Pinky Promise (En)

Chapter 1: 7 days before the big day

The Château de Tourreau stands before us, majestic and bathed in the golden light of the sun. It's so grand, almost unreal. The perfect place to host our wedding. I squeeze Niall's hand—my future husband—with a smile.
"So, what do you think?"

Niall spins around, his eyes sparkling with happiness. "It's... perfect. Really."

I return his smile, but a thought crosses my mind.
"Yeah, it's amazing... But I hope you've been listening to what I told you."

He looks at me, a little lost. "What are you talking about?"

I raise an eyebrow, taking on a mock-serious tone. "You know exactly what—tradition!"

He bursts into laughter. "Oh no, not this again! Don't tell me you're going to bring up the whole 'no sharing a room before the wedding' thing?"

I cross my arms, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. "Exactly. No sharing a room. We're respecting tradition, Niall."

Niall pretends to think deeply, his eyes wide. "Wait, so you're telling me we're going to sleep separately for an entire week?"

I nod, my tone light and playful. "Yes, and guess what? No kisses before the wedding either. We need to keep some mystery alive!"

His eyes widen in mock horror. "No kisses? Are you trying to torture me? How do you expect me to survive a whole week without my hugs and cuddles?" He pauses, then adds with a cheeky grin, "This feels like a setup, Delilah. A test of my willpower!"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Don't worry, Niall, it's just to keep things exciting. You'll see—it'll feel even more special after."

He throws his hands up, as if admitting defeat. "Alright, alright. But you know I'm going to be a perfect gentleman all week, right? Just meditating on our future together... with my books and mismatched socks."

I burst out laughing, imagining the scene. "I'm sure you'll survive. In the meantime, you can practice for the wedding. I want to see a real prince charming at that altar!"

Niall strikes a princely pose, raising his hand as if greeting an imaginary crowd. "Should we rehearse in front of the mirror, just to make sure I get it right?"

I laugh even harder. "Yes, but this time, without the mismatched socks, okay?"

The conversation makes me smile, but deep down, a small unease lingers. I focus on Niall's laughter, on his tender gestures, but part of me feels tense. I know that after all this time, there will be difficult reunions ahead, but I push the thought aside for now.

In the afternoon, the guests start to arrive, filling the air with joy and excitement. Louis, Maria, Zayn, Liam, and Claire show up, followed by Fleur. The house buzzes with laughter and chatter. Yet, I feel a slight pang in my chest. Every car engine I hear makes me jump. Because I know he'll be here soon. And I can't stop myself from feeling nervous. I'm not even sure why I'm so anxious.

Louis walks over, smiling as usual. "So, how's the pre-wedding week going? Have you managed to convince Niall not to sleep in the same room as you?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Yes, and you know what? He's preparing to meditate all week. He told me he's going to spend his time with his books and mismatched socks."

Louis bursts out laughing. "Oh my God, I need to see this. I hope he can actually survive without you. Who knows—maybe he'll become a monk by the end of the week."

I pretend to think seriously. "You know what, Louis? If it calms him down, I'll get him a meditation kit and some scented candles. I'm sure it'll help."

Louis raises his eyebrows, looking mock-shocked. "You know what? That's a perfect gift. But don't get your hopes up—he'll probably come looking for you after one day without a cuddle. He'll need his hugs to make it through."

I laugh again, but a thought crosses my mind. What if Louis is right? What if it really becomes hard to stay apart for the whole week?

The laughter from our conversation lifts my spirits a little, but I still feel a bit on edge. Niall seems to notice the shift in my mood and quietly joins me by the window, where I've slipped away to get a moment alone.

"Hey," he says, resting a hand on my shoulder. "You alright?"

I sigh, my gaze still fixed on the horizon. "It's just... I'm a little nervous, you know? All of this... it's starting to feel so real. And I know he's going to get here soon. It feels strange knowing we'll see each other again after all this time. I'm wondering how it's going to go."

Niall leans in slightly, a soft smile on his face. "Look, we don't know how it'll go, but you've got everything you need right here with me. No matter what happens, I'm here for you. And I'm sure it'll all work out. We'll handle it together."

I glance at Niall, a shy smile tugging at my lips. "Thank you. You really are perfect, you know?"

He shakes his head, a playful smile appearing. "I try my best. And trust me, we're going to have plenty of laughs this week—tradition or no tradition."

Then, all of a sudden, I hear it. The sound of an engine getting closer, distinct and familiar. My heart races. It's him.

I try to hide my unease, but it's too late. Niall sees the instant change in my eyes. "Want to step outside? We can go for a walk. It might help you relax."

I nod, unable to say much. But before I can move, the door swings open.

And there he is. Harry.

I glance at him quickly, trying not to let my emotions show. He steps into the room, his expression a little uncertain, offering a brief smile to everyone but avoiding my gaze for too long. It hurts. Everything that used to be so easy between us now feels locked, frozen.

He approaches Niall, greeting him warmly, but he doesn't say a word to me. Not a single word. The silence feels like a knife to my chest.

I discreetly turn to Niall, seeking some reassurance in his eyes. I hate this distance. This coldness between us. Why does it have to be so hard?

Niall squeezes my hand gently and whispers with infinite kindness, "It's going to be okay. We're in this together."

But deep down, I can't help wondering... Sofia, what am I supposed to do now? We promised we'd be friends for life.