Side chapter: How I fell for Riley part 5
A week had passed since my birthday, but the memories of that night lingered in my mind like a vivid dream. Every detail was etched into my thoughts: the dance with my mother, the gifts, the way the candlelight flickered off the ornate decorations, and most of all, Riley.
The way she moved, the way she spoke, the quiet intensity in her eyes—all of it had left an indelible mark on me. I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Each day that followed was filled with a growing sense of impatience. My thoughts were consumed by Riley, and no matter how much I tried to distract myself with training or studying, my mind always drifted back to her.
I had never felt this way before, this overwhelming desire to see someone again, to talk to them, to just be in their presence. It was as if a part of me had awakened, and the only thing that could satisfy it was Riley.