James couldn't believe his eyes when the notification popped up on his phone. Not only had Mia accepted his friend request — she had liked his post. Actually, several posts.
And she had viewed his reels.
Multiple reels.
James almost dropped his phone right there on his bed. He sat up, wide-eyed, staring at the glowing screen.
"Is this really happening?" he whispered to himself, heart pounding. For years, he had been watching Mia from afar, always the silent admirer, always the background extra in her story.
But now? She was here, noticing him.
The next day, life handed him another shock.
James was at the gym, doing his usual routine — some weights, a bit of cardio, nothing fancy — when he looked up and nearly fell off the treadmill.
There she was.
Mia.
In leggings and a crop top, stretching casually near the mirror, earbuds in, her hair tied up in a bouncy ponytail.
James' mouth went dry. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, his heart racing.
No way.
Was she coming to this gym now? The same gym he went to every week?
Was this fate? Magic? Dumb luck?
Whatever it was, he wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
For the next few days, James worked up his courage. He watched for the right moment, waiting for when she didn't seem too busy or too focused.
And finally, one afternoon, he saw her struggling a little with the weights machine.
He swallowed hard, wiped his sweaty palms on his shirt, and walked over.
"Hey, need a hand?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Mia looked up, surprised.
"Oh! James, right? From high school?" she smiled.
He grinned, feeling his chest warm.
"Yeah! I, uh, noticed you here. Thought I'd help out a bit. I come here a lot, so… if you ever want a training buddy, I'm around."
To his surprise, Mia laughed softly. "Wow, that's really nice of you! Actually, I am trying to get the hang of this place. Maybe you can show me some stuff?"
James nodded eagerly. "Yes! Totally. I'd love to."
And just like that, James found himself acting as Mia's unofficial fitness trainer. He showed her proper form, helped adjust her weights, and even guided her through stretches.
But there was one little problem.
Okay, maybe not so little.
Every time Mia leaned forward, every time she bent down, every time she tied her shoelace or reached for something… James' eyes couldn't help but wander. Her chest, her waist, her curves — he was painfully aware of all of it. He tried hard to stay professional, to focus on the fitness part, but inside his brain was short-circuiting.
Oh my God, is this real life?
He couldn't believe his luck.
The girl he had dreamed about for years was right here, working out next to him, laughing at his jokes, thanking him for his help.
After a few gym sessions together, James decided to make the next move.
"Hey," he said one afternoon, wiping sweat from his brow, "some of us usually grab coffee after the gym. Want to come with us next time? It's super chill, just a fun group hangout."
Mia smiled brightly. "That sounds nice! Sure, I'd love to."
That weekend, they all gathered at a cozy little coffee shop near the gym. There were about five or six of them — some regular gym buddies, a couple of new faces, and, of course, Mia. They squeezed around a wooden table, laughing over protein shakes and iced coffees, teasing each other about gym fails and weekend plans.
James felt like he was floating. Mia was right there, sitting next to him, laughing at his stories, sharing little tidbits about her life. He couldn't believe how easy it felt, how natural.
Then, as luck would have it, the others decided to make a quick run to the nearby store. "Be right back, guys!" one of them called out. Within minutes, James and Mia were left alone at the table.
James' heart thudded in his chest.
This was his chance.
He smiled at her nervously. "So… this is kinda crazy, right? Us hanging out again after all these years."
Mia tilted her head, thoughtful. "Yeah, it is kind of wild. You know, I barely remember high school these days."
James chuckled softly. "Well, I remember you. I remember us dancing at prom."
Mia blinked, surprised. "Wait, we danced at prom?" she asked, laughing lightly.
James nodded, a bit shyly. "Yeah. You probably don't remember — it was just one dance. But… it meant a lot to me."
Mia gave him a warm smile. "Aww, that's sweet. I'm glad you reminded me."
For a brief moment, James felt like the world had gone soft around the edges, like the two of them were in their own little bubble.
He wanted to say more, to open up, to tell her how long he'd admired her — but before he could, her phone buzzed.
Mia glanced at the screen, her smile fading slightly. "Oh, that's my boyfriend. He's waiting outside for me." She stood up, grabbing her bag. "I should go."
James' heart sank.
Of course. The boyfriend. How could he have forgotten?
But he wasn't ready to let go just yet. As Mia slung her purse over her shoulder, James cleared his throat. "Hey, are you going to the book fair this weekend? I heard it's supposed to be really cool."
Mia paused, thinking. "I'll try," she said with a small smile. "Maybe I'll see you there."
And just like that, she was gone, walking out of the café.
James sat back in his chair, watching her through the café window. He saw her boyfriend's car pull up — a sleek black vehicle — and Mia slipping into the passenger seat. He watched the guy lean over to kiss her cheek, watched Mia laugh at something he said.
James' jaw tightened. His hands curled slightly into fists on the table. Something dark flickered inside his chest, a storm cloud gathering quietly.
He needed her.
He deserved her.
This wasn't over.
As he stared out the window, watching the car drive away, James felt his resolve harden.
If the magic worked once, maybe it could work again.
He had come this far — he wasn't about to back down now.