(Michelle Lui's POV)
When Andy and I returned to the group, the energy shifted.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Not in any way a normal person would notice.
But this was our friend group.
Which meant every micro-expression had the emotional weight of a small earthquake.
Steven looked over first.
Not with widened eyes.
Not with panic.
Not with drama.
Just a glance — a single, quiet flicker of attention.
If I hadn't been hyper-aware of him (curse my past life), I might've missed it.
But I caught it.
And so did Kate, because her eyebrow twitched the tiniest bit.
Anthony, who had been listening to Jasmine ramble about some painting, paused.
Just paused.
Not stiffening.
Not glaring.
Just… a one-second silence in his movement.
Jasmine sensed it instantly and gripped his arm a bit tighter.
Lara looked between Steven and me, but her expression stayed smooth — just the faintest narrowing of the eyes, like she couldn't quite put her finger on something.
