Mira had never really been one for grand gestures. She liked small, quiet moments, the kind that made you feel seen without needing to shout. But every now and then, Jace had a way of doing something unexpected that made her feel like she was the most important person in the world.
It had started out like any other Friday evening. Mira was finishing up her homework, earbuds in, her room quiet except for the soft hum of music playing from her laptop. The hours seemed to blend into each other as she worked, the only sign of life outside her textbooks being her phone — occasionally buzzing with a new message from Jace.
"What are you up to?" he'd texted a few minutes earlier.
She'd replied with a quick update on her homework. No surprise there. She'd been buried in assignments all week, and this was the first time she'd had a chance to catch up.
"I'm almost done, then we can talk. I miss you."
A few seconds passed before his response came in.
"I miss you too, my love. Actually, I have something for you. Something special. I'll explain later. Just keep your phone on."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"What do you mean? What's going on?"
"It's a surprise. You'll see soon."
She furrowed her brow, a mix of curiosity and excitement building inside her. She wasn't sure what he meant by "something special," but the idea of a surprise — even from miles away — was enough to keep her attention.
She finished her homework quickly, her mind drifting in and out of the task as she wondered what was coming. Could it be something silly? A gift? A spontaneous video call? She wouldn't put it past Jace to come up with something quirky or sweet.
As the clock ticked past ten, her phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Check your email," the message read.
Mira's heart skipped again. She opened her inbox, expecting a normal email — maybe some funny meme or a video from him, something to lighten her mood.
Instead, there was a subject line that read: "Your Special Surprise Awaits".
Confused, she clicked it open. The email contained a link to a website, one she had never seen before.
"What's this?" she muttered to herself, clicking the link.
It took her to a page that looked like it was for a booking website, but there was something different about it. As she scrolled, the destination revealed itself: an online travel agency. And right at the top of the page was an itinerary — for a trip to Kyoto, Japan.
Her breath caught in her throat. She blinked, staring at the screen in disbelief.
"Wait… what?" she typed into their chat.
"Surprise!" Jace's message came almost immediately. "I've booked us a trip. I know it's crazy, but I wanted to do something special for you. I know you've always talked about wanting to go to Kyoto, so I made it happen. I've already looked at dates, and all we need to do is pick the time that works best."
Mira was speechless. She stared at the email again, her hands trembling slightly.
"You really… did this?" she typed back, unable to hide the shock in her voice.
"Yeah, I did. I want us to experience something unforgettable. Something real. I know we can't go tomorrow or next week, but I thought it'd be something to look forward to when everything calms down."
Her heart swelled. The idea of going to Kyoto, a place she had dreamed of visiting since she was a little girl, felt like a dream in itself. But to be going there with Jace, someone who knew exactly what she wanted without her having to say a word? It was beyond any surprise she could have imagined.
"Jace… I don't know what to say."
"Say yes." His response was simple, and yet, it sent her heart racing.
For a moment, Mira sat back, trying to process it all. This was more than a surprise. This was a promise — a promise that Jace was willing to go out of his way for her, even when they were hundreds of miles apart. It was the kind of gesture that spoke louder than words.
"I'll say yes," she replied after a moment. "But only if you promise you'll be the best tour guide ever."
"Deal."
And just like that, Mira was already imagining the two of them strolling down the streets of Kyoto together, hand in hand, surrounded by the cherry blossoms and the sights she had only ever seen in pictures.
But as the excitement settled in, she couldn't help but wonder: how could someone so far away — someone who she'd only known for a few months — already mean so much to her?
Jace had managed to surprise her in the best possible way, and for the first time in a long while, Mira felt like maybe she could allow herself to believe in this.
Her feelings for him weren't just based on cute messages and fun games. This was something deeper, something real. She had always thought she would never get attached so quickly, but now, with Jace, it felt impossible not to.
The next morning, as the sun rose, Mira lay in bed with a smile on her face, replaying the moments of the night before. The trip was going to be incredible, but more than that, it was proof of something that was beginning to feel undeniable — this thing between them was real.
And she was ready to see where it would go.