Ayra's POV
The night was still wrapped in stardust as we all lounged on the balcony, the laughter slowly giving way to dreamy silence. Selene leaned her head on Antonio's shoulder, her fingers curled around his. Eliot's arm was draped behind me, his pinky lazily tracing patterns on my wrist.
"Let's go somewhere," I said suddenly, lifting my gaze to the sky.
Selene blinked. "Somewhere?"
"Like… far. Out of Europe. Something wild and beautiful," I said, turning toward them. "What if we… traveled together? A couples' trip."
Antonio grinned. "Okay, now I'm listening."
I sat up straighter, my heart pounding from the rush of the idea. "Ever heard of the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal? It's tucked in the Himalayas. Beautiful trekking trails, sunrise over snowy peaks, yaks, tea houses, stars you can actually count. It's… magic."
Eliot turned to me, eyes sparkling. "You've been there?"
"No," I whispered, "but it's been in my dreams forever."
Selene sat up, wide-eyed. "Nepal? As in—Mt. Annapurna, Everest's cousin?"
"Yes!" I nearly squealed. "It's a full-circle hike, takes days, but the view from the base camp? Unreal. And the people—so warm. Plus, it's spiritual. Like a soul-cleanser."
Antonio looked at Selene, his lips curving. "I say we do it. Something different. Something unforgettable."
Selene bit her lip, nodding slowly. "I could design layered warm gear. Hiking boots with style."
"And I'll journal the whole trip," Eliot added. "Photos, sketches… I've always wanted to see the Himalayas."
We all looked at one another, hearts racing with the thrill of something new. Something ours.
"Then it's decided," I grinned. "Four hearts. One trek. Annapurna Base Camp."
The stars above us twinkled brighter, almost like they were in on our secret plan. In that moment, I didn't care how hard the trail would be. We were strong. We were in love. We were together.
And we were going to climb a mountain