When fate plays its hand

Sam barely registered the music of the intricate variations being played The dim lighting of the concert hall provided the perfect cover for him to let his gaze linger on Miranda, unguarded and filled with tenderness and longing

His eyes kept drifting to her pale, delicate hands Several times, he fought the urge to reach out, take her hand in his, and hold it tightly forever. But each time, reason prevailed.

“Just a little longer,” he reminded himself “Soon after tonight”

He couldn’t rush things He couldn’t risk scaring her away

For Sam, the two–hour performance felt like an agonizing test of patience For Miranda, however, it was an enchanting sensory experience As they exited the hall, she was still brimming with excitement.

“Did you catch that twist in ‘Crovian Rhapsody? He added a rock element to it! It was unexpectedly romantic and so vibrant, especially the middle variation. It was absolutely delightful Don’t you think?”

Sam, who was distracted, responded a beat too late. “Hmm? Yeah, it did sound pretty good.”

Engrossed in her post–concert reverie, Miranda didn’t notice his distraction.

By the time they stepped outside, streetlights were already casting their glow, and the neon reflections. spilled across the pavement like liquid color.

Miranda glanced at her watch, realizing the night had crept in. She remembered her unfinished the lunch she had to prepare for the lab tomorrow. So it was about time to leave.

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Just as she opened her mouth to excuse herself, Sam interrupted. “Will you come with me somewhere?”

“Hmm?” She looked at him, puzzled

“Please?” His dark eyes glimmered under the light, soft yet intense.

Though unsure, Miranda found herself nodding. “Alright, but I need to be home by 9:00 pm.”

“Deal,” Sam said with a faint smile.

Miranda followed Sam’s car, driving through the outskirts until they reached a winding mountain road. The drive ended atop a secluded hill

“Miranda, look over there “Sam broke the silence as they stepped out of their cars.

Miranda was busy adjusting her coat against the biting wind but paused to follow his gaze. Her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Below them, countless lights from homes and streets sprawled like a celestial carpet, twinkling with life. The city shimmered like the Milky Way, scattered across the earth.

“It’s stunning.” she murmured, momentarily mesmerized.

“Do you like it?” Sam’s voice blended softly with the whistling wind

She nodded, still in awe. “I never knew Elgerson had a place like this.”

Without warning, Sam reached into his car and brought out a bouquet. He approached her with a smile and said, “Happy birthday, Miranda.”

She froze, caught off guard. Her birthday was nearly a week ago, so this gesture by Sam took her by surprise.

“How… How’d you know?” she asked as a laugh escaped her lips.

“Here.” Sam extended the bouquet toward her.

Miranda took the flowers, noticing immediately that they were blue roses

“Are these…” Her fingers gently grazed the petals as she examined them closely. “Natural or dyed?”

Her curiosity wasn’t surprising. Her academic instincts were always at play. When it came to matters tied to her field of expertise, her analytical mind kicked in without fail.

From what she knew, naturally occurring blue roses didn’t exist. Most commercially available ones, like the Blue Enchantress” and “Blue Peter“, were artificially dyed. But these.

She couldn’t help but touch them again. Her brow furrowed slightly in concentration, and her expression was one of quiet fascination

Sam watched her intently, his eyes lighting up as she carefully handled the bouquet.