Zaire has waited three long years to reunite with her best friend, Aiyana. Their joy is unmistakable, but her excitement quickly shifts when she meets Aiyana's boyfriend-Omari, the man Zaire once loved deeply.
Unbeknownst to Aiyana, Zaire and Omari...
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I've always believed that the universe has a peculiar way of guiding us toward the people we're meant to meet. Sometimes, it's subtle, like a gentle nudge, and other times, it's a moment so striking you can't help but feel it was meant to be. That night, it felt like the latter.
It was late, one of those humid summer evenings when the heat clings to your skin even after the sun sets. I was restless, bored, and looking for any excuse to escape my aunt's house. The corner store was my out.
I didn't expect anything remarkable as I pushed through the squeaky glass door, the familiar hum of the fluorescent lights above barely cutting through the thick air. I was halfway down the snack aisle when I saw him, and everything stopped.
He was standing by the refrigerators, completely unaware of me. His back was turned, but I could feel something even from where I stood. A quiet pull, a connection I couldn't explain. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark braids catching the faint glow of the lights overhead.
I tried to keep my eyes on the chips and candy, but it was impossible. Something about him was magnetic. And then, as if sensing my gaze, he turned.
Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, the world outside those old, buzzing lights didn't exist. He smiled, and it was as if everything in me shifted.
"Sorry, am I in your way?" he asked, his voice smooth but casual, as if this was just another normal moment in his day.
"No, you're fine," I replied, though my heart was racing in a way that felt anything but fine. I grabbed a random snack from the shelf to distract myself, but the feeling in my chest lingered.
I thought that would be the end of it-a passing glance, a moment I'd forget by the time I walked back home. But when we left the store at the same time, I knew that wasn't the case. We walked side by side, exchanging polite remarks about the weather, the city, the mundanities that usually fade away before they begin. Yet, with him, it all seemed important.
At the end of the block, I expected us to part ways, but instead, he paused, turning toward me. "There's a place not far from here that serves great coffee. Want to join me?"
I should've hesitated. I didn't even know his name yet. But something told me to say yes. So I did.
We sat outside a small café, the kind of spot that stays open late, but only a handful of people know about it. We talked for hours like we'd done this a hundred times before. His voice was warm, his laughter rich, and he made me forget the world around us.
He told me about his life-his job, his ambitions, his love for old jazz records-and I listened, captivated by the ease with which he shared. But it wasn't just his words. It was the way he looked at me like he saw something in me no one else ever had.
I don't remember when the conversation shifted, but I knew something had changed when we said our goodbyes that night. I wasn't sure what it was or what it would become, but I knew it wasn't something I could easily let go of.
I didn't know how important he'd become to me. Or how complicated things would get. But for that one night, it was just us, and that was all that mattered.
Decided to make this chapter short and sweet and I hope it's obvious that it's a throwback lol. Please make sure to comment and vote I want to talk to everyone.
