into the sun

prologue: the spark in florence

The bar was nestled in the heart of Florence, a cozy space filled with the low hum of conversations and the clink of glasses. Lada wasn't much for crowded places, but tonight was different. She was in Italy, a place far away from her family's expectations and the confines of St. King Hospital. The end of her internship had finally arrived, and Dr. Tan, ever the social planner, insisted on celebrating this milestone with their friends.

He was the one who suggested renting the bar out, knowing Lada's discomfort with crowds. Though Lada hated the idea of seeming ostentatious, she was secretly thankful that Dr. Tan brought it up first. If he hadn't, she would have likely proposed the same thing, but she would have worried endlessly about how it would come across to their friends—whether it seemed pretentious or unnecessary.

Now, standing amidst the warm glow of the bar, surrounded only by her closest friends, Lada found herself truly able to relax. The intimate setting made everything feel special—something different from the heavy weight of expectations she was accustomed to.

Lada glanced toward the bar, her eyes catching on a bartender who stood out, even in the dim lighting. Her blond hair caught the warm hues of the overhead lights, and her smile—bright, sincere—seemed to spread an extra warmth through the room. The bartender moved with an ease that drew Lada's gaze. She had an infectious kind of energy that made Lada's curiosity bloom.

"Lada, you good?" Dr. Tan nudged her shoulder, drawing her out of her thoughts.

Lada blinked, turning her attention back to the table. She took a sip from her drink, letting the liquid burn just enough to loosen the tension in her shoulders. "Yeah, I'm good," she said, her lips curving slightly. "Just... thinking."

Dr. Tan followed her gaze to the bar, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Ah, thinking or admiring? You know, I heard they make great cocktails here. Maybe you should find out for yourself," he teased, his voice low enough for just her to hear.

Lada rolled her eyes, but the blush that crept up her cheeks betrayed her. "Maybe I will," she replied, surprising even herself. There was something about tonight—maybe it was the company, or the sense of freedom that came from being far from home, or the alcohol settling comfortably in her veins—that made her bolder than usual.

Dr. Tan grinned widely. "Now that's the spirit, my friend." 

With a deep breath and the comfort of liquid courage, Lada stood, weaving her way through the bar to approach the counter. She wasn't exactly used to flirting, or even talking to strangers without a carefully thought-out reason. But something pulled her to the bar—or more precisely, to her. The bartender's smile only seemed to grow as she noticed Lada approaching.

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Earn leaned against the counter, her eyes scanning the room. It wasn't her usual shift tonight—she was just helping out a friend who had called in a favor. The bar wasn't particularly crowded this time, which made her job less stressful, though she did find it curious that the entire place had been reserved for just a small group of people. The group seemed lively and close-knit, laughing together at a table in the center.

Her gaze moved past them, then returned as she caught sight of someone who looked different from the others— her . The woman had a quiet elegance to her, even while sitting amidst her friends. Earn couldn't quite put her finger on what made her stand out—perhaps the way she held herself, the reserved way she smiled. There was something intriguing about her. Earn found herself paying extra attention, wondering what had brought someone like her to this cozy bar tonight.

She had never been the type to shy away from meeting people, but there was something about this particular woman that made her stomach flutter. Earn turned her focus back to mixing a drink, stealing one last glance at the table, hoping it wasn't too obvious.