Stars in Your Eyes | AnunKamol

Chapter 8: Double Date

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the apartment building, casting a warm glow that promised a beautiful day ahead. Naomi and Poppy, carrying a basket of snacks they had picked up at the festival, made their way to Lila's door. They knocked gently, and after a moment, Lila's familiar voice called out, "Come in!"

Naomi pushed the door open, and they found Lila sitting in her favourite chair, her cane resting against the armrest. She turned her head towards the sound of their footsteps, a smile spreading across her face. "Good morning, you two."

"Morning, Lila!" Poppy chirped, placing the basket on the table. "We brought you some treats from the festival last night."

Lila's smile widened. "Thank you! You two are always so thoughtful."

Naomi sat down next to Lila, while Poppy began unpacking the basket. "Lila, when is Anna coming over today?"

"Sometime in the afternoon," Lila replied. "She usually comes by after lunch."

Poppy, arranging the snacks on a plate, looked up. "Do you and Anna have any plans for today? If not, we were thinking of inviting you both over for dinner. Just across the hall."

Lila's face lit up. "That sounds wonderful. I'm sure Anna would like that too. She's probably getting bored having dinner with only me all the time."

Naomi and Poppy exchanged a quick glance, brushing over Lila's comment. Naomi patted Lila's hand gently. "We'll see you both tonight then. It'll be fun."

Lila nodded, her excitement palpable. "I'll tell Anna as soon as she gets here. Thank you for inviting us."

Naomi stood up, giving Lila a quick hug. "We're looking forward to it. See you tonight."

With that, Naomi and Poppy left Lila's apartment, closing the door softly behind them. As they walked back to their own place, Poppy linked her arm with Naomi's. "I think tonight will be good for everyone. A little bit of company and laughter can go a long way."

Naomi nodded, her mind still partly on Anna. "Yeah, it'll be nice. And maybe we can get Anna to relax a bit too."

The rest of the morning passed quickly as Naomi and Poppy prepared their apartment for dinner. They set the table, cooked a delicious meal, and even added a few extra touches to make the evening special. Naomi couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and worry, hoping that Anna would open up if she needed to.

As the afternoon sun began to dip towards the horizon, Lila sat by her window, listening for the familiar sound of Anna's footsteps. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement at the prospect of an evening spent with friends. And though she couldn't see the world around her, she felt a sense of warmth and connection that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

When Anna finally arrived, Lila greeted her with the news of the dinner invitation. "Poppy and Naomi want us to join them for dinner tonight. I hope that's okay?"

Anna smiled, her heart warming at the thought. "Of course, Lila. That sounds lovely. It'll be nice to spend time with them."

As they prepared to head over to Naomi and Poppy's apartment, Lila felt a surge of gratitude for the people in her life. And though she couldn't see the future, she knew that with friends like Anna, Naomi, and Poppy, she would never be truly alone.

The evening promised laughter, connection, and perhaps a chance for Anna to let down her guard, even if just for a little while. And in the comfort of friendship, they all found a small refuge from their worries, at least for one night.

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The sun was shining brightly as Naomi and Poppy moved around their apartment, tidying up. They had turned their cleaning into a playful game, with Poppy trying to dodge Naomi's attempts to catch her and steal the dusting cloth.