The next morning, warm sun rays slithered in through a small crack of a window of a six storey apartment, a figure stirred on the king sized bed on the fourth floor.
Aria opened her eyes, still dazed she laid still. Then a notification popped in her phone on the bedside table. She stood up and walked to the study.
The soft hum of the computers filled the apartment, punctuated by the occasional click of keys. She was almost immersed in tracing a tricky network breach when a loud, insistent knock on the door made her jump.
Aria's POV
"Aria! Open up, Now!" Lina's voice rang, cheerful and impossible to ignore.
I sighed, pausing my work. "Lina… it's early."
"Early? It's almost noon!" she called, leaning against the doorframe with that mischievous grin that always made me roll my eyes. "And I come bearing snacks."
She stepped in before I could stop her, arms full of paper bags. The smell of fresh pastries and coffee immediately filled the room. "I know you survive on cold coffee and instant noodles, but even hackers deserve a little pampering."
I set my fingers on the keyboard again, but Lina's eyes caught mine. "You've been locked up in here all week, Aria. You need a break. Come with me shopping—just a few hours. Fresh air, real people, maybe even a little fun."
I shook my head, trying to smile. "You know I don't… I don't do that kind of thing. Come on I get nervous when I'm around people."
She dropped onto the sofa, the bags rustling beside her. "I know, I know. But I also know when my friend is shutting herself away. And that's not good for anyone, especially you."
Her voice softened, just a hint of worry peeking through. "You spend so much of your time in the four walls of this apartment, in the shadows… but you don't have to be alone all the time. I care about you, Aria. And I hate seeing you ignore the world and yourself."
I felt a strange tug at my chest, something I didn't often allow. Lina always had this way of seeing through the walls I built. "I'm… okay," I said quietly, though even I wasn't sure it was entirely true.
"Okay?" she echoed, standing and planting a hand gently on my shoulder. "You're brilliant, Aria. Strong. Smart. But even the strongest people need a friend. I'm not asking for a big adventure—just a little normalcy, a little light. A little shopping, please?"
I looked at her, really looked, and saw the warmth, the sincerity. My chest tightened. "Maybe… a little light wouldn't hurt," I admitted, surprising myself.
Her smile lit up the room. "Good. That's settled, then. Shopping and pastries here we come. You can't hide behind the codes forever."
I laughed softly, the sound a rare treat even for me. "Fine. But only if you promise not to drag me into a crowd of people screaming for selfies or gossip."
"Deal," she said, eyes twinkling. " Now go freshen up, but just so you know… I'll be here, always. Shadow or no shadow, Aria. I've got you."
And for a moment, I allowed myself to believe her. One I will come to regret.
The air outside felt different—louder, brighter, and somehow impossibly messy. I kept my hoodie pulled tight, sunglasses shielding my face, trying not to draw attention. Lina, of course, ignored all subtlety.
"Relax, Ghost," she said, tugging my arm as we approached the mall. "No one's going to bite you. Well… except for salespeople, maybe."
I gave her a flat look. "I handle humans better through keyboards than in person. And stop calling me Ghost, I have a name and I don't want people knowing the top tier hacker they are looking for is me."
She laughed, spinning me around. "That's why you need this! Fresh air, real faces, maybe even some retail therapy to fix your mood. And about people not knowing your real identity, it's not possible, they will come to know one day. "
I tried to argue, but when she pushed me into the first store, I realized how little I actually did this. I didn't know where to look first, and the bright colors of clothing made my head spin. Lina, on the other hand, seemed like a whirlwind, picking up outfits, holding them up, and insisting, "Try this!"
I muttered something noncommittal, but she ignored it and practically shoved a soft sweater into my hands. "It'll look amazing on you!"
I glanced at the mirror reluctantly. The sweater… wasn't terrible. In fact, it was kind of nice. I shifted uncomfortably, half embarrassed, half curious about the way it softened my usual techy, dark vibe.
"You see?" Lina said, arms crossed smugly. "Step one: admit that you might—just might—like being out here."
We wandered the aisles, Lina chattering about shoes, accessories, and how she was going to drag me into a spa next. I was quiet, letting the noise wash over me, but slowly I felt the tension in my shoulders ease.
After a while, we found a quiet corner with a small café. Lina ordered hot chocolate for both of us and leaned across the table, her eyes softening. "Aria… I know you like your walls, your code, your little perfect world. But it's okay to let people in. Even me. Even if it's just a little bit."
I stirred my drink, unsure if I was ready to admit anything. "It's… complicated. People are messy."
"And people are also worth it," she said simply. "You let me in. That's how I know there's someone in there who deserves some sunlight too. You don't have to be perfect or untouchable to be amazing. Let them know the real you. Believe me."
I blinked, the warmth in my chest catching me off guard. Lina always had this uncanny ability to see right through me—and somehow make me believe that being seen wasn't a weakness.
"Okay," I murmured finally, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Maybe… a little sunlight and socialising won't hurt."
Her grin was victorious. "Good. Step two: shopping success. Step three: repeat until you laugh at yourself enough to remember life outside code. Step four: get yourself a boyfriend. Girl, you need to go out on dates, you're really missing out on a lot."
I laughed softly, the sound rare and unguarded, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. And for the first time, I didn't mind letting someone in—even if it was just Lina… for now.