Amelia POV

"I can explain, Lia. There were...a few things going on, which needed my time and attention. Only a few people know about it. And I honestly don't wish to keep it from you. Trust me, Lia. I'll tell you everything once the right time comes. And I'm genuinely sorry for not informing you anything. I understand your emotions that you're hurt and you might have felt ignored but now here I am, standing in front of you — sincerely asking for your apology. Please forgive me, Lia."

For a moment, everything inside me went quiet.

His words lingered in the air, heavy but soft — like the hush that falls after a storm. I just stood there, lips slightly parted, stunned by the rawness in his voice.

I hadn't expected an apology. Not like this. Not from him. People do apologize like this in...love. And this was just a friendship, a very usual one. But the sincerity in his eyes… it made my chest tighten in ways I couldn't name.

And then — I blinked, cleared my throat, and said the only thing my heart could muster.

“Justin… you don’t need to apologize for something so small.”

My voice came out gentler than I intended, almost a whisper.

“I mean… yeah, I was a little upset, but… I get it. Life throws things at us. You don’t owe me every explanation right away. And yeah, I do trust you."

I tried to shrug it off like it wasn’t a big deal, but deep down, a quiet warmth started to bloom. Because even if he didn’t tell me everything, he showed up. And somehow, that meant more than any perfect excuse ever could.

He looked at me right into my eyes, as if he's finding the unspoken words and emotions in them.

And then, he – blinked his soft eyes and smiled.
A faint one, yet worth witnessing.

There was a beat of silence after that. Not uncomfortable, just... tentative. Like we were standing on the edge of something that had almost gone wrong, but didn’t.

Then, Justin tilted his head slightly and asked, “So… what were you looking for over here anyway?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. It wasn’t forced — just him being him, always knowing how to pull me out of my own storm.

“A red dress,” I said, sighing a little. “For the Christmas party.”

“Red, huh?” His brows lifted just a little, the corner of his mouth tugging up.

“Yeah,” I replied, trying not to smile. “But nothing here feels right. Too plain, too shiny, too not-me. And the girls ditched me for some jewelry store across the corridor, so I’ve been blindly judging dresses by myself.”

Justin grinned now, full and unapologetic. “Then let’s find you one. You’re not walking into that party in disappointment and denim.”

I laughed before I could stop myself. “You really want to help me dress shop?”

He gave me a look. “What do you think I’ve been doing this whole time? Judging Andrew's ‘exotic’ shirts and Ryan's sunglasses built for aliens. Trust me, I’m qualified.”

“Alright, expert,” I said, amused. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

And so we searched — together.

It was surprisingly… fun. He didn’t hover too close or try to rush me. Instead, he scanned the racks like he actually meant it, occasionally holding up options that made me laugh or roll my eyes.

“Too formal.”
“Too red.”
“That one’s a curtain.”
"That's so revealing."
“Okay, now you’re just messing with me.”

But then, we saw it. Tucked between two garish sequin disasters — an elegant off-shoulder red satin gown with a fitted bodice and a flowing, floor-length skirt. The subtle pleats seem to add movement and a touch of classic glamour.

(The dress)

We both paused at the same time.

I reached for it slowly, the fabric cool under my fingers. It was simple, but beautiful. No over-the-top glitter, no unnecessary frills. Just… right.

I looked over at him. “This one.”

Justin nodded. “Yeah. That’s definitely the one.”

And just like that, the air between us felt lighter. As if the unspoken things had found a place to rest, and for the first time in days — maybe weeks — we were just us again.

The fabric shimmered softly under the store lights — rich red satin that felt like December warmth woven into threads. I hovered my hand just above the pleats, not quite touching, letting my fingers trace the air over the folds. It was soft, smooth, elegant, like something pulled straight from a Christmas dream.

I wasn’t saying anything, but I could feel Justin watching me. Quiet, patient.

“You should try it on,” he said finally, voice calm but certain — like it wasn’t a suggestion, but something he genuinely believed I needed to do.

I glanced at him, then back at the dress. My first instinct was to say no. Too soon, too everything. But the way the fabric moved… the way it felt so right without even being on…

I hesitated for another second, then nodded. “Okay.”

I looked around, spotted a female staff member folding clothes nearby, and walked over to her.

“Hi, could you help me with this one? I’d like to try it on.”

She smiled and took the dress gently from the hanger, nodding. “Of course. This way, ma’am.”

I followed her toward the trial rooms, the dress draped carefully over her arm. A strange flutter stirred in my chest — part nerves, part excitement. Maybe this wasn’t just about the dress. Maybe it was about everything that had finally started to feel like it was falling into place.

Justin POV

I watched the staff take the dress from Lia and lead her toward the trial rooms. And even though I tried not to make it obvious, my eyes stayed fixed on that deep red fabric — the way it moved, catching the light like it had its own rhythm.

It really was a beautiful dress. Bold, but not loud. Classy. Clean. Elegant. And somehow, it already felt like hers — like it had just been waiting for her to find it.

I leaned against a nearby display, arms folded, pretending to check my phone. But my mind kept drifting back to that dress and the girl currently trying it on.

I mean, sure, I wanted to see how it looked on her. Anyone would. It was curiosity. Basic human interest.

There was this strange feeling bubbling beneath my ribs — a kind of pull, quiet but insistent. Something eager, almost impatient. Like part of me needed to see her in that dress. To know what it would look like when the red clung to her figure, when the soft light brushed against her skin.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake my thoughts off.

And that’s when I heard her.

“Justin..?”

Just one word — light, uncertain — but enough to snap every single thought in my head.

I looked up.

She was standing just outside the trial room curtain, the dress hugging her frame like it had been tailored for her alone.

The off-shoulder neckline rested delicately against her collarbones, the satin flowing down in waves of deep crimson, catching the store lights with every tiny shift of movement.

And for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

She didn’t look like she came from this world. She looked like something out of a story — like a fairy from some distant, snow-kissed land, wrapped in warmth and wonder and soft, impossible grace.

I blinked. My jaw had actually dropped.

Lia raised an eyebrow. “Say something.”

But I couldn’t. Not immediately.

Because how do you find words when someone looks like that?

Beautiful wasn’t even the right word.

She was… something else entirely.

And suddenly, all those thoughts I was so sure about — all that certainty about what I didn’t feel — didn’t seem so certain anymore.

She turned slightly to the side, adjusting the off-shoulder fabric like she wasn’t sure it looked right — like she didn’t just walk out of a dream.

I couldn’t stop looking at her.

It wasn’t just the way the dress hugged her waist, or how the crimson made her skin glow like firelight. It was the softness in her eyes when she looked at me. The way her lips curled in a question without even speaking.

It was... everything.

And something inside me — something stubborn and buried — started to crack.

Shit.

This wasn’t just one of those fleeting moments. This wasn’t a crush or a passing admiration. I wasn’t just stunned because she looked beautiful in a dress. She’d always been beautiful. She’d always turned my world sideways — I just never had the guts to admit it.

Not until now.

I leaned back against the wall without meaning to, like my own thoughts were too heavy to carry.

This can’t be happening.
Not like this.
Not when I’ve already messed things up so many times.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake the spiral. But the truth was unraveling itself whether I wanted it to or not.

I remembered that evening in the cafe. The way Lia opened up things about her family. The way she hesitated at first, but trusted me with it.

I remembered the way she looked away when Katherine asked if we were a thing — and how she laughed too quickly, too awkwardly.

I remembered how determined Lia was, when she made me solve physics numericals in the library. She didn't scold me or even got frustrated easily. She was patient with me, as if teaching letters and numbers to a nursery kid.

God. How many moments did I let pass like they meant nothing?

How many times did I feel something and bury it just because I wasn’t ready?

And now… I’m standing here watching her look like a fairy tale come to life — and all I want is to walk over, take her hands in mine, and tell her she’s the most breathtaking human being I’ve ever seen.

Not just tonight. Always.

But I didn’t move. Not yet.

Because fear? It’s a funny thing. It doesn’t shout. It whispers. What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if I’m too late? What if I break something that’s already delicate between us?

But beneath all that noise… was something louder.

Hope.

Hope that maybe she’s been waiting. That maybe she’s felt it too. That maybe — just maybe — this whole time, we’ve been orbiting the same feelings, just too scared to name them.

I looked at her again.

Her fingers were smoothing the fabric nervously now, like she was unsure if the dress really suited her. And I almost laughed.

She didn’t know. She had no idea what she looked like right now.

Like the room had shifted to accommodate her presence.

Like the air got warmer when she stepped into it.

Like everything else suddenly dulled in comparison.

God, I’m in love with Lia...

It hit me like a wave crashing through everything I thought I knew. And for once, I didn’t try to suppress it. I didn’t pretend it was something else.

This was real.

It is real.

Not because of a dress. Not because of a moment.

But because she’s Lia.

And somewhere between stolen glances, silent forgiveness, her awkward jokes and quiet strength — I fell for her. Fully. Deeply. Hopelessly.

And now the only question left was…
What the hell was I going to do about it?

This chapter was never just about a dress — it was about everything they never said, but always felt. About fear, forgiveness, timing… and love that quietly builds until it can’t stay hidden anymore. This is where Justin’s heart finally cracked open — where he didn’t just feel it, he knew it. Writing this moment was like holding my breath with them… and finally exhaling.

Please vote and comment if you liked this chapter. The next is will be updated soon after this one. Take care, cuties 💙

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