The office was quiet. Too quiet. Aeris zipped up the last of her camera equipment and straightened her bag strap over her shoulder. The fluorescent lights hummed softly above, casting long, tired shadows across the studio floor. She rubbed at her neck and glanced at her phone. The call from last night had left her feeling exposed in a way she wasn't used to. Her pulse had barely returned to normal, but the memory lingered. Her heartbeat faster than usual, cheeks still warm, and that faint, flustered smile she couldn't quite erase. Nyra had been right, of course. Bold. Daring. But Aeris wasn't sure if she was ready for that level of boldness. She walked toward the exit, pushing open the glass door with a soft creak. Outside, the evening air was cool, brushing against her face like a soft whisper. The streets were mostly empty, lit by the gentle glow of streetlights. Her mind wandered to Nyra's stories of honeymoon chaos, the laughter they had shared over the phone. She missed her friend's energy, the way she could make everything feel lighter, even decisions that terrified her. Aeris' pace slowed. She was lost in thought, feeling the lingering warmth of embarrassment, excitement, and something else she couldn't name. Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Her hand went to it instinctively.
The screen lit up with a number she didn't recognize. No name saved. Her thumb hovered over the answer button. She felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach, a faint twinge of anticipation that made her hesitate.
"…Hello?" she said cautiously.
A pause.
And then a voice. Deep, calm, teasing, impossibly familiar. "Good evening," it said.
Aeris' heart stuttered. She froze, hand tightening around the phone.
"Uh… good evening," she replied, trying to sound casual.
There was a faint, amused pause.
"I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time," the voice continued, smooth and measured.
Aeris' cheeks flushed. "…No. I… it's fine."
The voice hummed softly. "…I received your message."
Aeris blinked, her pulse quickening. Her mind raced. Who is this? The confidence in the tone? the subtle amusement? Hmm it has to be him… but how? and so soon?
"…Oh," she whispered.
"Yes," the voice said, low and deliberate. "I thought it best to call."
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, her chest tightening. She could feel it—the tension, the curiosity, the embarrassment from last night mingling with something dangerous and thrilling.
"…I see," she said, voice trembling slightly.
There was a pause, heavy with unspoken words.
"And… thank you for reaching out," the voice said finally, almost softer, almost… intimate.
Aeris closed her eyes, steadying her breath. "…You're welcome," she murmured. Another pause, as though the caller was deciding how much to reveal.
"I'll be in touch," the voice said, calm, teasing, and then, abruptly.
—click.
The line went dead.
Aeris stood frozen on the sidewalk for a long moment, heart hammering, fingers gripping her bag. She didn't need to see the name to know. The city lights blurred around her as she exhaled slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. And deep down, beneath the embarrassment, the anticipation, and the flush of her own boldness from last night, one thought settled clearly:
This isn't over.