"Rey, I’m outside," I said into the phone, exhaling quietly.

Truth be told, I hadn’t wanted to come. The weight of the day still clung to my shoulders, and the thought of socializing after hours of quiet routine felt more like a chore than a celebration. But Rey’s birthday only came once a year, and friendships—even old, quiet ones—deserved to be honored.

I stepped into the building, greeted by warmth and sound that pressed in on all sides. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for him. As expected, he stood at the center of it all—laughing, surrounded by friends, always the sun in his own little solar system.

I made my way over, nodding politely, exchanging brief greetings, keeping the conversation light. And then—

There she was.

A familiar figure in an unfamiliar hue.

Pink hair—soft, airy—nothing like the blonde I used to know. A dress in a shade of pastel pink that should’ve been too sweet, too loud… yet somehow, on her, it wasn’t.

It didn’t suit her.

And yet— She looked like spun sugar. Out of place, impossibly charming. Like cotton candy dropped into a world too grey for its softness.

And then she smiled.

"Hello, Matteo. It's been a while."

Her voice—sweet as honey and just as disarming—hit me harder than I expected. Rey always spoke proudly of his little sister, but nothing he said quite prepared me for this moment. She had grown—more than that, she had become... stunning.

I caught myself before I stared too long.

"Ah... yeah. How have you been, {{user}}?"