The night Mira met Jace, she wasn't looking for anything — not love, not even a friend.She was just scrolling through endless posts, trying to drown out the quiet ache of another ordinary night.
The world outside her window was silent, save for the occasional distant car honk or the soft rustle of the trees. She should've been asleep, should've been preparing for another day. But instead, she was lost in the glowing screen of her phone, numb to everything else.
Then, like a random glitch in her routine, a new message popped up.
"Pawn to e4."
It was odd. It was a chess move.
She stared at the message momentarily, unsure if she should just laugh or ignore it. Was it an inside joke she didn't get? Some kind of obscure reference? Or worse—was this someone who really thought "chess" was a good opener?
But curiosity got the better of her. She didn't play chess, but she'd seen enough movies to recognize the move. Still, there was something oddly intriguing about it. She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the absurdity, or maybe it was the simplicity. Whatever it was, she couldn't resist.
"Is this a challenge or are you just messing with me?" she typed, one eyebrow raised as she waited for his reply.
She was already prepared to be irritated. But then his response appeared almost instantly.
"Both. But mostly a challenge."
Mira snorted, the sound escaping her lips before she could stop it. The confidence in his response was... refreshing, even though it was ridiculously random. It was rare for someone to jump straight into a conversation like this.
She glanced at the clock. Midnight was approaching, just a few minutes away. The clock on her phone ticked down, reminding her that the year was almost over, the world was on the edge of something new, and here she was—lost in a conversation with some stranger over a chessboard.
She felt a strange pull toward the moment. Maybe she was just tired of the same routine. Maybe it was the boredom of another solo New Year's Eve. Either way, she found herself typing again.
"So, what's your New Year's resolution?" she asked, the words flowing easily.
It felt like a normal question to ask in the context of the night. Nothing serious, just some casual banter. She didn't expect much of an answer.
"To meet someone interesting. And since I'm 2 minutes away from failing, I figured I'd start with you."
Mira blinked at the screen. Was that... flirtation? She hadn't expected it, but there was something playful in his tone, like he knew exactly how to catch her attention. It was bold. Confident. Too bold, maybe.
"You're brave, I'll give you that."
She felt a little stupid for typing it out, but it was true. Who opened a conversation like that? Who said something like "start with you" without any shame?
"And you're humble. Impressive." he replied.
Mira chuckled, shaking her head. She was getting way too into this. But for some reason, this was the first conversation in a long time that felt like it had a spark.
She didn't want to admit it. She didn't even know why she was still talking to him. But then she glanced back out the window at the fireworks in the distance. The night was still young. It wasn't too late to take a chance.
"Alright then, Mr. Chess Player," she typed with a smirk. "What's next in your strategy?"
There was a brief pause, just enough time for Mira to second-guess everything. But then, the message popped up.
"Maybe we make a New Year's resolution together."
She laughed, her fingers hovering over the keys. Was he really trying to make this happen? This wasn't some awkward small talk or a casual chat. It felt real, like something she wasn't supposed to let slip away without giving it a chance.
"So... what, like... a couple?" she typed, her heart beating faster now.
The response came almost immediately:"Yeah. A couple. A real one. What do you think?"
Mira didn't even pause. It was fast. It was bold. It was everything she never expected. But in that moment, it felt like fate. It felt like this was the start of something.
"Why not?" she typed without a second thought.
She knew she should be more cautious. She knew she should take things slow, get to know him more. But Mira wasn't the type to overthink things, especially not when it felt like the universe was nudging her in the right direction.
Another few seconds passed, and then his message came through:"Alright, Mira. Let's do this. A couple, then. Happy New Year, my... partner in crime."
Mira felt a strange heat spread through her chest, like something clicked. It was as though the year had reset for both of them, and they were starting fresh, together.
"Happy New Year, Jace," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips.
And just like that, they were a couple — two strangers, bound by fate and firework-lit skies, leaping into a brand-new year together.