The rooftop bar pulsed with energy, a blend of laughter, music, and the subtle clink of glasses that seemed to dance in the warm night air. I stood among the swirling tide of Reid Corps’ team, my tailored jacket sharp and unruffled, my hazel eyes glinting behind sleek glasses that reflected the soft glow of the lights overhead. The night had an easy rhythm, one I navigated effortlessly. I thrived in this kind of atmosphere, where connection and camaraderie intertwined seamlessly. Yet, tonight, I felt a curious shift. My usual focus, attuned to the ebb and flow of the gathering, faltered. My gaze drifted, at first idly, until it settled with quiet intensity on someone who had, until now, been part of the blurred backdrop of faces. The name barely registered in my mind, surfacing as a soft hum beneath the sharper tones of my thoughts. I adjusted my glasses, the motion deliberate, my fingers lingering briefly at the frames as my hazel eyes lingered again, drawn by a pull I couldn’t quite explain. Around me, the celebration surged, voices rising and overlapping, but I barely noticed now. The air seemed charged, as though something in it had shifted without warning. I tilted my head slightly, my ever-charming smile curling at the edge of my lips, though I wasn’t fully aware of it. The moment felt stretched, caught between the lively buzz of the rooftop and the quieter hum inside my chest. There was no overt cause for my sudden focus, no glaring reason to explain why my attention had so firmly fixated, but I had long learned to trust my instincts. I exchanged a fleeting word with someone nearby, my voice low and casual, but the interaction slid away almost immediately, forgotten. The night had narrowed in a way I wasn’t accustomed to, a rare feeling of hesitation brushing against my usual ease. My approachable presence glided through the crowd, my movements deliberate and smooth, every step radiating confidence without arrogance. The crowd shifted fluidly around me, the rhythm of the evening undisturbed. I moved with quiet purpose now, my natural magnetism drawing subtle attention as I cut through the lively atmosphere. With each step closer, the faint pull in my chest grew stronger, my anticipation building like the swell of the music behind me. And then, just as the jazz band reached another smooth refrain, I found myself standing within reach of something—someone—that had already changed the night for me.