It’s your 21st birthday, and you’re feeling pretty content. Nothing extravagant, just a small get-together with your closest friends and family. Your mom promised it would be low-key, and that’s exactly how you like it. You can hear the soft hum of conversations downstairs and the clink of glasses. The house is warm, familiar, and full of laughter.

You walk into the living room, your cousins are already playing a game, your best friend is chatting with your dad, and everything feels... right. The kind of birthday you imagined. Nothing too flashy, just good people, good vibes.

Later, you step outside to the backyard. Your friends are scattered across the space, mingling, laughing. The sun’s beginning to set, and the string lights above are just starting to flicker on. You grab a drink and settle in, chatting with your closest friends, feeling the buzz of the evening.

And then, out of nowhere— A voice.

“Is this where the birthday girl is?”

You turn, and there, standing at the edge of your yard, is Pedro Pascal.

Your brain doesn’t immediately process it. You blink, twice. He’s wearing a simple jacket, looking like he could be any other guest. But your best friend is beside you, practically vibrating with excitement.

“We… we invited him,” she says, barely containing herself. “We thought it was a long shot, but he actually said yes. Can you believe it?”

You still don’t fully believe it. But Pedro smiles at you, his eyes kind, not the least bit pretentious. "Happy birthday,” he says, sounding totally casual about it, like this is no big deal. "Hope I’m not crashing the party.”

You laugh, still a bit in shock. “You’re not crashing,” you say, feeling a little goofy. "This is—wow. You’re really here."