Selene's POV:
The stars above Paris blinked softly, casting silver glimmers over the quiet rooftops. The city below felt distant—as if only Antonio and I existed in this little world of ours. His fingers were interlaced with mine, thumb tracing circles over my knuckles. The breeze tousled my hair, and he gently tucked a strand behind my ear.
"Selene," he began, voice lower than the whisper of the wind, "I'm serious about us getting married?"
My heart fluttered—not in panic, but in that soft ache of anticipation. I looked at him—his eyes glowing with certainty, vulnerability, and a thousand unspoken dreams.
His expression turned hopeful, but I wasn't done. I let my thumb brush against his.
I exhale slowly. "I also think… we're building something really beautiful right now. And maybe we don't need to rush into marriage just yet. Maybe we could build our home—our space—first. Grow into it together. And after a few months… when it feels right, we'll know."
He stayed quiet for a moment, processing. Then he smiled—slow, sure, and impossibly warm.
"I love that," he murmured. "That we build it with our own rhythm, not anyone else's."
I leaned against his shoulder. "Exactly. Let's make our own timing sacred."
He kissed the top of my head, resting his cheek there.
"Okay," he whispered. "We build our future brick by brick. And someday… when it feels like it's glowing from the inside out—we seal it with vows."
And just like that, we weren't hurrying. We were breathing. Creating. Living love, not just dreaming of it.
——————The next day ——————
The lights were dim and golden in Ayra's living room, scattered across the ceiling like sleepy stars. A gentle breeze filtered through the open window, and laughter echoed softly, mingling with the scent of warm cocoa and lingering pizza.
We sat in a cozy circle—me beside Antonio on the couch, Ayra and Eliot curled up with pillows on the rug. A half-finished bottle of sparkling peach soda sat in the center, our chosen spinner for the night.
Ayra grinned, her eyes mischievous as she announced, "Let's play Truth or Dare. It's long overdue."
Antonio raised a brow. "A little nostalgic, don't you think?"
I smirked. "Nostalgic and dangerous."
Eliot chuckled. "All the best things are."
The bottle spun and landed on me first. Of course.
"Selene," Ayra said with glee. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth," I replied, crossing my arms. "Go easy on me."
Her smile widened. "What was your first impression of Antonio?"
Antonio straightened playfully. "Oho, now this I want to hear."
I looked at him—his dark hair slightly tousled, warm eyes watching me like I held every answer he ever needed—and smiled. "Honestly? I thought you looked like a hero straight out of a movie scene. A life-saver. Tall, quiet, strong… like someone who just walked out of a dramatic rainstorm after rescuing a child or something."
Eliot laughed. "Wow, we've got Mr. Action Hero over here."
Antonio leaned in. "And then?"
I raised an eyebrow. "And then… I heard you speak. And realized you weren't a fantasy. You were very real. Calm, kind… and sharp. Disarming, actually."
His thumb brushed my knuckles under the table. "You make 'real' sound like the best thing in the world."
The game continued. Antonio spun and it landed on Eliot.
"Dare," Eliot said with confidence.
Antonio grinned. "Call your sister and sing the chorus of your most embarrassing childhood song."
"Oh no," Eliot groaned. "Not that."
A moment later, we were all dying of laughter as Eliot sang "Baby Shark" into the phone, and Elise's shrieks of laughter could be heard from across the city.
Next, Eliot spun for Ayra. She picked truth.
"When did you know you were in love with Eliot?" he asked softly.
Ayra's expression melted. "When he brought that stray kitten to my boutique. Said it reminded him of me—strong-willed and beautiful… even when it scratched him."
Eliot turned crimson. "Still have the scar."
My turn again. I spun the bottle—it pointed to Antonio.
I couldn't help it. "Truth or dare?"
He smirked. "Dare."
Ayra and Eliot leaned forward, already expecting mischief. "Oh, I dare you," I said, "to whisper something to me that will make me blush."
Antonio gave a crooked grin. He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear as he murmured, "If we weren't surrounded right now, I'd have you on my lap, my hands on your hips, telling you how long I've dreamt of kissing every inch of you until you forget your own name."
I froze.
The blush shot to my face so fast I was practically steaming.
"SELENE!" Ayra shrieked. "You're glowing!"
Eliot choked on his drink. "What did he say?!"
I covered my face. "Not. Sharing. Ever."
Antonio just leaned back smugly, clearly pleased with himself.
As the game rolled on, we revealed childhood secrets, laughed at terrible dares, and shared truths we hadn't even realized we needed to say aloud.
The final spin landed on me again, and I looked to Antonio.
"Truth," he said, his gaze softening.
I asked, quietly, "Who do you live the most,Me or your Ex Alina?"
He didn't even hesitate. "If I have to answer the question honestly, i would definitely want to tell you that no body could be at your place in my heart. You're my everything,mh world. Yes I was in relationship with Alina before but the feeling for you right now cannot be measured with her's because it was just infatuation but nothing. There was no real feelings, if there was something was only just infatuation. Nothing more."
And for a moment, everything stilled.
Not just the room—but my heart.