers, fingers locking in the spaces between hers. He leaned in, slow, deliberate, watching her, giving her time to move, to stop it if she wanted to. But she didn't.
Their lips met.
Soft. Gentle. Like a question waiting for an answer.
Bella closed her eyes, her free hand resting on his chest as the kiss deepened , tender, warm, and impossibly slow. It was like time melted into the night around them. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't hungry. It was something else… something that felt like trust, like vulnerability, like the beginning of something real.
When they finally pulled apart, Bella kept her eyes closed for a second longer, her lips still tingling. When she opened them, Justin was looking at her like she was the only person in the world.
She blinked, cheeks glowing, and let out a nervous laugh. "That was…"
"Yeah," Justin smiled, his voice a little huskier than usual. "It really was."
There was a pause, both of them still floating in that moment, hearts in sync. Then, quietly, they began talking again, this time in softer tones. They spoke about little things. About their matriculation outfits, the excitement building up, and the way everything suddenly felt different.
But even with the laughter returning and the gentle teasing resuming, the kiss lingered in the air between them, sweet and unforgettable.
Justin stood, stretched, and offered her his hand. "Let me walk you back."
They walked in silence for a while, their hands brushing, eyes occasionally meeting with shy smiles. When they reached her apartment, Bella turned to him.
"Goodnight, Justin."
He smiled. "Goodnight, Bella."
And as he walked away under the starlit sky, Bella stood by the door for a second longer, fingers still tingling from his touch, her heart full.
It was the kind of night that changes everything.
And both of them knew it.
Bella burst into the apartment, her face glowing with excitement. Kathy was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared a snack. Bella couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Kathy! Guess what?" Bella exclaimed, practically bouncing.
Kathy turned, wiping her hands on a towel, a curious smile spreading across her face. "What? Tell me!"
Bella grinned wide. "Justin and I kissed."
Kathy's eyes went wide in surprise. "No way! How was it? Were you shy? Nervous?"
Bella laughed, a little shy now that she was recounting it. "Honestly, a little nervous, but it felt... really nice. Like, everything just slowed down, and it was just us. Not rushed or awkward at all."
Kathy walked over and gave her a quick, teasing nudge. "I'm so happy for you! That's huge!"
They settled down together on the couch, the room filled with warmth and laughter. The excitement from the kiss made the evening feel magical, but there was still so much to plan.
"Okay," Bella said, pulling out her phone. "Let's finally pick our dresses to wear when we see my dad tomorrow. I want to look amazing."
Kathy nodded eagerly. "I've been searching all day, so many options. Let's find something that will really wow him."
Together, they checked for nice outfits, and dreaming about the next day's big meeting.
The night slipped by with ease, two friends, excited hearts, and the promise of a fresh start just around the corner.