The taxi slowed to a halt on the dew-kissed pavement, its front tire letting out a soft screech as it met the polished marble.
Elaine looked up in astonishment, her gaze slowly ascending the facade of the glass tower that seemed to pierce the clouds. The sun's rays reflected off its blue windows, glittering like scattered stars.
Elaine (with a vibrant, astonished voice):
"Wow… are we going to live here?!"
She darted off like a child set free from boredom, lightly running towards the front garden, her heels clicking on the ground like a rapid piano melody. She stopped before the main gate, where a revolving door of dark glass slowly spun, surrounded by artificial palm trees whose leaves shimmered from a subtle, hidden irrigation system.
Elaine (dramatically, opening her arms wide):
"Welcome, ladies, to Arcadia Vault, where luxury touches imagination!"
Then she quickly turned to Rina, waving her phone:
"Rina! Take a picture of me here. This moment will set social media on fire… I'll make all my old friends regret leaving me!"
The mother, who was pulling a wheeled suitcase, stopped beside them, sighing as she wiped her forehead with a small handkerchief:
Mother (with a tired smile):
"Elaine, stop shouting… you've exhausted me. Come on, let's go up."
Cira approached with quiet steps, her eyes scrutinizing the place as if trying to believe what she saw. Black floors gleamed like a still lake, white pillars adorned with helical lamps pulsed with a soft golden light, and a gentle classical music sound drifted from inside.
Cira (whispering):
"Why did we move here? And… does each of us have our own room?"
Mother (pressing the elevator button):
"Of course, this is only temporary. Elaine will finish her baccalaureate soon, and I can't leave her alone in the university dorm. As you know, this girl of yours flies more than she walks…"
Rina chuckled softly:
"So, protection from university troubles… wise decision."
Cira (with a side smile):
"Amazing… I'll start looking for a new job tomorrow."
Rina (nudging her with her elbow):
"A new pharmacy? Didn't you say you intended to change?"
Cira (with a light laugh):
"I did… but the salary is irresistible. I'll stay in the field temporarily. I have something new I want to study, so I'll save money first."
Rina (curiously):
"Something new? What would it be?"
Cira (entering the elevator and looking in the mirror):
"When the time comes, I'll tell you. For now, focus on your fiancé and train your fingers… phone sports might lead to carpal tunnel syndrome!"
Rina (laughing):
"You're rude…"
Cira (playfully pressing the top floor button):
"Confident. If Mom gets to the suite before us and doesn't find us… you know the outcome."
The elevator doors closed smoothly and ascended, their faces reflected in the mirrors.
The elevator chimed softly, then the door opened to a corridor carpeted in light beige, dimly lit by elegant wall lamps resembling flower petals.
Elaine stepped out first, her eyes darting around as if exploring a secret palace.
The mother stepped forward and took the electronic key card from her bag, swiping it in front of the door numbered 8706. A soft sound was heard, followed by a small click… then the door opened automatically and slowly.
Cool, scented air rushed towards them, like a gentle breeze carrying the scent of jasmine.
They entered one after another into a spacious hall with glass walls on three sides, revealing the illuminated city below. The towers sparkled like suspended glass flakes, and the glittering street beneath them looked like a necklace of stars.
The suite's dark, polished wooden floor reflected the ceiling lights with a silky sheen. To the right, a spacious living room with light ash velvet sofas and a transparent coffee table topped with a glass bowl filled with colorful crystals. To the left, an open kitchen with a gleaming marble countertop.
Elaine (running towards the sofa and jumping on it):
"Oh my God! Are we in a drama? I want to stay here forever!"
Rina started moving between the doors as if in a treasure hunt:
Rina (counting quickly):
"One… two… three… four bedrooms? And each with its own bathroom?! But… wait, there's one room with a circular balcony!"
She opened the door to that room, and sunlight poured in from the glass balcony as if it were a gateway to an ethereal world. The sheer curtains moved gently, as if the room was breathing.
Rina (louder, turning to the others):
"Of course… besides the balcony, the room itself is larger than the others—"
Mother (interrupting firmly, placing the suitcase on a side table):
"Hold on! Hold on! I know those looks. No screaming, no hair pulling. We'll solve it by drawing lots."
She took a small sheet of paper from a notebook, tore it into three equal pieces, and wrote the girls' names on them one by one. She folded them carefully, then placed them in a small hat that was passed from hand to hand.
Mother (pointing to Rina):
"Come on, you go first."
Rina pulled out a paper, then reshuffled. Three times… and each time, the same result emerged:
Mother (raising the paper with a smile):
"Cira. Your luck is high today."
Rina (with a wink and raised eyebrows):
"Bad… her luck!"
Elaine (lifting Becky the cat high and twirling him):
"But the house is amazing, right Becky? Don't you see this ceiling?"
Mother (with the voice of a mother trying to maintain order amidst playful chaos):
"First… feed the cats. Then prepare your belongings and rooms. After that, arrange your things. I'll make something for us to eat, and when I return, I expect everything to be in its place. Understood?"
Elaine (stamping her foot like a soldier in training):
"Aye aye, Captain! Moving out now!"
Cira opens a small bag full of cat food and starts calling in a warm voice:
"Emma… Itachi… Becky… dinner time, come here."
The cats appeared one after another, as if they understood the commands well. Emma walked gracefully like a queen, Itachi yawned and surveyed the new place, and Becky… jumped like a rabbit, eliciting a light laugh from Elaine.
[A brief moment of silence hangs over the place, everyone busy, but nostalgia is present]
The mother stands at the balcony, looking at the horizon, then whispers as if to herself:
"Since your father left… we've become more attached to each other."
Cira raised her head, and her eyes met her mother's. They said nothing, but a small glance was enough to convey everything.
After a long, tiring day, everyone retreated to their rooms for rest. High up on the top floor, Cira stood alone on her semi-circular balcony, breathing in the cool night air. She wore headphones, a gentle melody seeping from them, mingling with the whispers of the wind, while her three cats slept peacefully on the large bed.
Her deep brown eyes reflected the twinkling lights, as if the entire city was mirrored within them. The city skyline before her was a fantastical painting: lights scattered like jewels, towering skyscrapers, and a sky adorned with tiny crystal spheres… stars gleaming softly.
Suddenly… the silence of the moment was broken by a faint sound from the adjacent balcony.
A young man stood on the neighboring balcony, leaning against its cool glass, wearing a short-sleeved white shirt, eating pink strawberry ice cream. His black, bluish hair fell over his forehead, the breeze gently caressing it. His eyes were strange: a mix of sky blue and night black, their brilliance a shimmering blue, and small black earrings gleamed in his ears like silent embers.
He looked as if he belonged to a different world, detached from all the noise of this life.
Cira stood stunned, a strange stillness settling on her features, and her face began to flush. Something about him drew her in… every detail captivated her.
The breeze scattered strands of her hair, but she didn't notice. She just stared. Then she whispered to herself:
Cira (thinking):
"I'm sure… I've seen him before… but where?"
A magical moment was cut short by a young man's shout from inside:
Voice:
"Aidan!"
Another young man ran to the balcony, calling to his friend with an enthusiastic tone:
"Aren't you going to watch the game?"
Aidan (bored):
"You watch it… I hate football games."
Young man:
"Come on, enough gloom, come over!"
Cira remained in place, staring, breathing slowly, as if afraid to break that image. Then she suddenly turned and lightly ran towards Rina's room, who was sound asleep.
Cira (shaking her quickly):
"Rina! Rina! Wake up! Quickly!"
Rina (sleepily):
"Mmm? What is it?"
Cira (excitedly):
"It's him! The policeman! The same person who took my ID! He's my neighbor!"
Rina (closing her eyes):
"Looks like you're having nice dreams tonight… let me sleep, stop rambling."
In the morning, the aroma of fresh coffee wafted through the apartment, filling the air with a welcoming warmth. In the kitchen, the mother was arranging breakfast as she began to call out to her daughters.
Mother (loudly):
"Come on, girls! It's morning, coffee's ready!"
Elaine entered quickly, putting on her backpack.
Elaine:
"I'm going to the institute, I don't have time!"
Mother (turning to her):
"Stop for a moment, come here… let me see."
Elaine (slightly whining):
"It's just chocolate-colored lipstick… it barely shows."
Rina (passing by, putting on an earring):
"Mom, I'm going to university… and by the way, Cira, you should find a boyfriend quickly."
Cira (from behind her coffee cup):
"Huh?"
Rina (laughing as she pointed to Elaine):
"Because your little sister here will make it difficult for everyone!"
Cira (with a sarcastic smile):
"First, I need to find a job, then we'll talk about love, and imagination, and all that nonsense."
Everyone laughed, then the girls left one by one.
Cira exited carrying a small backpack, stopping at the elevator door… But she didn't press the button. She stood for a moment, as if a scene from last night had crept into her mind…
The young man's face… his hair… his voice… his eyes.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then suddenly turned and changed her direction. Her steps led her to the door of the adjacent apartment. She stood before it… her heart beating slowly, but heavily.
She raised her hand hesitantly… Then she stopped.
Cira (thinking):
"Should I knock…?"