Promises Kept

The weeks after midterms flew by, the buzz of exams giving way to the usual rhythm of school life. I'd almost forgotten about my casual "yes" to Liam's hangout proposal until he stopped me after school, blocking my way with an exaggerated sigh.

"Um-um-um," he said, shaking his head dramatically like a disappointed parent.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You," he said, pointing at me like I'd committed some grand offense. "You should never forget your promises, little girl."

I rolled my eyes and gave him a look. "What are you even talking about?"

"Our plans," he said, crossing his arms and feigning heartbreak.

"Ohhh." I sighed, dragging it out like it had just clicked. "Right. But I need to get ready first."

"Fine," he said, leaning back against the wall, already smirking. "One hour. BB Café. Don't be late."

I nodded, turning on my heel to sprint home.

At Home

I tore through my wardrobe like a tornado, finally settling on a baby pink dress. It was simple but cute, paired with a white mini shrug. I let my hair fall naturally, added just a touch of makeup, and stepped back to inspect myself in the mirror.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

When I went downstairs, my dad glanced up from his paper. "Where are you off to?"

"I've got plans with a friend," I said, adjusting my shrug.

He narrowed his eyes, putting on that mock-serious tone. "This isn't with that super annoying idiot you mentioned, is it?"

I laughed, grabbing my bag. "It is, actually. Bye, Dad!"

"Don't let him talk you into anything stupid!" he called after me, but I was already out the door.

At the BB Café

I arrived huffing and out of breath, spotting Liam immediately. He was already sitting at a corner table, looking up just as I rushed over.

"Did you wait long?" I asked, still catching my breath.

His gaze locked on me like the rest of the world had disappeared. It wasn't subtle, either. His eyes widened, and his jaw tightened slightly, like he was trying to process something incomprehensible.

"Liam?" I waved a hand in front of his face, snapping my fingers.

He blinked and shook his head. "Uh… huh? No! I just got here too."

"Sure you did," I said, smirking. He looked good—black button-up shirt layered over a plain white tee. It was simple, but he pulled it off effortlessly.

"You look… good," I said, deciding to throw him off a bit.

His face turned bright red, starting from his neck and spreading upward like wildfire. I didn't need to read his mind to know he liked me. He was painfully obvious.

"Idiot," I muttered under my breath, though I couldn't help but smile.

At the Amusement Park

The rest of the day felt like stepping into a different world. We wandered through the amusement park, Liam cracking jokes and keeping things light. We rode the roller coaster and the merry-go-round, but the highlight? Discovering his secret fear of heights.

He tried to play it cool, but the way his knuckles turned white as he gripped the safety bar on the Ferris wheel was priceless. "You're afraid of heights?" I teased, laughing so hard I could barely breathe.

"I'm not afraid!" he shot back, his voice slightly higher than usual. "I'm just… cautious."

"Sure, tough guy."

Despite his protests, the day was a blur of laughter and unexpected moments. By the time the sun started to set, we were both exhausted. We found a quiet bench near the edge of the park, watching the fiery orange sky melt into purple.

I wanted to ask him. Are you no_name? Did you kill my father? The words sat heavy on my tongue, but I couldn't push them out.

Liam broke the silence instead.

"So…" he began, his tone casual but pointed. "Do you play Mr. Spy?"

My heart skipped a beat. I stared at him, my mind racing. Did he know?

"Um… yes," I said cautiously, watching his face for any signs of recognition.

A slow, knowing grin spread across his lips. "I thought so."