Chapter 18 - CHAPTER- 18

Writer's Note -:

Hey readers 💖

first of all—Happy New Year 2026! All of you.

And I know I'm a little late 😅 I've been a bit busy, so please forgive me for that.

I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has added my novel to their collection. Your support truly means a lot to me 🤍

And to those who are reading but haven't added it yet—I'd really appreciate it if you give my story a full try and add it to your collection. It helps and motivates me more than you know.

Please don't forget to comment and tell me what you think—whether you're liking the story, the characters, or anything at all. I love reading your thoughts.

Thank you so much for being here.

Now, enjoy Chapter 18 💫

Okey Bye~ 💕

[ The next evening arrived faster than I expected.]

( I stood in front of the mirror, a towel wrapped loosely around my body, staring at my reflection as if it might offer answers I didn't have.)

- Why was I nervous?

- It was just a party.

- Just friends.

- Just music, lights, laughter.

- And yet, my heart refused to slow down.

( I let out a quiet sigh and turned away from the mirror, reaching for my phone on the bed. A message from Ava blinked on the screen.)

Ava: We're waiting for you, drama queen. Hurry up or we'll style you ourselves 😏

A smile tugged at my lips.

"Okay, okay," I muttered to myself.

Just as I was about to reply, I turned toward the door—

—and froze.

Rylan was standing there.

- Phone in hand.

- Eyes wide.

- Completely stunned.

- For a second, neither of us moved.

Then reality hit me.

[ I was still wrapped in nothing but a towel.]

( My hand instinctively flew to it, gripping the fabric tighter, my heart pounding like it was trying to escape my chest.)

"R-Rylan!" I blurted out. "What are you doing here?"

( It took him a moment to snap out of his daze. His gaze flickered away so fast it almost made me laugh—if I wasn't so embarrassed.)

"I—I'll come back later, okay?" he stammered, his voice flustered and uneven.

( Before I could say anything else, he turned around and shut the door quickly behind him.)

( I stood there, staring at the door, completely dumbfounded—like I'd just seen a ghost that appeared and disappeared within seconds.)

My heart was still racing.

And somehow… I knew this moment would stay with me longer than it should.A soft knock echoed at my door.

( The sound pulled me straight out of that embarrassing moment, dragging my thoughts back to reality.)

"Aira," my mom called gently, "are you ready?"

"Not yet, Mom," I replied, forcing my voice to sound normal.

"Do it fast, sweetheart," she said, and I heard her footsteps fade as she walked away from my room.

( I rushed to my closet, pulling out a simple pair of pants and a top. My actual party dress went straight into my backpack along with my makeup—Ava had already decided we'd all get ready at her place.)

( After quickly changing, I grabbed my phone and charger, took a deep breath, and opened the door.)

( For a brief second, my heart started racing again—Rylan's stunned expression flashed through my mind.)

- I shook my head lightly.

- Not now, Aira.

( Pushing the thought away, I hurried down the stairs. Mom was waiting downstairs, and when she saw me, she smiled warmly.)

"So, you're ready?" she asked, her eyes scanning my outfit. "But are you sure this is good enough for a party?"

I laughed softly. "Mom, do you really think I'd wear this to a party? It's just a casual dress. I'll change at Ava's house. Don't worry."

She chuckled. "Oh, sweetheart. I thought my daughter's taste had suddenly changed."

"No, Mom," I said shyly. "Can I go now?"

She nodded. "Yes, okay. And one thing—no drinking, no love-making, and all that. You're my brave girl. You know that very well, right?"

[ I looked at her for a moment before smiling.]

"Mom, you know I don't drink alcohol."

Then I added lightly, "And boys? Seriously—there's no one in my college who beats my expectations."

[ Her smile softened, and I felt that familiar warmth settle in my chest.She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.]

"You know, sweetheart," she said quietly, "you're an adult now. Sometimes I still wonder how my little girl grew up so fast—into a woman."

She pulled away slowly and looked at me. "Take care, Aira."

( I noticed the shine in her eyes—joyful tears she tried to hide—and my lips curved into a soft smile.)

"Yeah, Mom. You too."

[ She nodded and waved as I stepped out of the house.]

[ Outside, Rylan was leaning against his car, his attention fixed on his phone.]

[ I didn't want to remember that moment upstairs.]

[ Didn't want my thoughts drifting there again.]

( So I pushed it away, steadied myself, and walked toward him.His eyes snapped up to meet mine when I stopped walking and stood in front of him.)

"C-can we go?" I asked.

( He nodded and opened the passenger door for me. As I slipped inside, I noticed the tiniest blush coloring the tips of his ears.)

( I smiled to myself—just lightly. If I laughed, he'd only feel more embarrassed, and I didn't want that.)

( He moved to the driver's seat and started the engine. The car rolled out of the driveway and onto the road.)

[ The atmosphere inside was silent. Charged.]

( Neither of us spoke. I stared straight ahead, watching the streetlights blur past. He did the same, eyes fixed on the road.

But the silence didn't last.)

"So… you're not going to the party?" I asked softly.

He turned his face toward me for a brief second and replied firmly, "No."

I frowned slightly. "Why?"

"Aira, we're seniors," he said casually. "This kind of party is for freshers. We do something… better."

[ A smirk tugged at his lips.]

I raised an eyebrow, turning toward him. "Oh?" I drawled. "And what exactly do seniors do that's so much better?"

He glanced at me for half a second before looking back at the road. "You'll know when the time comes."

I scoffed softly. "Wow. So mysterious. Is that your way of saying you're too old to handle loud music and bad dancing?"

He let out a quiet chuckle. "Careful, Aira. I can still dance better than you."

I gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? I am excellent at bad dancing."

[ That earned me a real smile—small, but genuine.]

I leaned back into the seat, pretending to think. "You know," I said slowly, "for someone who claims he doesn't attend fresher parties, you sure didn't hesitate to come to my room today."

[ The car stiffened.]

He cleared his throat. "That was an accident."

"Mmm," I hummed. "An accident where you knocked, opened the door, and stared."

His grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "I didn't stare."

"You absolutely did."

He shot me a look—half warning, half embarrassment. "Aira."

I grinned, enjoying this way too much. "Relax. I'm just saying… you've officially been to my room now. Guess that makes us even."

He shook his head, helpless amusement flashing across his face. "You're impossible."

"And you," I said lightly, "are surprisingly flustered for someone who pretends to be so calm."

( The silence returned—but this time it wasn't heavy.)

- It was warm.

- Comfortable.

- And just a little dangerous.

( He glared at me, but it was only a playful glare, the kind that made my lips twitch with a suppressed smile.)

( Soon, we arrived at Ava's house. He stopped the car in front of her gate and turned off the engine.)

( I opened the door and stepped out.I had barely taken two steps toward Ava's gate when the car window slid down.)

"Aira."

[ I stopped and turned back.]

( He rested one arm on the window frame, eyes steady on me—too steady.)

"For the record," he said calmly, "what I didn't say in the car…"

My heart skipped. "Yes?"

[ He tilted his head slightly, lips curving into that infuriating half-smirk.]

"…next time, lock your door."

I blinked. "What?"

"Because," he added, voice lower now, "you looked dangerously distracting in that towel."

[My breath hitched.]

( Before I could react—or tease him back—he rolled the window up smoothly, started the engine, and drove off like he hadn't just wrecked my entire nervous system.)

[ I stood there for a second, stunned.]

Then I muttered, "Unbelievable," as my cheeks burned.

And only then did I walk into Ava's house—heart racing, smile impossible to hide.

"Pervert," I hissed under my breath as I turned on my heel and walked straight into Ava's house.

( The first gate was open, and no one was there. But as soon as I reached the second gate, I froze.)

( A small camera blinked above, and suddenly a voice echoed from a speaker fixed into the stone wall.)

"Who are you, and why are you here?"

( I looked up at the speaker, surprised. I had never seen this kind of security system before—not even at Rylan's house.)

I stepped closer and said clearly, "I'm Aira. I'm here to meet Ava."

[ There was a brief pause.]

"Aira, ma'am. You may enter."

[ The gate opened automatically.]

I walked inside, still a little stunned.

Ava's house was… breathtaking.

( The front garden stretched wide, lush and perfectly maintained. Colorful flowers bloomed everywhere—roses, lilies, and flowers I couldn't even name—filling the air with a soft, natural fragrance. A gardener worked quietly near the fountain, trimming plants with careful hands.)

( The house itself looked like something out of a royal estate. Elegant, grand, and timeless. Cream-colored walls, tall pillars, and wide glass windows reflected the evening light beautifully.)

Now I understood.

[ Ava didn't just come from a rich family—she came from a royal one.]

( Her father was a well-known businessman, someone whose name carried weight in corporate circles. Calm, sharp, and powerful. And her mother—she wasn't any less impressive. She was the director of a famous painting studio, respected in the art world for her vision and creativity.)

Art ran in Ava's blood.

( No wonder she had such refined taste. No wonder she saw the world in colors most people missed.)

( The moment I reached the main entrance, the huge wooden door slowly opened.)

( Before I could even react, someone came running toward me.)

"AIRAAAA!"

( Ava practically crashed into me, wrapping her arms tightly around my shoulders.)

I laughed, stumbling a little as I hugged her back. "Ava—oh my God—hi!"

"I missed you," she said dramatically, pulling back just enough to look at my face. "You took forever."

I smiled. "Excuse me, some of us were surviving rumors and family interrogations."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Ugh, don't remind me. Come on, come on. We're getting late."

( Without waiting for another word, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside.)

( The interior of her house was even more stunning than the outside.)

( The living area was wide and elegant, with high ceilings and warm golden lights.)

(Paintings—real paintings—hung on the walls, each one detailed and alive, like they were telling their own stories. Soft cream sofas, a marble floor, and a faint scent of lavender filled the air.)

This wasn't just a house.

It was art.

Ava dragged me up the stairs, her excitement contagious. "hurry up —Mila and Rhea are already halfway ready."

( She pushed open her bedroom door, and I froze for a second.)

Ava's room was beautiful.

( Huge windows covered with sheer curtains let moonlight spill inside. A king-sized bed sat in the center, decorated with pastel cushions. One wall was completely dedicated to art—unfinished paintings, framed sketches, and brushes neatly arranged near a corner easel.)

"This is insane," I murmured. "Your room looks like a Pinterest dream."

She grinned proudly. "Runs in the family."

[ She dragged me straight into the dressing room attached to her bedroom.]

And there they were.

( Mila and Rhea stood in front of the large mirror, surrounded by dresses, makeup, and accessories scattered everywhere.)

Mila was adjusting her earrings while checking herself from every angle. "Finally. The main character has arrived."

Rhea turned around with a soft smile. "Hey, Aira."

I laughed. "Wow. Looks like I walked into a fashion battlefield."

Mila smirked. "And you're late to it. Go—change. We're not letting you leave this room looking average."

Ava clapped her hands excitedly. "Exactly! Tonight, no rumors, no stress—only us."

I smiled, warmth spreading in my chest.

For the first time that day, I felt light.For the first time that day, I felt light.

Surrounded by my girls.

Safe.

Seen.

And ready for whatever the night had waiting for us.