(Michelle Lui's POV)
I woke up before my alarm.
Again.
Not because I was nervous.
…Okay, maybe because I was nervous.
My phone glowed softly on my nightstand.
Saturday
8:02 AM
Two hours until he arrived.
Two hours until whatever this was began to take shape.
I sat up, ran my fingers through my hair, and inhaled — deep, steady, grounding.
But the breath caught anyway, fluttering like a startled bird behind my ribs.
"Get it together, Michelle," I whispered to my reflection as I walked past my vanity.
The reflection whispered back,
You're glowing again.
Great.
Breakfast smelled like panic.
I walked into the dining room and Mom gasped like I arrived wearing a wedding dress.
"Oh. My. GOODNESS."
Dad put down his mug sharply. "WHAT. WHO. WHY."
"It's just Saturday," I said, pouring juice.
Mom squinted at me. "Cute sweater. Soft waves. Lip tint. Perfume."
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"Oh she's in LOVE."
I choked on air.
And juice.
Simultaneously.
