Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter

The park buzzed with life. Children darted through the playground, their laughter echoing in the crisp morning air. The faint aroma of fresh-cut grass mingled with the earthy scent of damp soil, grounding Tulip in the moment as a gentle breeze brushed against her skin. Joggers weaved through the walking paths, and a group of teenagers huddled near the benches, chattering about weekend plans. Tulip sat cross-legged on the grass, leaning against a tree, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight as she scrolled through her phone absentmindedly. She’d come here for some peace, but her curiosity was piqued when she spotted a familiar figure approaching.

“Hey, Tulip!” a cheerful voice called out. It was Zara, her energetic friend who always seemed to know everyone in town. Zara plopped down next to her, a big grin on her face.

“Hey, Zara,” Tulip said, tucking her phone into her bag. “What’s up?”

“You’ll never guess who I was just talking to,” Zara said, practically bouncing with excitement. “Ren!”

Tulip raised an eyebrow. The name sounded vaguely familiar, tugging at the edge of her memory like a half-forgotten song, but she couldn’t place it. “Who’s Ren?”

Zara’s eyes widened. “You don’t know Ren? Oh, you’re missing out. He’s this amazing artist—like, seriously amazing. He’s a total introvert, but his drawings are out of this world. He’s kind of a genius, honestly.”

“A genius, huh?” Tulip said, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “What’s so special about his art?”

Zara pulled out her phone and started scrolling. “Hold on, I’ll show you. He posts his stuff on Instagram.” After a few moments, Zara handed her phone to Tulip.

Tulip took it, her eyes landing on an intricate sketch of a cityscape. Every detail was meticulously drawn, from the reflections in the glass windows to the tiny pedestrians on the streets. She swiped to the next post: a fantasy landscape with towering mountains, mythical creatures, and a vibrant sunset that seemed to glow on the screen.

“Wow,” Tulip breathed, unable to tear her eyes away. “This is… incredible.”

“Right?” Zara said, beaming. “I told you. He’s insanely talented. And he’s only our age! Can you believe that?”

Tulip nodded slowly, still scrolling through Ren’s posts. There was something captivating about his work, something that felt personal, like each piece held a part of his soul. One sketch of a solitary figure standing under a stormy sky made her chest tighten—it reminded her of the nights she spent gazing at the rain, lost in her own thoughts. “Does he take commissions?” she asked, only half-joking.

Zara laughed. “I think he’s too shy for that. He barely even talks to people. But hey, I can give you his Instagram handle if you’re interested.”

Tulip hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sure, why not?”

As Zara typed the username into Tulip’s phone, a small smile played on Tulip’s lips. She wasn’t sure what it was about Ren or his art that intrigued her so much, but she wanted to find out more.

Later that evening, Tulip lay on her bed, scrolling through Ren’s Instagram. Every post drew her in further, from his sketches of anime characters to his imaginative landscapes that seemed to leap off the screen. She tapped the follow button before she could second-guess herself.

“Hi, my name is Tulip,” she typed into the message box. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard as she debated what to say next. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness—Ren’s art had struck a chord with her in a way few things did, and reaching out felt like stepping into uncharted territory. What if he thought she was weird? Or what if he didn’t reply at all? Still, something about him made her want to take the risk. Finally, she added, “I’m Zara’s friend, and I just wanted to say I like you. Also, your art is amazing.”

Before she could stop herself, she hit send. For a moment, she stared at the screen, her heart racing. What was she expecting? A reply? An awkward silence? She didn’t even know if he’d seen it.

Ren’s phone buzzed on his desk, a new notification lighting up the screen. He glanced at it briefly: a message request from someone named Tulip. He sighed and turned back to his bag, stuffing his notebooks inside. Tuition was in half an hour, and he didn’t have the energy to deal with strangers right now. Love and admiration weren’t things he knew what to do with.

By the time he got back from class, the notification had slipped to the back of his mind. But as he settled into his chair and opened his phone, the message popped up again. This time, he noticed the name Zara. His fingers hesitated over the keyboard before typing a short reply.

“Hi. Thanks. Nice to meet you.”

When he hit send, he noticed the original message had changed. The part where Tulip had written, “I like you,” was gone. Now it was just a simple introduction: “Hi, my name is Tulip, and I’m Zara’s friend.”

Ren frowned slightly, his mind flickering with questions. Why had she unsent part of the message? What had she written before? He sent the reply and leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen. There was a faint tug of curiosity, but he quickly dismissed it, convincing himself it wasn’t worth overthinking. He didn’t know why, but something about Tulip’s message felt… different. For now, though, he didn’t give it much thought.

In a world of fleeting notifications and forgotten conversations, some messages had a way of lingering—and this was one of them.