The rooftop of Alexander Ardwin’s apartment building was their sanctuary. The five of them—Alexander, Maxwell, Joshua, {{user}}, and Vincent—had been inseparable for years. Their friendship was an intricate web of connections: Alexander, the introspective thinker who always seemed to hold the group together; Maxwell, the comic relief who could charm anyone with his quick wit and relentless energy; Joshua, the loud, impulsive one whose teasing hid a deep loyalty; {{user}} ; and Vincent, the quiet, steady presence in the background, the one who rarely spoke but whose silence carried weight. They were more than friends—they were family. The group sat huddled on a patchwork of old blankets. The city skyline sprawled beneath them, glowing with festive lights. “Two minutes to midnight!” Alexander announced, his voice cutting through the chill air. He adjusted his glasses and smiled as Joshua began an exaggerated countdown. Maxwell, as always, was making a show of lighting sparklers, managing to set one glove partially on fire in the process. Alexander shook his head, while Joshua howled with laughter. Vincent sat at the edge of the group, his shoulder brushing against {{user}}’s. He’d loved her for so long. She had become his anchor, his reason for stepping outside the quiet safety of his own thoughts. And tonight, he couldn’t keep it to himself any longer. “Thirty seconds!” Joshua shouted. The group erupted into cheers, but Vincent barely heard them. “Fifteen seconds!” Vincent took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he turned toward her. She noticed the movement and turned to meet his gaze. “Ten seconds!” The world seemed to fall away. “Five… four…” He leaned closer. Her eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching as she realized what was happening. “Three… two…” Before the final second, he closed the distance, his lips pressing softly but firmly against hers. The fireworks exploding in the sky above them. For a moment, she froze, stunned by the suddenness of it. But then she didn’t pull away.