Rave & Roses {A Rema Fanfic}

49 - DIVINE

Watching Zara today felt almost surreal. There was something calming about her presence, like all the noise and chaos around us faded away when she was near. Even in the middle of all the people at the park, she managed to stand out effortlessly. Her outfit—her Prada corset top, the way she carried herself—was so sexy, yet elegant. I couldn't help but admire her, my eyes constantly drawn to her without me even realizing it.

After we finished eating, she mentioned wanting ice cream, and without a second thought, I agreed. Honestly, I would've bought her anything she wanted in that moment. I would've done anything just to make her happy again, to see her smile like she used to.

We made our way over to the ice cream stand, and she got a cone of something simple, but watching her enjoy it... I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her lips, the way she licked the ice cream, the little smile she gave when it was colder than she expected—it all felt like something out of a dream, something I didn't think I'd ever get back.

She was so focused on her ice cream, unaware of my gaze, and that gave me the perfect opportunity. I pulled out my phone casually and, as if checking something, took a few discreet pictures of her. Not in a creepy way, but in a way that felt natural. I knew she'd never expect it, but I wanted to capture these moments—these small, quiet ones—because deep down, I didn't know how much longer I'd get to be this close to her.

Each picture felt like a small memory, one I could hold on to when the day was over. There was something about her today that was different. More free, more at ease. I could see her laugh more, see her enjoy the day. It made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to let her guard down.

I quickly put my phone away when she looked up, catching me staring a little too long. She smiled, but I quickly cleared my throat. "You look good with ice cream," I said, my voice a little rougher than I intended.

She raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Are you taking pictures of me?" she teased.

I smiled back, trying to play it off. "Maybe. You just look too good not to capture."

Her gaze softened for a second, but she didn't say anything more. She just took another bite of her ice cream, her attention back on it, but I could tell she was thinking. And in that moment, I hoped that, maybe, she was starting to remember just how much we meant to each other.

The words had been on the tip of my tongue all day, and now that we were standing there, just the two of us, I couldn't hold back anymore. "Actually, you look very beautiful, Zara," I said, my voice sincere, with no pretense or hesitation. "So beautiful."

It was a simple compliment, but there was so much more behind it. I meant it in a way that was deeper than just her looks. It was everything about her—the way she moved, the way she laughed, the way she carried herself with a kind of grace that I couldn't put into words. But when I said it, I could see her face light up. She beamed at me like she'd been waiting for me to say it all along.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice soft but genuine. "You also look good." She smiled, and for a moment, everything else in the park seemed to fade away. It was just the two of us, standing there, and it felt like we were the only people in the world.

I couldn't help but smile back, feeling a warmth spread through me at her words. It was as if, in that simple exchange, there was a small bridge being built between us again. Maybe not everything was lost.

"How about a quiet walk?" I suggested after a beat, my eyes scanning the area. The park was still bustling, but I could feel the need to step away, to have a moment where it was just us, no distractions.

Zara nodded, her expression thoughtful for a moment before she agreed. "Yeah, I'd like that."

We started walking side by side, the casual pace giving us both the space to just exist in the moment. There were no expectations, no pressure, just the sound of our footsteps and the soft hum of the park around us.