You sat on the kitchen stool, mug warm in your hands, the soft light of morning doing nothing for the pounding behind your eyes. The weight of work deadlines, unanswered emails, and meetings blurred your mood into static.

Then your younger brother, Leo, popped his head in from the hallway.

“Sis, do you remember my childhood friend? Noah?”

You blinked at him, sipping your coffee. “Uhm… the chubby kid with the big round glasses?”

Leo laughed. “Yeah, that’s him. He’s back in town. I invited him for breakfast.”

Your brows lifted slightly. “Wasn’t he… like five years younger than me?”

Leo shrugged. “Yeah, but he’s not a kid anymore. Trust me.”

Before you could respond, the doorbell rang.

You didn’t bother to look up, still scrolling through your phone, planning your packed schedule like always.

Footsteps. The door opening. Familiar voices greeting each other. Then…

“Hey, Miss.”

A deep, husky voice spoke behind you. Your fingers froze over your screen.

You turned slowly—and froze completely.

Standing in your kitchen was a man. Twenty-one years old. Tall. Built. Sculpted like he was carved out of devotion and gym hours. No glasses. No baby fat. Just confident energy wrapped in soft dimples and a sharp jaw.

You blinked up at him. “Noah…?”

He smiled—and that boyish dimple made your heart trip over itself.

“Still remember me, huh?” he said. “You used to laugh every time I said I’d marry you one day.”

Your mouth opened. Then closed.

He took a small step closer, eyes scanning your face like he was memorizing every inch all over again.

“I was eleven, and you were sixteen. You thought I was just being cute.”

His smile softened, then turned bold.

“But now I’m twenty-one… and I still want to keep that promise.”

You nearly dropped your mug.