Until a voice called irene from behind
"Irene?", she heared from behind her, She froze slightly.
She turned to look and saw a boy standing a few steps away slightly older, relaxed posture, a bright smile on his face.
"Wow… it's really you," he said.
Irene's eyes widened slightly. "Ralph?"
He laughed. "how have you been"
"fine," Irene said, standing up and hug him
"Is that your friend?", Ralph asked her
" Ohh sorry, mia this is my cousing, Ralph, and Ralph this is my bestfriend mia", irene introduced
"Ohh nice to meet you", Ralph said waving at her
" Nice to meet you too", she waved back at him
"How come i haven't seen you before", mia asked ralph
" I grew up in canada,so i came here for schooling and stuffs", Ralph explained
"Ohhh, that's nice"mia replied
" Hey, ralph where have you been, i've been searching for you", A boy said to ethan as he was coming from where ralph came from the other time
"Ohh, sorry, i seen my longtime cousin", ralph replied to the boy
" So, this is my cousine, and her bestfriend and then this my friend nicholas, we've been friends since highschool", Ralph introduced
"Hey", nicholas said as he shake hands with the two
" You wanna join? ", irene invited them with a soft smile
" Sure", nicholas and ralph said together as they pulled the chair to sit
The two ordered food and all of them chat and eat together
"So, nicholas are you from canada too?", irene asked
" Yeah but not really, my parent separated and my dad lives in canada and mom lives in America", nicholas explained
"Oh," Mia said softly. "That must be… a lot."
Nicholas shrugged a little. "I got used to it."
There was a brief silence before Ralph leaned forward slightly. "So you guys are just chilling like this every weekend?"
Mia laughed. "Not every weekend. Irene is usually being usually, and she was not really a party-person
Irene turned to her quickly. "Mia."
"What?" Mia grinned innocently. "It's true."
"You talk to much", irene joked
For a moment, the table settled into easy conversation again , jokes, small stories, laughter
Mia leaned slightly toward Irene, lowering her voice.
" I like your cousin, you don't tell me that you have a cousin",mia whispered.
Irene blinked. "What?"
Mia sat back quickly, trying to act casual. "Nevermind"
But her ears were slightly red.
Ralph, meanwhile, was laughing at something Nicholas said, completely unaware.
Irene stared at Mia for a second,Then she smirked.
"Oh… I see.", Ralph replied to what nicholas said
As the plates slowly emptied and drinks were finished, the energy naturally began to settle.
Ralph checked his phone. "We should probably move "
"Move where?" Mia asked, stretching slightly.
"Anywhere," he said. "There's a small rooftop lounge not far from here. Chill place… better view too."
Mia's eyes lit up immediately. "Rooftop? I'm in."
Irene raised a brow. "Of course you are, cut me in too"
By the time they left the restaurant it was already dark
The streets had started to glow under streetlights and cars passing slowly
They walked in a group Ralph leading, Mia beside him asking endless questions, Nicholas and Irene slightly behind.
"You always this loud?" Nicholas asked Mia with a small smile.
"Only when I'm having fun," she replied instantly.
Ralph laughed. "So that means she's always loud now."
"Excuse me?" Mia gasped dramatically, making Irene chuckle quietly.
The rooftop lounge wasn't far. Just like a five minute walk and a quick elevator ride later, they stepped into a space that immediately felt different from downstairs.
Soft music played in the background,Fairy lights lined the edges.
And the city stretched out beneath them like a glowing map.
Mia stopped the moment she saw it. "Okay… this is actually beautiful."
"I told you," Ralph said proudly, slipping his hands into his pockets as he watched Mia admire the view.
"No seriously," Mia said, turning slowly in a circle. "This place looks like something from a movie."
Nicholas chuckled softly. "hmm"
Irene laughed quietly as they moved farther into the lounge.
The atmosphere felt warm and relaxing. A few people sat around talking softly while others leaned against the railing, taking pictures of the city lights below. The cool evening breeze balanced perfectly with the soft music playing in the background.
"This is nice," Irene admitted.
Ralph smirked slightly. "See? I have good taste."
"Don't let that get to your head," Nicholas said immediately.
"Too late," Ralph replied, earning a laugh from everyone.
They settled around one of the empty couches near the edge of the rooftop.
Mia immediately pulled out her phone. "Picture time."
Irene groaned dramatically. "We just got here."
"And?" Mia shot back. "Memories don't create themselves."
Ralph shook his head with a smile while Irene sat beside Mia, watching her struggle to angle the camera properly.
"Why are you holding it like that?" Irene laughed.
"shut up", she replied
"Here," Ralph said, taking the phone from her hand. "I'll do it."
Mia blinked once. "Oh."
Irene immediately noticed the slight change in her expression and smirked quietly to herself.
Ralph stood in front of them, holding the phone up. "Everybody closer."
Nicholas moved beside Irene while Mia quickly stood beside Ralph instead.
"Ready?" Ralph asked.
"Wait, my hair—", mia said
"Mia! ", irene called
"Okay fine!"
The flash went off,Then another, And another.
Soon they were laughing more than actually posing.
At one point, Mia almost lost balance while trying to trying to lean against the railing for a picture.
Ralph grabbed her wrist quickly before she slipped.
"Careful," he said softly
Mia froze for half a second before laughing "I'm fine."
Their conversations split naturally sometimes everyone talking together, sometimes in pairs.
Mia and Ralph argued over music taste.
Nicholas teased Irene about how quiet she was.
And Irene,For the first time in days, she felt alive and relaxed
Irene leaned back slightly against the couch, staring out at the glowing city.
The lights below looked beautiful from up there before a strange feeling brushed past her again.
Her smile faded slightly.
"You okay? ", ralph asked
Irene blinked, snapping out of it. "Yeah."
But even as she answered, Her senses sharpened again.
The music around her felt quieter as the wind stronger.
And beneath all of it that familiar metallic scent returned.