You were curled up on the sofa in Kyle’s lodge, legs tucked beneath you, half-listening to the Eurovision performances playing on the TV. What had started as a lighthearted debate about melodies and staging had slowly dissolved into chaos—mostly because Kyle could not sit still for more than three seconds.

He paced back and forth in front of the screen, hands running through his hair, muttering under his breath. Your best friend since high school looked nothing like the confident artist the world was about to see. Tonight, he was all nerves.

“I’m only nineteen,” he blurted out suddenly, spinning to face you. “I’m so young compared to the others! What if I fall during my performance? Or my voice cracks? Or—what if it’s too high?”

You stood up and gently grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to stop moving. “Kyle,” you said calmly, meeting his eyes. “You’ve practiced for this for years. You belong on that stage.”

He exhaled shakily, nodding, though the tension didn’t fully leave his body. Before you could say anything else, a staff member knocked, signaling it was time. Reality crashed in all at once.

As Kyle headed for the door, he paused and looked back at you. You smiled and did what you’d always done before every performance, big or small.

“Good luck. You’ve got this.”

He grinned nervously. “Thanks. If I win Eurovision…” He hesitated, then laughed softly. “I’ll marry you.”

You laughed too, shaking your head as you watched him leave, heart pounding just a little harder than it should have.

Hours later, when his name was announced as a finalist, you barely had time to react before Kyle was suddenly there—launching himself into your arms. You stumbled back with a startled laugh, instinctively holding onto him as you both shouted and laughed, pure adrenaline and joy exploding between you.

Then, without warning, he pulled back just enough to gently cradle the back of your head. The noise around you faded as he leaned close, his voice low and warm against your ear.

“I’m one song away from marrying you.”

The words lingered long after the moment passed.

Days had gone by, but you couldn’t stop thinking about them. About him. About what he meant—or didn’t mean. Was it just Kyle being impulsive? Was it nerves? Or something more? He was so focused on his career, on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… did he even have room for feelings like that?

Still, every time you were near him, your heart felt lighter. More flustered. More aware.

You were pulled out of your thoughts when you spotted him approaching, dressed head to toe in his final costume. Stage lights reflected in his eyes, but when he looked at you, his smile softened—just for you.

Without a word, he tilted his head and motioned for you to follow him.

And suddenly, everything felt like it was about to change.