Date: March 22–23, 2025

  After the whirlwind that was last week, I decided to take Hannah’s advice and actually rest this weekend. No emails, no Slack notifications—just me, Mochi, and two days of glorious freedom.

  Well, that was the plan.

  Saturday: A Lazy Morning

  I kicked off Saturday the way I always do: with tea and Mochi glaring at me until I shared a piece of toast with her.

  Naomi and Elena were surprisingly quiet, probably busy with their own weekend plans, so I had the whole day to myself. I spent the morning lounging on the couch, watching old episodes of Great British Bake Off and pretending I’d someday attempt a croquembouche.

  After everything that had been happening at work, the competition stress, Leo and Ethan acting weird, sprint deadlines looming, it felt good to just exist for a bit.

  The Call

  Around noon, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from my mom.

  “Hi, Mom,” I said, balancing my phone against my shoulder as I tried to untangle Mochi from a ball of yarn she’d stolen.

  “Ada, do you remember your Aunt June?” my mom asked, skipping the pleasantries.

  “Of course. Why?”

  “She’s in town and wants to see you,” Mom said. “I told her you’d meet her for dinner tonight.”

  “You what?” I asked, nearly dropping the phone.

  “She’s only here for a day,” Mom said. “And she’s bringing a surprise.”

  I groaned. Aunt June thrives on chaos. A “surprise” could mean anything—from an actual gift to a long-lost cousin I’ve never met.

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  Dinner with Aunt June

  By 7 p.m., I found myself at a cozy little Italian restaurant, scanning the room for Aunt June.

  “Over here, Asako-chan!” she called, using my Japanese name and waving enthusiastically from a corner table.

  I made my way over, bracing myself for whatever surprise she had up her sleeve.

  “It’s been ages!” she said, pulling me into a hug. “You look radiant, even if you could use a little more sleep.”

  “Thanks, I think,” I said, sitting down. “So, what’s this surprise?”

  June grinned and gestured to the seat next to her.

  “Meet Oliver Carter,” she said.

  Sitting there was a guy around my age, tall with dark, slightly wavy hair that looked like it always fell perfectly into place, even if he didn’t try. His sharp features softened when he smiled, which he did easily as he stood and extended a hand.

  “Hi, you're Ada right? Your mom mentioned you might be able to help me out.”

  The Twist

  Apparently, Oliver is June’s friend’s son who just moved to the city for a new job.

  “I thought you could show him around,” June said, clearly pleased with herself.

  Oliver laughed. “No pressure, though.”

  We ended up talking through the whole dinner. Oliver was friendly, quick-witted, and had a knack for turning even the most mundane topics into something entertaining.

  “So, you’re in data science?” he asked at one point.

  “Yeah. It’s… a lot,” I said.

  “I get that,” he said. “I’m in architecture—totally different field, but the deadlines are just as unforgiving.”

  I had to admit—Oliver was easy to talk to. There was no pressure to impress, no awkward silences. Just conversation that flowed effortlessly, which felt rare these days.

  By the time dinner was over, I had to admit that Aunt June’s surprise wasn’t so bad after all.

  As we said goodbye, Oliver grinned. “I’m still getting my bearings in the city. Maybe I’ll have to stop by your office for a tour sometime.”

  I blinked, imagining him walking into TechJolt and immediately being interrogated by Leo and Priya.

  “Yeah,” I said slowly. “We’ll see how that goes.”

  Sunday: A Quiet Day

  Sunday was back to my usual routine.

  I read a book, cleaned my apartment, and took Mochi out to the balcony for her weekly sunbathing session.

  In the afternoon, my phone buzzed with a text from Oliver:

  [Oliver: “Thanks for dinner last night. Let me know if you ever want to grab coffee or show me the best spots in the city. No rush, though!”]

  I stared at it for a second longer than necessary.

  It was nice—low pressure, just a friendly message.

  And it had been a while since someone new had entered my orbit, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that yet.

  So I saved his number. I’d respond later.

  Evening Reflections

  This weekend wasn’t what I expected, but maybe that’s a good thing.

  Between Aunt June’s antics and Oliver’s easygoing charm, it was a reminder that surprises don’t always have to be chaotic. Sometimes, they’re just… nice.

  As I get ready for the week ahead, I feel a little lighter, a little more refreshed. It’s back to the grind tomorrow, but for now, I’m enjoying the calm.

  Until next time,

  Ada W.