The night had wrapped the town in silence.Streetlights blinked gently in the distance.The breeze through the window carried the faint scent of wet grass and moonlight.And somewhere far away, a dog barked once before the world went still again.Everything felt calm.

Still.

Peaceful.

But not her heart.

Because while the world slept…

Kiara was wide awake.

Lying on her bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, pillow hugged tightly to her chest — her mind refused to rest.Thoughts spun in quiet circles.

Will he come tomorrow?

She didn’t say the name.

She didn’t have to.

Her heart already knew who she meant.

Aarav Bhaiya.

The boy with the soft smile,

the sharp game,

and those eyes that still lived in her mind like they had carved a place for themselves.She sighed gently, the kind of sigh that carries unspoken questions.

> "Maybe he won’t come… maybe he has practice… or college…"

But then another part of her whispered—

> "But maybe he will."

Her fingers clutched the pillow a little tighter.She wasn’t sure why she cared so much.

She’d met him only once.

And yet…

the thought of seeing him again tomorrow felt like the only thing keeping her heart awake tonight.

The wind fluttered the curtain slightly.Moonlight spilled across her floor.

She turned to her side, buried her face into her pillow, and whispered so softly that even the night had to lean in to hear—

> “Please… come tomorrow.”

The curtain swayed gently.

Kiara's thoughts had started to quiet down — not disappear, just… soften.

Aarav’s face still lingered in the corners of her mind, like the aftertaste of a sweet memory. And while her heart still whispered questions… Her eyelids, heavy with dreams and quiet hopes, slowly gave in.

The last thing she thought before sleep took over was—

> “I hope… I see him again.”

And with that, she drifted off.The night, finally, held her in peace.

(Morning had arrived quietly)

Golden light spilled across the room like a whisper.Birds chirped softly outside.A cool breeze slipped through the curtain, brushing against Kiara’s cheek.

Still wrapped in her blanket, Kiara shifted slightly.

Her hair was messy, one leg hanging off the bed, and her hand still gently curled around the edge of her pillow.

She wasn’t awake yet.

But her face?

That soft little smile still lingered on her lips — like her dreams had been made of amber eyes and soft hellos.

And then—

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The alarm screamed like it had no chill.

Kiara groaned, pulling the blanket over her face.

“Mmmm… no. Just five more minutes,” she whispered, eyes still shut.

But peace?

Peace was never allowed in the world of Tara.

Tara stormed into the room like a caffeinated tornado.

“KIARA!” she yelled, flinging the curtain wide open.

“Get up! It’s 6:12!”

Kiara didn’t move.

Tara marched closer, hands on hips.

“You literally begged me to wake you early. ‘Tara, don’t let me miss the walk. Tara, what if he comes!’”

Kiara’s eyes opened—just a little.

She turned her face away. “I said that in sleep. That doesn’t count.”

Tara narrowed her eyes.

“Dreaming about Aarav Bhaiya doesn’t count either, madam.”

Kiara shot her a look.

Tara grinned.

“Caught ya.”

Kiara sat up slowly, hair a total mess, cheeks a little pink.

She muttered, “You're too loud for 6 a.m.”

“And you’re too in love for Day Two.”

“I'm not—!”

“You are.” Tara grinned wider.

“Now get up. Today’s park day. Again.”

Kiara stood, stretching with a sleepy yawn.

But her heart? Already racing.

Because even though she didn’t say it out loud…

> She was wondering the same thing.

> “Will he be there today?”