The hall looked perfect.
Soft lights.
Floral decorations.
Muted music in the background.
Everything carefully arranged—
Just like it was supposed to be.
Guests filled the space.
Laughter echoed.
Families moved around with warmth and pride.
And in the middle of it all—
Two lives were about to be tied together.
Anaya stood near the stage.
Dressed in a soft pastel lavender silk gown.
The fabric flowed effortlessly—
Minimal.
Elegant.
The kind of outfit that didn't try too hard— Yet made it impossible to look away. The subtle sheen of silk caught the warm lights, giving her an almost dreamlike glow. Her hair fell in soft waves, light makeup enhancing her features— Nothing overdone. Just enough to make her look like herself— Only… a little more radiant.
Her fingers fidgeted slightly.
Not out of fear.
Just—
Nervous energy.
"…breathe," she whispered to herself.
Her mother adjusted her dress gently.
"You look beautiful."
Anaya smiled softly.
"…thank you, Mumma."
But her eyes—
Were searching.
And then—
She saw him.
Reyansh.
Standing across the hall.
Dressed formally in an olive green coat and formal pants with white shirt in. Composed. His dark charcoal hairs weren't slight messy this time but made in a way falling backward adding charm and elegance to his look in such a way which fitted perfectly with his sharp features. But his eyes, his green eyes with a mix of slight grey shade— Locked on her.
And for a moment—
Everything else faded.
He saw her.
For a moment—
Everything else faded.
Because she didn't look like a memory anymore.
She looked real.
Present.
Right in front of him.
Not the girl from years ago.
But someone—
Even more beautiful.
Even more his.
His breath slowed slightly.
"…she came back."
Because she looked—
Exactly like something he had once imagined.
Back then.
Flash—
A school stage.
Bright lights.
Her standing in the crowd.
Smiling.
Flash gone.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…not now."
But memories didn't listen.
Flash—
Curtain closing.
A sudden moment.
A moment that wasn't supposed to happen.
Her face—
Breaking.
He blinked.
Back to the present.
"…focus."
Because this—
This moment—
Was real.
Not the past.
"Reyansh."
His mother's voice pulled him forward.
"It's time."
He nodded.
Each step toward the stage felt heavier than it should. Not because of the crowd. But because of everything he wasn't saying.
Anaya watched him approach.
Something about him felt…
Different again.
Not distant.
But—
Burdened.
"…why does he look like that?"
He stopped in front of her.
For a second—
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
"You look…"
He paused.
"…beautiful."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"…you don't look bad yourself."
But she has been admiring him secretly, in glances.
A faint smile.
Small.
But real.
And just like that—
The tension softened.
"Shall we?" someone prompted.
The rings were brought forward.
Everything slowed.
The voices faded.
The background blurred.
Only them—
Clear.
Anaya picked up the ring first. A clean, solid band. No unnecessary detail. No shine fighting for attention
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Not fear.
Just—
The weight of the moment.
She looked at him.
And for a second—
Something flickered.
A feeling.
Unfamiliar.
It passed quickly.
But it left behind—
A trace.
Reyansh noticed.
The slight pause.
The confusion in her eyes.
His breath stilled.
"…does she remember?"
But she didn't say anything.
And the moment moved forward.
She slipped the ring onto his finger.
Soft applause filled the hall.
But Reyansh—
Wasn't there fully.
Because another flash hit—
Her hand—
Shaking.
Tears in her eyes.
Walking away.
He clenched his jaw slightly.
"…stop."
Now it was his turn.
He picked up the ring. It was delicate. A slender band, catching just enough light to shimmer when moved. Not extravagant, not overwhelming — just… right. Like something chosen with thought, not for display, but for meaning.
His fingers steadier.
But his mind—
Anything but.
He looked at her.
Smiling.
Trusting.
Unaware.
"…she thinks she's starting something new."
And he—
Was carrying something unfinished.
His hand moved slowly.
Sliding the ring onto her finger.
A perfect fit.
Applause grew louder.
Cheers.
Smiles.
But between them—
The rings stayed. Just a steady presence — something that felt less like an accessory and more like a promise he wouldn't need to speak out loud neither she needed. Together, they didn't match in design.
But they matched in feeling.
Silence.
Heavy.
Because both of them felt it now.
Something had changed.
Not just their relationship.
But the weight of it.
Reyansh leaned slightly closer.
"…we'll talk," he said quietly.
Anaya looked at him.
A small nod.
"…yes."
But this time—
That promise felt different.
Because now—
It wasn't just about feelings.
It was about truth.
And how long it could stay hidden.
The noise faded slowly.
Guests still lingered.
Laughter still echoed.
But for them—
Everything had quieted.
The stage was behind them now.
The lights felt softer here.
Dimmer.
More real.
Anaya stepped out toward the open balcony area.
Needing air.
Needing a moment.
Her fingers brushed lightly over the ring.
Still new.
Still unfamiliar.
And yet—
It didn't feel wrong.
"…this is real now."
The thought settled deeper than expected.
"Running away?"
She turned.
And there he was.
Reyansh.
Standing a few steps behind her.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"…taking a break."
He nodded.
"Fair."
A quiet pause followed.
The kind that wasn't awkward.
Just…
Comfortable.
He stepped closer.
Standing beside her now.
Not too close.
But close enough.
The city lights flickered in the distance.
A soft breeze passed between them.
Neither spoke immediately.
Because for once—
There was no rush.
Anaya exhaled slowly.
"…this happened fast."
"It did."
Another pause.
"But it doesn't feel rushed," she added quietly.
Reyansh glanced at her.
"…no?"
She shook her head slightly.
"…it feels…"
She hesitated.
Searching for the right word.
"…right."
His breath stilled for a second.
Because hearing that—
From her—
It mattered more than it should.
A silence followed.
Then—
"I need to tell you something."
Her voice softened.
Reyansh's gaze shifted to her instantly.
"…what is it?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She looked ahead.
At the lights.
At nothing in particular.
"I don't understand this," she admitted.
A pause.
"What… this is between us."
His chest tightened slightly.
"But I know one thing," she continued.
Her fingers curled lightly around the railing.
"I feel… calm around you."
Simple.
But honest.
"Not confused. Not uncomfortable."
She turned slightly toward him now.
"…just calm."
Reyansh didn't speak.
Because he didn't trust his voice.
"And I don't know why," she added, almost smiling at herself.
A soft exhale left him.
"…you don't need to know why."
Her eyes met his.
"But I want to."
A pause.
"Because it feels like…" she hesitated again.
"…like I've known you longer than I actually have."
That—
That hit.
Harder than anything else.
His gaze dropped for a second.
Because she was right.
She had.
She just didn't remember.
"…maybe you have," he said quietly.
She frowned slightly.
"…what?"
He shook his head.
"…I mean—it happens."
A weak cover.
But she didn't push.
Not this time.
Another silence settled.
Softer now.
"I think…" she started again.
Then stopped.
Reyansh looked at her.
Waiting.
"…I think I'm starting to like you."
There it was.
Not dramatic.
Not overwhelming.
Just—
Honest.
His breath caught.
Because that—
That was everything.
Slow.
Real.
Not forced.
"…starting?" he asked softly.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
"…don't make it weird."
A small smile finally appeared on his face.
"I'm not."
"You are."
A pause.
Then—
"Okay, maybe a little."
She let out a quiet breath—
Half embarrassed.
Half relieved.
Because saying it—
Made it real.
And somehow—
Lighter.
Reyansh looked at her.
"…I'm glad."
She blinked.
"…that's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
She crossed her arms slightly.
"…something more."
A pause.
Then—
He stepped just a little closer.
Not enough to overwhelm her.
But enough—
To make the moment feel different.
"I don't want to lose this," he said quietly.
Her breath stilled.
"…this?"
He held her gaze.
"You."
The word settled softly.
But it carried weight.
More than she fully understood.
Yet.
A faint warmth spread across her chest.
"…you won't."
She said it simply.
Without hesitation.
Without knowing—
How much that meant to him.
Because the last time—
He thought the same thing.
And still lost her.
This time—
He stayed silent.
Not correcting her.
Not questioning it.
Just holding onto that moment.
Because right now—
She was here.
And that was enough.
For now.