EX-istential Crisis

Chapter 12: The Girls Night

Mira breathed in the cool evening air as she and her friends, Annika, Ran, and Mash, pulled into the Airbnb driveway. The glowing lights spilling from inside made it look warm and inviting—a perfect setting for a girls' night. Sylvie had really outdone herself by organizing this weekend getaway. She'd reserved a cozy Airbnb complete with a pool, games, and even a karaoke machine. And knowing Sylvie, the night wouldn't end without some impromptu singing sessions. Mira couldn't wait for the night to begin.

They all stepped out of the car, arms loaded with bags of snacks, drinks, and games. Inside, Ainslein was already lounging on the couch, flipping through her phone with an amused look on her face. As soon as she saw them, she sat up, grinning. "Ah, the famous crew arrives. I've been dying to hear what's been going on with you all lately."

Sylvie, who was setting up the snack table, nodded in agreement. "I've been hearing bits and pieces, but I know there's way more to the story. So, spill it! What's the scoop on Nelly and all the... incidents?"

Mira blushed slightly as she exchanged a glance with Annika, Mash and Ran. She knew exactly what Sylvie and Ainslein were referring to—the recent events had been chaotic, awkward, and, in some ways, oddly romantic. Taking a deep breath, she sat down, preparing herself for what was bound to be an evening full of laughter, teasing, and probably a few embarrassing moments.

"Well," Mira began, "it's been... eventful. But I guess the most memorable thing so far was the karaoke duet."

Immediately, Ran and Annika burst into laughter. "Oh my god, yes! That was legendary," Ran said, nudging Mira. "You have to tell them everything!"

Mira smiled, remembering that night vividly. "It all started when Nelly was feeling pretty down after... well, you know. I felt responsible for it, and I wanted to cheer him up, so I suggested entering a karaoke contest together. I thought it would be fun."

"Cheer him up?" Ainslein asked with a raised brow, clearly amused. "So you just wanted to cheer him up, huh?"

Mira felt her face heat up. "Yes! I mean, he needed a distraction, and I thought it would be good for him."

Sylvie, already intrigued, leaned forward. "And then what happened?"

Mira's smile widened as she recalled the moment. "We ended up singing 'Die with a Smile.' It's such a heartfelt song, and something about performing it together just... clicked. We weren't just singing; it felt like we were connecting on a deeper level."

Annika chimed in, laughing. "You forgot the part where Nelly carried you, princess-style!"

Ainslein's eyes went wide. "Wait, what?"

Mira, blushing even harder now, nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, after the song, Nelly just... picked me up. It was so unexpected, but it felt right in the moment. I guess we got a bit caught up in the performance."

Sylvie's jaw dropped. "And you didn't tell us about this earlier because...?"

Mira waved her hands defensively. "I didn't think it was that big of a deal!"

Ran laughed, rolling her eyes. "Right. Says the girl who was basically swept off her feet in front of an entire crowd."

Mash, smirking, added, "And don't forget the fact that Ryan was recording the whole thing. You should've seen them trying to reenact the princess carry afterward. Neisan almost dropped Ryan!"

The room exploded into laughter, picturing Nelly's friends clumsy attempt at being romantic.

"Oh, and get this," Mira said, still smiling, "after the contest, Nelly asked for my number. It was cute... he was all nervous about it."