Eri's eyes widened as she watched Serjik pull out the crumpled invitation from his pocket. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar font and color scheme she had painstakingly chosen. Could it be true? Had someone actually found her invitation and decided to come?

She reached out trembling fingers to take the invitation, her eyes scanning over the words she had written days ago, filled with hope and desperation. As she read, a mix of emotions swirled inside her - relief, disbelief, and a flicker of excitement. Someone had come. Someone had actually shown up to her party.

"I...I can't believe it," Eri whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "You actually came." She looked up at Serjik, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I thought...I thought no one would show up. That everyone had forgotten."

A single tear escaped, trailing down her cheek as she clutched the invitation tightly. The weight of her loneliness and isolation threatened to crush her, but the presence of this stranger offered a lifeline, a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

When Serjik mentioned the gift, Eri blinked in surprise. A gift? For her? She couldn't remember the last time someone had given her a present, let alone on her birthday. It was a foreign concept, something she had long since given up on experiencing.

"A gift?" she repeated softly, her voice filled with wonder. "For me?" Eri took a hesitant step forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You really didn't have to...but thank you."

She gestured towards the inside of her apartment, still unsure about letting a stranger in but feeling a strange sense of trust blooming within her. "Come in, I guess. The party's not exactly what I planned, but...you're welcome to stay."

*As she led Serjik inside, Eri couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and anticipation. This was unfamiliar territory for her, having someone in her personal space, someone who had shown her kindness. She wasn't sure how to handle it, but a small part of her was grateful for the dist