Evan made his way to the university parking lot, the cool evening air brushing against his skin. The faint glow of streetlights illuminated the sleek bck car parked near the entrance. Sienna leaned casually against the hood, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as he approached, her expression softening.
“Ready?” she asked, slipping into the driver’s seat as Evan nodded and climbed in beside her.
The ride to the new shopping mall was surprisingly comfortable. Sienna hummed along to the music pying softly from the car speakers, her fingers tapping the steering wheel in rhythm. Evan gnced out the window, the city lights blending into streaks of color as they sped through the streets.
They arrived at the mall, its modern gss facade gleaming under the artificial lights. Stepping inside, Evan was momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer size of it. The air buzzed with conversation and the faint melodies of background music, the scent of new leather and faint perfume wafting through the air.
“So,” Sienna said, walking beside him, “where to?”
Evan scanned the directories and pointed toward a moderately sized store with a minimalist sign. “That one looks fine.”
She raised an eyebrow but followed him without compint. The store was bright and neatly arranged, racks of neatly hung clothes stretching in rows. Sienna walked alongside him as he sifted through the options.
“You sure you don’t want to go to the usual brand?” she asked, pulling out a pastel-colored sweater adorned with a small, embroidered cat. “You always liked stuff like this.”
Evan winced internally, recalling the memory of the old Evan’s wardrobe filled with frills, cute patterns, and bright colors. He shook his head quickly. “No, I—uh, I’m trying out a new style,” he said, hastily pulling a pin but stylish navy jacket off the rack.
Sienna studied him for a moment before shrugging. “Alright. Your call.”
Evan moved through the store, piecing together a selection of clothes that felt more like him—or at least the him he wanted to be. Simple but stylish shirts, a few pairs of dark jeans, a sturdy jacket, and a sleek new backpack. As he held up the bag to inspect it, he caught a glimpse of Sienna browsing the women’s section nearby.
A sleek, deep red blouse paired with fitted bck pants caught his eye, and he couldn’t help but picture her in it. Before he could second-guess himself, he grabbed them off the rack and walked over.
“Here,” he said, holding them out. “I think you’d look great in these.”
Sienna’s eyebrows shot up, but a sly smile followed. “Oh? Picking out clothes for me now?”
“I just didn’t want you to feel left out,” Evan mumbled, looking away.
“Hmm, alright then.” She took the outfit with a chuckle. “Let’s try them on.”
The fitting rooms were spacious and well-lit. Sienna stepped into one with her outfit while Evan carried his haul into another. Sienna finished first, stepping out and striking a pose in her new outfit.
“Well?” she asked, turning for emphasis.
Evan looked her up and down, impressed despite himself. “Looks great. Told you it’d suit you.”
Sienna grinned. “Not bad, huh? Your turn now.”
Evan tried on his chosen outfits one by one. The first, a simple but sharp combination of a bck shirt and jeans, earned an approving nod from Sienna. The second, the navy jacket paired with a crisp white tee, got her pulling out her phone.
“Hold still,” she said, snapping a few photos before he could protest.
“Do you have to?” Evan grumbled, though he reluctantly posed for one or two shots.
Sienna raised an eyebrow as she gnced at him. “What happened to you? Normally, you’d be the one asking to be photographed.”
Evan sighed, a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well… I guess I’m just not feeling it today.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, unapologetic. “You look great in your new style.”
After he’d gone through his outfits, he moved on to the st section on his list: underwear. Sienna followed, clearly amused.
“You sure you don’t want to pick something cuter?” she teased, holding up a pair of briefs with a bright heart pattern.
Evan gave her an unimpressed look. “Hard pass.” He grabbed a stack of pin, comfortable options and headed to the checkout.
As they stood at the counter with his pile of purchases, Evan hesitated. The total was a staggering amount, even for a casual shopping trip. “Uh, are you sure it’s okay to get all this?” he asked, gncing nervously at Sienna.
She rolled her eyes fondly. “It’s fine. You can even grab more if you want.”
“No, this is enough,” he said quickly, feeling a little guilty as she handed over her card to the cashier. The idea of someone else paying for him still felt strange, though he couldn’t exactly argue against it right now.
Just before the cashier could swipe the card, Evan noticed her slyly slipping the heart-patterned briefs into the pile when she thought he wasn’t looking.
“Oh, come on!” he groaned, snatching them back again and putting them aside. “Do you want them that badly? Should I buy them for you instead?”
Sienna chuckled, a pyful grin spreading across her face. “What? I was just adding a little variety to your collection.”
As they arranged for the items to be delivered to their mansion, Evan shifted awkwardly. “Thanks for this,” he muttered. “I’ll, uh, pay you back ter.”
Sienna chuckled as they stepped back into the mall. “You’re being so formal,” she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Lighten up. I’m only spoiling my fiancé.”
Evan felt his cheeks heat at her words, and without a comeback, he stayed silent. Still, as he followed her toward the exit, he made a mental note: I’ll repay her somehow. Someday.
The thought lingered as they stepped back into the lively corridors of the mall. Evan’s gaze shifted from store dispys to the energetic shoppers around them, but Sienna quickly drew his attention again.
“Let’s look around a little more,” she said with a pyful smile, already leading the way to the next store.
The bustling mall seemed to hum with life as they wandered from shop to shop. Sienna moved effortlessly, her sharp eye catching sleek branded wrist watches in one store, a pair of designer sungsses in another. At one point, she stopped to inspect racks of sharp, formal clothing that seemed more suited to boardroom meetings than casual outings, her choices as refined and purposeful as ever.
Evan watched her as she admired the items, even testing out a high-tech pair of noise-canceling headphones at an electronics shop. She carried herself with an air of confidence, her choices precise yet effortless.
“Anything catching your eye?” she asked, gncing at him over her shoulder.
“Nah,” he replied, shaking his head. “Nothing I need right now.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie—nothing in particur had stood out to him. But guilt still gnawed at him. After spending so much on clothes earlier, he didn’t feel right letting her spend even more. Instead, he deflected, tossing out excuses like not being in the mood or not seeing anything he liked.
As Sienna strolled ahead, she paused by a leather briefcase, her fingers brushing its handle. Her eyes lingered a second too long before she moved on, her stride as purposeful as ever. It wasn’t much, just a flicker of interest, but Evan noticed.
She likes sleek, practical things, he thought, filing it away without fully realizing why.
Store after store, his attention started to shift. At first, it was unconscious—catching the way her gaze would sharpen at a well-cut bzer or the faint smile that pyed on her lips as she examined a minimalist watch. Her preferences were clear: timeless, polished items that banced elegance and functionality.
It wasn’t until they were exiting another store that the realization hit him, clear and undeniable: I’ve been keeping track of her likes and dislikes.
It wasn’t an intentional thing, but it unsettled him nonetheless. Why do I even care? The thought lingered as they exited yet another store.
He gnced at her as she stopped to look at a window dispy, her reflection catching his gaze. There was no denying it—Sienna was breathtaking. Confident, sophisticated, and everything Evan had never imagined would be tied to his life. She was the kind of person who would have been out of his league in his old world—and she still felt out of his league here.
Memories of the old Evan only deepened the divide in his mind. Sienna had been raised to inherit their mother’s conglomerate, groomed to lead with authority and poise. Meanwhile, Evan—just a boy from an ordinary background—had been thrust into this world of wealth and privilege by his father’s second marriage.
No comparison, he thought grimly.
But Sienna wasn’t the type to dwell on gaps like that. She hadn’t looked down on him, not once. Instead, she seemed almost... invested in him. That warmth in her teasing, the subtle hints of possessiveness, even her insistence on these outings—they all spoke volumes.
He couldn’t deny that the engagement still felt like something he’d been pushed into, and though he didn’t exactly love the idea of being forced into it, maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as he’d initially thought.
Maybe this isn’t so bad, he thought, exhaling softly. Their parents didn’t seem to expect much from him—not like they did from Sienna. That was a relief. Back in his old life, it had always felt like the world was pressing down on him, deadlines and bills piling up faster than he could keep up. At least here, no one was breathing down his neck. He had time to figure things out for once.
But still, he couldn’t just sit back and let life happen to him. He had some pride, after all. The idea of relying entirely on Sienna’s success made his skin crawl. He might not have all the answers yet, but he’d find a way to stand on his own. He had to. What kind of man would he be if he didn’t?
Still, one question lingered: How does she feel about all this?
Her warmth and teasing made it clear that she liked him—maybe even more than that. For now, Evan decided, that might be enough.
Watching her move through the world so effortlessly, he felt a flicker of determination. Maybe he’d never be the heir to a conglomerate, but he’d find a way to stand on his own feet in this upside-down world.
“Let’s take a break,” Sienna said suddenly, pulling him out of his thoughts. She nodded toward a cozy café tucked in a quiet corner of the mall. “Coffee and dessert sound good?”
He nodded, grateful for the suggestion.
Inside, the ambiance was calm, with soft lighting and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. They ordered drinks and a selection of pastries before settling into a corner booth. Sienna’s eyes lit up as she took a bite of a fky almond croissant.
“You really like those, huh?” Evan teased, watching her with a small smile.
“They’re amazing,” she said, her enthusiasm shining through. She nudged a small pte toward him. “Here, try this one.”
He took a hesitant bite, his smile widening. “Not bad. I can see why you like them.”
Sienna leaned back, her expression softening. “You’ve cheered up a lot,” she said, her voice quieter now. “I’m gd. You seemed so off these past few days. I thought maybe...” She hesitated, looking uncertain.
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe you were upset about the engagement,” she admitted. “I was scared to find out if that was true.”
Her words struck a chord with him, bringing his earlier thoughts into sharper focus. He set his coffee down, feeling a twinge of guilt. “No, it’s not that,” he said softly. “I guess I just... needed time to adjust. I’m sorry if I made you worry.”
Sienna rexed visibly, her shoulders easing.
Evan took a deep breath, deciding it was only fair to be honest—or at least honest enough. He wasn’t ready to spill everything, but he could offer some partial truth. “I’m not opposed to our engagement,” he admitted, the words feeling heavy but true. “If anything, I’m worried that I’m not good enough for you.”
It wasn’t a lie—just... incomplete.
Sienna’s brows knit, but before she could speak, he held up a hand.
“Just—let me finish,” he said, his face heating. “I know it’s silly to say this. But you’re... amazing. You’ve got everything together, and I’m just trying to keep up. Still, I promise I’ll do my best to be a worthy fiancé and pull my own weight.” His voice softened, almost pleading, “and please, let’s just not talk about it again. Ever.”
For a moment, Sienna just looked at him, her expression unreadable. Then she smiled, the kind of smile that was warm and genuine. “Alright,” she said lightly. “I won’t mention it again.”
They finished their coffee and desserts in comfortable silence before heading back to the car.
As they stepped out of the café, Sienna paused briefly, her eyes meeting Evan’s with a soft smile. Without a word, she extended her hand toward him.
Evan hesitated for a heartbeat before taking it, his heart giving an unexpected jolt.
The drive home was peaceful, the city lights glowing softly through the windows. Evan leaned back in his seat, gncing at Sienna every now and then. She seemed noticeably chipper, a small smile pying on her lips as she tapped her fingers lightly on the steering wheel in rhythm with the music.
It wasn’t hard to figure out why. His confession—or whatever that awkward moment back at the café counted as—must have eased something for her. He hadn’t exactly been subtle about his discomfort over the past few days, and now that he thought about it, Sienna had been unusually patient with him.
When they finally pulled into the driveway of their mansion, Evan hesitated, recalling a piece of advice from an old friend: If the date goes well, try to kiss her goodbye.
His pulse quickened as he gnced at Sienna. She was casually unbuckling her seatbelt, her movements calm, but the moment felt anything but ordinary. The soft glow of the dashboard lights lit her profile, and for a second, he almost convinced himself to let the moment pass. But something about the way her gaze briefly flicked to him and lingered—it made him wonder if she was waiting, too.
What’s the worst that could happen? he thought, though his heart thudded in protest. Gathering his courage, he turned to her.
“Sienna?” he said softly, barely louder than the hum of the engine.
She looked up, her brows lifting in a silent question. Their eyes met, and the tension between them was palpable, a wordless charge hanging in the air. He leaned in slowly, every second stretched thin with anticipation, his heart hammering so loudly he was sure she could hear it.
When their lips met, it was soft and tentative, the kind of kiss that seemed to ask for permission even as it happened. For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them, the cool night air forgotten as warmth spread through his chest. It wasn’t the fireworks or dramatic moments he’d seen in movies—no, it was something simpler, sweeter, yet no less profound.
When they pulled back, the warmth lingered, both in his chest and on his lips. Sienna’s cheeks were faintly pink, her usual poise momentarily softened. For a brief second, she looked away, her shes lowering as though she was gathering herself. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but to Evan, it was striking—like catching a rare glimpse of vulnerability in someone who always seemed so unshakable.
When she looked back at him, her expression had shifted, the faintest hint of shyness lingering in her eyes. But then her confidence returned, like the closing of a carefully crafted curtain. She smiled—a quiet, genuine smile that carried just a touch of something he couldn’t quite name, a crack in her usual elegance that made her seem even more real.
“Goodnight, Evan,” she said, her voice soft yet steady, as though the moment hadn’t completely undone her, but it had certainly left its mark.
“Goodnight,” he murmured, his own voice unsteady. “I’ll head in first.”
He stepped out of the car, his knees feeling strangely light, as though the ground beneath him wasn’t quite real. His heart still raced from the kiss—his first ever. It had been fleeting, but in that moment, it felt like the world had shifted just slightly.
Maybe this life wasn’t what he’d imagined but tonight gave him a reason to look forward. He didn’t have all the answers yet, but he knew one thing for sure: he was ready to put in the effort to make the most of this second chance.
LunarEcho
