Love in the Spotlight

New Beginnings

Gianna couldn't stop thinking about the conversation with Hana. The way they had clicked so easily made her stomach flutter, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She had been on plenty of casual chats, but this felt different. It felt... real.

The next day, as she sipped her coffee and scrolled through Instagram, her phone buzzed in her hand. It was a message from Hana.

"So, I've been thinking... How about we switch things up? We should facetime. No pressure, though. Just feel like we might have more to say face-to-face."

Gianna's heart skipped. She hadn't expected Hana to ask for something like this so soon. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she debated whether to agree. Part of her was nervous—she wasn't used to opening up to someone so quickly, especially not to someone she hadn't met in person. But then again, there was something easy about Hana. Something that made Gianna feel like maybe this could be different.

After a few moments, she finally typed out her response: "I think that sounds like a great idea. When?"

The reply came almost immediately: "How about later tonight? We can talk, maybe even sleep on the phone if you're up for it."

Gianna didn't have to think twice. "I'm in. Let's do it."

The rest of the day dragged on, her nerves building the closer it got to the evening. She had never been a huge fan of video calls, and the idea of talking to someone she hadn't met in person made her feel a little out of her comfort zone. But it wasn't just anyone—this was Hana. She wanted to get to know her better. And the butterflies in her stomach wouldn't let her ignore it.

As the hour approached, Gianna paced around her apartment, tidying up as best as she could. She didn't want to seem disorganized, or worse, like she wasn't taking it seriously. After checking her reflection in the mirror one last time, she finally sat down on her couch and grabbed her phone, her pulse quickening.

The notification popped up. Hana wants to video chat.

Gianna took a deep breath and accepted it.

Hana's face appeared on the screen, her hair long and messy, but her smile was what took Gianna by surprise. It was warm, inviting. She looked genuinely happy to be talking to her.

"Hey, Gianna," Hana said, her voice sounding even more familiar now. "It's really nice to finally see you. How's your day been?"

Gianna smiled back, her nerves easing as they exchanged glances. "Hey, Hana. My day's been good. Just... waiting for this call, I guess. How about you?"

Hana chuckled. "Same. I've been trying to kill time until this. It feels a little weird to be talking like this, huh?"

Gianna laughed. "Yeah, but in a good way. It's kind of exciting, don't you think?"

"Definitely." Hana's eyes sparkled as she leaned in a little closer to the camera. "So, tell me more about this fitness thing you're into. You said you like to be outside at night. What do you do?"

Gianna leaned back against the couch, feeling more at ease with each passing second. "I do a mix of stuff—yoga, running, weight training. I like to switch it up, you know? Keeps things interesting. I try to go on night rides when I can, but it's hard to get away sometimes with the night traffic."

"That sounds pretty intense," Hana said, her tone teasing. "I'm more of a... well, I wouldn't say a gym rat, but I like to stay active. I also draw a whole bunch of stuff."

Gianna's interest piqued. "Drawing. That's so cool. I've always wanted to try it, but I never really got around to it. Maybe you can teach me sometime."

"Maybe," Hana said with a sly grin. "If you're up for it. It's really calming"

Gianna laughed, the tension between them slowly melting away as they continued to talk. They spent the next hour chatting about everything—from their favorite music artists to their mutual love of night rides, to Hana's deep admiration for drawing. Gianna found herself getting lost in the conversation, forgetting the awkwardness of being on a video call, and simply enjoying Hana's company.

By the end of the call, Gianna realized she hadn't felt this comfortable with someone in a long time. Her heart felt light, her worries momentarily gone.

"So," Hana said, her voice softer now, "this has been really fun. I'm glad we did this."

Gianna nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Same here. Honestly, I'm really glad we met. I feel like we could talk for hours."

"We should," Hana agreed with a grin. "But, I don't want to scare you off too soon. We've got time."

Gianna smiled. "Yeah, definitely. But... can I ask you something?"

"Of course. What's up?"

"Are you always this easy to talk to, or is it just me?"

Hana raised an eyebrow, leaning back against her chair. "I'm easy to talk to when I actually like someone."

Gianna's pulse quickened, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. I like talking to you too."

There was a pause, and for a moment, Gianna could feel the shift in the air. It was subtle, but it was there. The connection between them felt deeper now, more tangible.

"I'm glad you think so," Hana said, her voice quieter now. "Maybe we could... meet up sometime?"

Gianna's heart skipped. She had been thinking the same thing. "I'd like that."

"I'm serious, Gianna," Hana said, her expression softening. "I don't usually get this close to people online. But something about you... I don't know. It feels different."

Gianna felt the same way. She hadn't expected this conversation, this connection. But now that it was happening, she couldn't imagine not exploring where it could go.

"Well," Gianna said with a smile, "I'm glad it feels different. Because it definitely feels the same on my end."

Hana's smile grew, her eyes lighting up. "Good. Let's see where this goes, yeah?"

Gianna's heart raced with anticipation. For the first time in a long while, she felt like something real was about to happen.

"Yeah," Gianna agreed. "Let's see where this goes."