The venue sparkled with soft fairy lights, a private garden café rented out for the night. Laughter and music filled the air as old classmates mingled over drinks, selfies, and stories that felt both distant and familiar.
So Ri stepped inside, heels clicking confidently against the floor. Her maroon dress hugged her figure, her makeup bold and flawless.
"Where's Mira?" someone asked.
"She's probably too shy to show up," said Yo Ri, sipping from her wine glass, smirking. "Or maybe she's just scared we'll ask her real questions. Like, what exactly is she doing with her life?"
So Ri didn't even blink. "Maybe she's just busy living it."
The group chuckled, not catching the edge in So Ri's voice. Still, as the laughter continued, her smile faded slightly.
She stepped aside, pulling out her phone, trying not to look worried. She hit Mira's contact no response. Straight to voicemail.
Her fingers gripped the phone tightly.
A familiar voice cut through the noise. "You okay?"
Jae Min stood nearby, hands in his pockets, his usual easy calm around him.
"Mira isn't here yet," So Ri said. "She said she'd come, but her phone's off. I'm.… getting nervous."
"She's not with Ares?" Jae Min asked, pulling his own phone out. "Maybe she went to see him."
They both tried calling Ares, but when he picked up, his voice was confused.
"She's not with me," Ares said. "I'll be there in ten."
Minutes passed. So Ri tried to look casual, but she was chewing her lip now. Jae Min stood beside her, eyes quietly scanning the crowd.
Then a ping.
A text lit up So Ri's phone:
[Mira]: Don't worry. My phone battery died. Just powered it on. Coming in 5 minutes.
So Ri let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"Crisis averted?" Jae Min asked.
"She's alive," So Ri said dramatically, shoving her phone into her clutch.
Ares arrived moments later, cool and sharp in his black suit, and walked up to them. So Ri rolled her eyes. "You could've told her to charge her phone."
"She's an adult," Ares muttered. "Mostly."
They stood near the entrance, all three of them facing the doorway when they heard the click of soft heels.
A hush, almost invisible but real, spread through the space.
There she was.
Mira.
Her dress was lavender, soft and flowing with a shimmer that caught the light as she walked. Tiny sparkles traced the sleeves and hem. Her hair was down, long waves tumbling over her shoulders. A soft pink tint glazed her lips, the gloss catching every glint.
She didn't look like a stranger.
She didn't look like someone new.
She looked like herself, just finally seen.
Jae Min's eyes widened. So Ri's jaw dropped slightly but then she grinned with pride.
"Well damn," So Ri whispered, elbowing Ares. "We really made her glow up."
Ares didn't respond at first. He just stared, something unreadable in his gaze.
Everyone in the room turned to look.
But Mira, walking in with calm, steady steps, didn't even blink. She wasn't here to impress. She was just here…. finally, as herself