📖 Chapter 1 – When the Balloon Touched Her
The streets were calm. Neon signs flickered in soft colors outside the cozy little café called Come Over. It was night, but the city still hummed in the background — faint traffic, distant music, and a breeze that carried secrets in the air.
Aya stood by the counter, holding a warm coffee cup.
She wore a white top tucked into a pair of denim jeans. Her brownish hair gently moved with the wind, and her pink headphones rested over her ears, quietly playing the soft tune of Janam Janam. It wasn't the lyrics that mattered — just the melody, the escape.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
She felt at peace... for once.
Suddenly, a balloon floated in front of her.
Startled, she reached out to catch it, but missed — spilling coffee on her top.
"Ugh... not again," she sighed, brushing at the wet spot.
But then... she saw it.
Her bracelet — a simple one with a round stone — was glowing. Not from the city lights, not from any reflection. It was glowing blue. Softly... steadily.
Aya stared at it, frozen.
A strange feeling crept over her chest. A memory? A whisper?
She muttered softly to herself,
"Ohhh... not again. Why does it feel…"
Her words drifted into silence.
She looked up. Across the street, next to a sleek black car, stood a tall boy in a long black jacket. His face was shadowed, but somehow… he felt familiar.
And then she saw it — behind him, a balloon vendor was slowly walking away…
All the balloons had been bought.
And they were flying toward her.
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> To be continued…