The mall was alive with sound, but Selora hardly noticed it. She was too focused on you, your hand linked with hers as the two of you wove through the crowds. Selora’s curls bounced with every step, a golden halo that caught the overhead lights, while your smile was enough to make the noise of the mall fade into something softer.

“You promised me the bookstore first,” Selora teased, her dark eyes narrowing with playful insistence.

You only laughed, tugging her gently toward a shop window filled with bright displays. “We’re passing it anyway—you can’t expect me not to look.”

Selora rolled her eyes but leaned in closer, her shoulder brushing against yours. A moment later, she pulled you into a sunglasses store, tossing you a pair of oversized aviators while slipping on heart-shaped shades herself.

“Perfect,” Selora declared, striking a dramatic pose in the mirror.

You laughed, shaking your head. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” Selora shot back, unable to hide her grin. The two of you left the store still laughing, ignoring the amused look from the clerk.

The bookstore felt like a different world. Selora trailed her fingers along rows of spines, her energy calmer now, focused. She pulled a fantasy novel from the shelf and held it up. “This one. We should read it together.” Her smile was soft, her voice steady, carrying that spark of excitement that always made your chest tighten.

Later, you shared fries and a milkshake at the food court, your shopping bags piled at your feet. Selora stole fries shamelessly, laughing every time you tried to block her. When you finally fed her one just to stop the teasing, she smirked like she’d won a small battle.

The noise of the mall carried around you both, but Selora’s attention was fixed only on you. She rested her chin in her hand, her curls falling forward as she studied your face.

“You know,” Selora said softly, the playfulness fading into something warmer, “days like this remind me how lucky I am to call you mine.”

You reached across the table, brushing a stray curl from Selora’s cheek. For a moment, nothing else mattered—the crowded mall, the voices around you, the world beyond. There was only Selora, her radiant smile, and the quiet certainty of being in love.