Mondays were made for routine, but Fridays? Fridays were for pretending life wasn't as heavy as it sometimes felt.
Nara Lyn stared at her reflection, tilting her head slightly as she applied her lipstick. The color soft rose wasn't too bold, but it gave her just enough confidence to face the night. She wasn't the type who went out often anymore. Between work, errands, and taking care of herself, most weekends were spent at home with a glass of wine and her favorite show.
But tonight was different.
It was Zuri's birthday, one of the few friends she still kept in touch with from college. Zuri had insisted, no excuses this year. "You're coming out with us, Nara," she'd said over the phone. "You've been working yourself to death. One night won't kill you."
So here she was, slipping into a silver dress she hadn't worn in ages. It fit her a little differently now, but it still hugged her in all the right places. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and she smiled faintly at the reflection staring back.
"You'll be fine," she murmured to herself. "It's just one night."
Nara worked as a finance manager at a bank, a job that demanded structure, composure, and endless patience. It paid the bills, but lately, she'd begun to feel like she was living on autopilot, wake up, work, sleep, repeat. Maybe Zuri was right. Maybe she did need to remember what it felt like to live a little.
By the time she arrived at the club, the night had already bloomed into a whirl of music, laughter, and bright lights. The air smelled faintly of perfume and expensive liquor, and the bass vibrated under her heels.
She spotted Zuri immediately, a dazzling figure in red, surrounded by friends, camera flashes, and pure energy.
"Nara!" Zuri squealed when she saw her. "You actually came!"
"Of course," Nara laughed, hugging her. "I couldn't miss your big night."
"I told you we'd get her out," Kevin said with a grin, sliding into the conversation. He was Zuri's oldest friend and the group's self-appointed mischief maker. "Careful though, Nara. There are dangerous men here tonight."
She smirked. "Dangerous how?"
"Dangerous to your heart."
She rolled her eyes. "I'll take my chances."
The group erupted into laughter as they made their way to the VIP booth. Drinks were poured, jokes were shared, and for a while, Nara felt something she hadn't felt in months, ease.
Then she saw him.
He was leaning against the bar, detached from the noise, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a glass. The flashing lights traced the sharp line of his jaw and caught the gleam in his dark eyes. He didn't look impressed by the chaos around him. If anything, he looked like he was quietly observing it all, lost in thought.
For reasons she couldn't explain, her gaze lingered. There was something about his stillness in the middle of all that noise, it drew her in.
As if sensing her stare, his eyes met hers.
It was brief but enough to send a shiver down her spine. The world didn't stop, but something shifted.
Kevin noticed her pause. "Oh no," he said dramatically. "Don't tell me the danger found you already."
Nara laughed it off, but her heart betrayed her with an uneven beat. "Please. I was just looking around."
"Sure you were," he teased.
The night carried on, filled with music, dancing, and too many inside jokes. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to focus on her friends, her gaze kept drifting back to the man at the bar. Each time she did, she caught him looking too.
When the party began to wind down, Nara said her goodbyes and stepped outside. The cool night air brushed against her skin, carrying the faint scent of rain.
She turned back one last time, and there he was, still inside, eyes following her through the glass.
Their worlds hadn't collided yet, but she felt it in her bones. Something had begun.
Could one glance really do this? she wondered. Maybe. Or maybe it was just the start of something she wasn't ready for but couldn't stop if she tried.