The smile never left my face, giggles bubbling up as I made my way home. My inner self felt like spreading wings and soaring high. When I reached, there she was—my mom, waiting on the front porch. The sight of her melted away all my weariness.

After dinner, sleep felt like an elusive dream. The night stretched endlessly, as if the sun was taking its time to reach me, to fill me with its warmth. Restless, my feet met the cold floor, and I wandered into the dark. Eventually, I found myself in the garden, aimlessly meandering.

A flicker of light stopped me in my tracks—fireflies. Their delicate glow reminded me of someone. Those black eyes of his, gleaming like the morning star. Vivid memories surfaced, unbidden but welcome, painting his image in my mind. He is the alluring flower, and I, a moth, am irresistibly drawn to him.

The chilly breeze brushed against my skin, pulling me out of my musings. I lingered a little longer, sharing a quiet moment with the moon, until we both made our way west. Morning arrived faster than I expected, and with it, the burning wish to know more about him grew stronger.

The bus came earlier than usual, but luck wasn’t on my side—I missed the window seat. My disappointment dissolved the moment his stop arrived.

There he was.

As if time conspired with my heart, the world slowed. His face lit up with a smile, soft but deliberate, reaching his eyes and sending electric impulses through me. My breath caught; my pulse quickened. In that instant, I knew—this wasn’t just attraction.

This was something deeper, something undeniable.

No matter how long it takes, I’ll solve this puzzle.