Chapter 11
Julian’s face darkened, and it was obvious he wasn’t thrilled with his grandfather’s words.
Zara, on the other hand, couldn’t stop laughing. She knew exactly how it felt–at this age, when pride was bigger than the sky, no one liked getting scolded.
Someday, when Julian was older, he’d understand that all those nagging, long–winded lectures from people who cared were actually a kind of happiness that most people didn’t even recognize.
Once they finished their meal, Grandpa headed off to play chess with his old buddy Peter.
The radio hummed in the background, blending with Grandpa’s thick Westfield accent–the man’s voice lively and energetic, while Peter’s was slow and steady. The contrast was amusing, like two completely different worlds colliding in the same room.
Zara lay by the window, watching the bustling street outside when suddenly a pair of warm hands slipped around her waist. Soft breath brushed against her ear.
“Zara,” Julian murmured, his voice playful. “You’re so biased. Why does Grandpa always go after me?”
She smiled, hardly paying him any attention. “You’re the one who always gets him worked up.”
Julian, always unwilling to lose an argument, huffed before changing the subject. “Your remember how you said you liked flower shops? I went ahead and set one up for you. Once the sixteenth rolls around, we’ll go check it out together, okay?”
Seeing her smile, Julian’s mood lifted a little, but it wasn’t enough. He bit his lip, clearly wanting to say more, but held back.
Zara seemed delicate–fragile, even. She hadn’t had an easy time in Silvercrest, that much was clear. The bitterness in her eyes told him as much.
But he respected her silence. She had her pride, and Julian wasn’t about to push it.
“Alright, what about your birthday? It’s coming up, right? Let me celebrate it with said, his tone softer now.
you,” he
Zara looked away, her gaze distant. She had always been reserved–the kind of person who didn’t argue much. Words weren’t her strength, especially not after everything she’d been through. Her were deep, and she carried them quietly.
ecars
“Okay,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
New Year’s arrived, and Westfield buzzed with excitement.
The city was alive with energy. Dances spilled into the streets, drums filled the air, and fireworks lit up the sky like silver sparks. It felt like the whole city was celebrating like even the sky was in on it.
People from all over gathered at the Hayes family home to drop off envelopes–mostly childhood friends, familiar faces from the past.
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They exchanged wishes for wealth and good health. Even Grandpa, who usually carried himself with so much dignity, couldn’t help but grin at the lively scene.
Zara chuckled and grabbed the envelopes one by one.
“In a few days, my flower shop will open. Everyone’s welcome to come by,” she announced.
The night of the big festival arrived, and the city was buzzing with life.
Zara was still curled up in bed, enjoying the cozy warmth of the blankets, when Julian. suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Before she could say a word, he scooped her up and carried her straight to the car.
His fingers brushed her face, tracing the curve of her brow as he teased, “Come on, Zara. Let’s go. I heard the Lantern Festival’s a blast. Why do you keep staying inside? You’ll make yourself sick.”
She yawned, barely awake, and fell back into his arms, too sleepy to argue.
Outside, the sounds of firecrackers popped in the distance, children’s laughter rang through the streets, and vendors called out their wares. The air was thick with the sounds of a city celebrating–everything felt alive, and everything felt warm.
Maybe it was a Westfield thing–the parades, the laughter, the sound of silver bells ringing on every corner. There was something about the energy in the air that made the whole day feel magical.
At the local festival, Zara couldn’t help but laugh at the scene in front of her.
“All this just for a street performance?” she smirked, eyeing the colorful dancers in the
street.
Before she could say anything else, Julian slipped a fox mask over his face. It was clearly meant for a girl, but somehow it didn’t look out of place on him. It made him look… surprisingly cute.
“Yo, isn’t that Julian Hayes?” a voice called from behind.
Zara turned, spotting a familiar face–Batu, a friend from one of the local groups. He was holding hands with his girlfriend and gave Julian a teasing smile.
“Long time no see, huh? And this must be Zara,” Batu said, his tone light and playful.
Zara, always polite, nodded in greeting, but it was Batu’s girlfriend–who had this fiery
energy
ay about her–that caught her attention. She radiated confidence, and it was clear she wasn’t someone you’d want to mess with.
Julian, clearly irritated by Batu’s attention on Zara, huffed and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer.
“What? You think you’re the only one with a girlfriend?” he scoffed. “This is my girlfriend. Show her some respect.”
Batu let out an exaggerated “Oh,” grinning mischievously at Julian.
“Alright, alright. Whatever you say, Julian. Hey, Julian’s girlfriend,” Batu said with a wink.
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The two guys started bickering, their voices rising in friendly competition. Zara couldn’t help but smile.
It was silly, but somehow, it felt… real.
‘Being young is a pretty great thing,’ she thought to herself.
