beyond the net - RAN TAKAHASHI. (ON HOLD)

027. train tickets

₊˚ . 🌱 ₊˚ ⌗﹒ﾟ.

── .✦ DECEMBER FOURTH, LATE EVENING.

the apartment was quiet as yn stepped through the door, kicking off her sneakers after a grueling day of volleyball practice. the crisp december air had followed her inside, and she shivered as she rubbed her hands together for warmth. the soft glow from the living room lights spilled into the hallway, and she knew without a doubt that alexis was there. it was hard to miss the dimness that had been hanging over her best friend for the past few days. yn could tell something was bothering her, but alexis hadn't opened up yet.

yn slipped off her jacket and made her way into the living room. sure enough, alexis was curled up on the couch, staring absently at the tv, though it wasn't even turned on. her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun, and the lines of stress were etched across her face. yn's heart sank. she hated seeing alexis this - so full of life normally, but clearly weighed down by something now.

"hey." yn greeted softly, her voice light as she dropped onto the couch beside her. she nudged alexis's shoulder with her own, hoping to coax a smile out of her. "you okay?"
alexis let out a deep sigh, her lips pressing into a thin line before she finally spoke. "i'm fine. just..." she paused, hesitating before the words tumbled out. "i wish i could spend my birthday with alessandro tomorrow. it's our birthday, you know? and we haven't seen each other in three months. i just... miss him."

yn's heart ached for her. alexis and alessandro shared the same birthday, which had always been a point of excitement for them. this year, though, was different. they were dating, but with their busy schedules pulling them in different directions, the reality of not spending it together was hitting alexis hard. and though alexis tried to play it off, yn could see right through her. the distance was taking its toll.

"well..." yn said, her tone light and teasing, "what if i told you we could make your birthday evening a little better?"
alexis's brow furrowed, her curiosity piqued. she glanced at yn, her sadness momentarily replaced with intrigue. "what are you talking about?"

yn grinned, leaning in closer. "let's order some takeout, put on a movie, and wait for midnight to ring in your birthday. i've got a little surprise for you."
alexis raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips despite her earlier mood. "a surprise? what kind of surprise?"

yn just winked, pressing a finger to her lips. "you'll have to wait and see. but trust me, it'll be worth it."
alexis let out a soft laugh, her first genuine one of the night. "alright, i'm in. takeout sounds good. as long as i don't have to choose what to order."

"already on it." yn said, grabbing her phone from the coffee table. she quickly pulled up the local delivery app, selecting their favorite spot. alexis didn't notice as yn sneakily added a tiramisù to the cart - the perfect birthday dessert for later.

with the order placed, yn turned to alexis, her face lighting up with excitement. "alright, let's find a movie. something light, something fun."
alexis grabbed the remote, scrolling through the options on their streaming service. "how about the devil wears prada? we haven't watched it in forever."