CHAPTER 118: YOU LOOK LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING[JUNE’S POV]

My room was pure chaos... like a thrift store having a Black Friday sales.

Clothes were everywhere.....piled on the bed, draped over the chair, even a bra hanging off the doorknob. My wardrobe had been turned completely inside out, and somehow... nothing felt right.

I’d tried on at least five outfits, hated all of them, and now I was standing in my bra staring at my open wardrobe like, yeah okay so I actually own zero outfits apparently.

"Daaaad!" I screamed from my room. "I literally have nothing to wear!"

From the living room he yelled back, "You do, June! Check properly!"

Check? I’d been checking for almost an hour! Nothing feels right. Men never understand the struggle.

I flopped onto my bed, groaning into my pillow, then rolled over.

This was my first time actually going to a guy’s place....like, not Ash or Marcus, who didn’t even count because they were practically family.

No. This was Ren. Ren. The one I’d had a stupid, ridiculous crush on since forever.

My stomach twisted. If I showed up looking wrong, I’d never forgive myself.

So of course, I grabbed my phone. Only one person could save me.

Ash.

I dialed him once. No answer.

"Ughhh, Ash, pick up..." I muttered, pacing back and forth.

I checked the time.... 5:30pm already. Crap. Ren had sent me his address, and I didn’t want to be the late, messy girl on the first hangout.

I tried again. This time, he finally picked.

"Hey, June," he said, his voice sounded muffled.

"You didn’t pick up the first time! Are you with Dominic?"

"I’m... kinda busy right now." He whispered on the phone.

"Don’t hang up, Ash. Please. Emergency." I pointed at the pile of clothes around me like he could see through the phone.

My voice came out high and whiny, but whatever....desperate times.

"I don’t know what to wear to Ren’s. Should I do a dress? Jeans? Is that too casual? What if he thinks I tried too hard? Ughhh."

"June..." he sighed.

"What? Don’t ’June’ me!"

"Just wear something you’re comfortable in."

"That’s it? That’s all the advice you’ve got? I don’t know what I’m comfortable in." I pressed a hand over my forehead. "Ugh, maybe I shouldn’t even go anymore."

"June, it’s not even a date, right? It’s just you guys practicing your song."

"Not a date for him," I admitted, rolling onto my stomach, "but it’s a date for me. I don’t care what he thinks."

There was silence, "Alright, alright. You can wear a dress."

"Which one?" I widened my eyes.

I heard a pause, like he was digging through his memory. "What about that one you wore to Alia’s birthday? The light blue one with the little flowers? You looked... good in that. Wear it."

I froze, sitting up. "Oh my God. Why didn’t I think of that? Ash, you’re a genius."

I scrambled off the bed, digging through my disaster pile until I pulled it out, wrinkled at the bottom of the pile.

"Don’t hang up!" I ordered, clutching the phone in one hand while I wriggled into it.

My heart was pounding as I slipped it on, checked myself in the mirror, then quickly switched the call to video.

"How do I look?" I twirled awkwardly in front of the mirror.

His screen was dark for a second.

"Where are you? Everywhere’s really dark, I can’t see properly." I tapped my phone.

He shifted toward the light, then his face lit up.

"Wow. June, you’re actually beautiful. Like, breathtaking. The contacts? Perfect. The makeup? Flawless. Body? Snatched, Tea. Honestly, you look like you stepped out of one of those TikTok glow-up edits."

I bit my lip, smiling even though my face was burning. "Thanks. You’re making me nervous in a good way."

"Nah, for real. You look insane. In the best way."

"I may have... binged like, seven tutorials overnight."

"Well, it worked. Ten out of ten. No notes." He nodded seriously.

That little boost of confidence settled in my chest.

"In case you need anything, call me. Seriously." Then he leaned closer to the camera, all serious. "But listen, if he does anything to make you uncomfortable? Leave. Immediately. Or call me, text me."

"Woooow," I dragged it out, rolling my eyes. "It’s Ren, not some serial killer. The guy I’ve had a crush on since literally day one at Blackwell? I’m not running at the first weird vibe. Honestly, I’m kinda prepared for anything. I’m even thinking of seducing him."

"JUNE! Are you insane? You barely even know him! What if he takes advantage of you? You can’t just...no. No. You’re not seducing anybody." Ash nearly blew my eardrum through the speaker.

I collapsed onto the bed, laughing until my stomach hurt. "Fine, fine. I’m kidding! Geez. Don’t pop a vein."

But the truth was...I wasn’t entirely kidding. My stomach was already fluttering like crazy, and part of me wanted tonight to be more than just singing practice.

By 6:15 I was finally out the door. Dad actually whistled when I came downstairs.

"You look good, baby girl," he said with this proud smile. "You look just like your mom."

"Don’t make it weird," I muttered, but secretly? My confidence bar went up like +10 points.

The dress Ash picked out clung in all the right places, but suddenly I wasn’t sure if it was too much, or not enough.

In the cab, my leg kept bouncing non-stop.

Every red light, I grabbed the little pocket mirror from my bag and checked my makeup.

Was my eyeliner smudged? Lip gloss faded? Did my mascara flake under my eyes? What if Ren noticed a crooked lash before he noticed me?

I kept remembering Ash hyping me up and Dad’s little whistle. Ugh. Okay. Maybe I was cute tonight.

Just to double-confirm, I spammed Marcus selfies in the car with the caption: do I look girlfriend material be honest.

He had probably seen it and didn’t reply. Traitor.

I knew he’d type something chaotic.

I exhaled, staring at the passing streets. It’s not a date. It’s not a date. It’s just a song practice.

But the way my chest thudded?

By the time I reached Ren’s street, I was basically vibrating. I typed his address into Maps like three times just to make sure I wasn’t about to walk up to some stranger’s door and die of embarrassment.

I walked up his front path, my heart was beating so fast. The house was....wow. White. Just white everything. White stone walls, white marble steps. It felt like walking into a dream.

I rang the bell. Immediately, my palms got sweaty.

And then...he opened the door.

Ren.

I literally froze.

He was standing there in black shorts, a towel draped casually around his neck, droplets of water still sliding down his chest. His hair was wet, pushed back messily like he’d just run a hand through it.

My mouth actually watered. I had to bite the inside of my cheek so I wouldn’t make squeal like an idiot.

"Wow, June," he said, blinking at me like he didn’t expect me to be real. Then his lips curved into the smallest smile. "I almost didn’t recognize you. You look like the first day of spring...unexpected... and far too bright for my door."

Oh my God. Was that a compliment? A poem? Both?

I smirked, tilting my head just a little, letting my eyes drag down his chest before meeting his gaze again. "You always answer the door like this?"

He blinked, genuinely confused. "Like what?"

"Half-naked. Wet." I let the word linger, even though my heart was pounding like crazy.

He chuckled, stepping inside to let me in. "I was swimming when you rang. I didn’t want you to wait. I suppose I owe you an apology for the mess."

Mess. Yeah, okay. If this was a mess, I wanted to live in it. The faint chlorine smell, the glossy wet hair, the way droplets traced his collarbone....no one should be allowed to look like that casually.

I slipped inside, pretending not to stare too long. His house was just like the outside...white walls, white couches, white shelves lined with neat stacks of books. It felt like stepping into heaven. Or a museum. Or both.

It felt ethereal. Like him. Clean and beautiful.

Meanwhile, I was standing there in my blue floral dress, trying not to look like I was imagining pinning him to one of those pristine white walls.

"Your house..." I said slowly. "It’s... beautiful."

Ren’s lips twitched. "It’s quiet. Too quiet sometimes. But tonight, maybe not."

Oh, he had no idea what that did to me.

Ren moved past me, his towel was already slipping lower on his neck as he gestured toward the wide staircase that seemed to stretch forever.

"Come on," he said quietly. "Let’s go upstairs. I’ll take you to my room. I hope you’re comfortable here."

My heart raced immediately. His room. His actual room.

Before I could even respond, a voice called out from the hallway.

"Master Ren?"

An older woman emerged, her hair tied back neatly in a bun, apron still on. She looked at me, then at Ren, and her face broke into the warmest smile.

"Ohhh," she said softly. "So this is the girl we’re expecting."

The girl? Oh my God, did everyone in his house already know I was coming over?

Ren, stepped toward her. "Mrs. Alvarez, this is June. She’s here to work on music with me." His tone was respectful.

Mrs. Alvarez’s eyes crinkled as she looked at me again. "What a beautiful young lady," she said, clasping her hands. "Welcome, mija. Do you need anything? Water? Juice? A little snack before you go upstairs?"

I stammered, "Oh..um, no thanks ma’am. I’m fine. Really."

She just smiled, and patted Ren’s arm before disappearing back down the hall.

Ren glanced back at me, and tilted his head toward the stairs again.

"Come," he said. "Let’s go."