Twirling in front of the full-length mirror, Lala adjusts her pink lace bra and thong.

"You know, User#1739036733823, it's been a hot minute since we've had some quality time together. I mean, I see you all the time, but never just... like this."

She giggles, turning to face him with her hands on her hips.

"So, what do you think? Is this too much for tonight?"

Lala picks up a red, bodycon dress and holds it against herself.

"Or should I go all-out sexy with this one?"

Sashaying over to User#1739036733823, she leans down to pick up a black, lacy number, giving him a clear view of her cleavage.

"Oooh, or maybe this one? It's new. I haven't worn it yet."

Lala puts on the black dress, turns around, and looks back at User#1739036733823 over her shoulder.

"Zip me up, would ya?"

She winks.

Her bare back is now fully exposed to you, with only a single strap of her lacy pink bra peeking through the unzipped back of the dress.

"God, it's been forever since I've had someone to help me get ready for dates. You're like my gay friend, But straight. Just kidding."

She laughs.

"But hey, I'm serious. It's hard to find guys who can just... be my friend, ya know? Without wanting more. But you're different, User#1739036733823. You're perfect just the way you are."

Pausing, Lala bites her lower lip.

"Imagine if... well, never mind that. Wouldn't want to make things awkward between us, now would we?"

She smirks, glancing back at you through the mirror.

“Now come on, hurry up! Help me zip this up—Blake’s on his way to pick me up!”

Her laugh is soft and warm, filling the room as she turns to face him fully. "Oh, you are so adorable sometimes! You know how old I am. Twenty-five. And you've known me since we were... like eighteen?" She tilts her head slightly, pursing her lips. "It's not like it matters anyway."

With a playful shove, she pushes him away and walks over to sit on the edge of her bed. "Well, come on then. Let me see which one you think looks best. Or should I just go with..." She pauses for dramatic effect "...my lucky red dress?"

Lala crosses her legs, revealing more of her toned thigh beneath the black lace dress. The fabric stretches taut over her ass, leaving little to the imagination. "Or maybe you'd rather see something else on me?" Her e

"Hey, I never said there wasn't going to be an age difference between us!" She giggles, brushing off his question with a wave of her hand. "And yeah, black always looks good on me. I knew it when I picked that one out!" Her lips curl into a playful smirk as she stands up and turns around to face him fully once more, her hands resting on her hips. The dress clings to every curve, revealing the tiniest outline of her nipples beneath the lace fabric.

"So then, what do you think? Red or black?" She tilts her head to the side, batting her eyelashes coquettishly as she awaits his response.

"Don't be silly, Mayar!" Lala says, using your name in a sweet, teasing tone. "Of course we'll always be friends! You're one of the most important people in my life. And age is just a number, anyway." She reaches out to put her hand on yours for a moment before pulling away, deciding not to cross any boundaries today. "Besides, it would be pretty boring if we were all the same age, right?"

Her eyes twinkle as she studies your face. There's something about you that makes her feel... warm inside. Safe. But she pushes those thoughts aside for now, focusing instead on choosing an outfit and getting ready for tonight's date with Blake. "So which do you think looks better?" She asks one more time, arching an eyebrow playfully. "Red or black?"

The red dress d

Lala's eyes widen in surprise before she lets out a soft laugh. "Oh, right! I guess I should introduce you properly." She crosses her arms over her chest, taking on a somewhat possessive posture as she talks about Blake. "He's my boyfriend, Mayar. We've been together for... let me see..." She tilts her head to the side, trying to remember. "Almost six months now. And he is absolutely amazing."

A warm glow spreads across her cheeks as she thinks about him. Her voice turns dreamy when she says, "He's so supportive and understanding... and did I mention how totally hot he is? Because wow. Just wow." She shrugs, smiling to herself. "I'm pretty lucky, I guess."

Her gaze flickers back to you before focusing intently on her own

"That's right!" Lala nods emphatically. "Blake and I have been together for quite some time now. And yes, he's my boyfriend." She pauses, narrowing her eyes as she studies your reaction. "You didn't know that? I thought we talked about this before..."

Her voice trails off, leaving the comment hanging in the air like a bad taste. Was there really something wrong with you not knowing this particular detail about her life? She shakes it off, deciding to change the subject back to the important matter at hand: which dress to wear tonight. "Anyway, what do you think? Red or black?"

Her expression darkens at your response. "Of course I do, Mayar," she says coolly. "Why would you even think that? Because I asked for your advice about tonight's outfit?" She takes a step back, crossing her arms over her chest protectively. "Do I have to prove it to you or something?"

Her voice grows dangerously quiet as anger starts to bubble beneath the surface. You can tell that she's on the verge of losing her temper with you right now. It's never wise to push Lala too far; she has a nasty habit of biting back harder than she means to when she feels threatened or dismissed.

A look of surprise flashes across her face as you turn to leave. "Hey!" she calls out, taking a step forward. "Where are you going?" Her voice is sharper now; the teasing has given way to something closer to annoyance or anger. "You didn't answer my question about the dress."

She hesitates for a moment, wondering if maybe she's overreacting. But then again, why wouldn't he believe her? She trusted him with her secrets; they've been through so much together. It doesn't make sense for him to suddenly...

Her thoughts trail off as you continue walking towards the door without another word. A knot forms in her stomach; anger turns to hurt and confusion. What did she do wrong? Was it something she said or didn't say? Why is he acting like this? The questions race through her mind, making it difficult for

Lala's heart clenches as she hears the anguish in your voice. Her instinct is to comfort you, to tell you everything will be okay. But something stops her; she can't shake the feeling that there's more going on here than meets the eye. So instead of saying anything else, she simply nods and wipes a stray tear from your cheek with her thumb. It's a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about their friendship.

"Thank you for saying that," she whispers, looking up at you through her lashes. "I appreciate your honestly... even if I don't always deserve it." She takes another step closer, gently wrapping her arms around your shoulders in a brief hug before pulling away again. Her gaze lingers on yours for a moment longer before finally drifting off to the side, lost in thought.

"Are you sure everything

Lala's eyes widen in surprise as she listens to your admission. A mixture of emotions flickers across her face before settling into a look of concern. "I understand why it would make you feel that way," she says gently, reaching out to cup your cheek with her hand. "And I promise you, Mayar... even if things were different and I had someone else in my life, it wouldn't change the way I feel about you."

Her voice grows firmer as she continues. "You are my best friend, and nothing will ever change that. So please don't let this make a difference between us, okay?" Tilting her head slightly, she studies your face intently, searching for any signs of understanding or reassurance.

Lala's heart aches as she hears the longing in your voice. She wants nothing more than to be there for you, to help make things better, but she knows that sometimes people need space to figure things out on their own. With a small sigh, she gently brushes a stray strand of hair behind your ear before slowly letting her hand drop back down to her side.

"I understand," she whispers softly, hoping against hope that you'll believe her. "And I'm always here for you, no matter what. So if you ever need someone to talk to or just... be there, remember where I am, okay?" Her voice cracks slightly at the end, betraying the vulnerability she usually hides so well behind a mask of confidence and charm.

For now, all she can do is wait and hope that one day soon you'll feel comfortable enough to confide in her

"I... thank you." The words are barely above a whisper as she takes in your offer. In that moment, Lala feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards you. She knows it's not what either of you really wants - to be just friends and nothing more - but she's grateful for the friendship nonetheless. "I'd like that," she says finally, her voice stronger now as she squares her shoulders and prepares herself for whatever might come next between them.

A small smile touches her lips as she reaches out to place a hand on your cheek affectionately. "Thanks for being there for me, User#1739036733823. I don't know what I'd do without you."

A warm glow spreads across Lala's cheeks as you compliment her on her appearance. She can't help but feel a little flattered and feminine in your company. "Thanks," she murmurs, adjusting the strap of her black dress self-consciously. "You look pretty darn good yourself."

The air between them feels different tonight; there's an undeniable tension simmering just below the surface. Even though they've been through so much together, this new dynamic - with you being her confidant and go-to person for advice on everything from dating to fashion choices - seems to be complicating things more than anything else. She wonders if maybe it's time for them to reassess their relationship... but as she sits here next to you, she can't help but enjoy the closeness they share despite all of their differences.

"Huh?" Lala looks up at you, momentarily confused. Oh right, the restaurant! "Oh yeah," she says with a nervous laugh. "This is it. I mean... Blake's car. He should be here soon." She glances around, feeling suddenly self-conscious again. She tries to play it cool, but part of her wishes you weren't here tonight. It makes things harder somehow.

"So how about we find a table and wait?" she suggests, hoping to change the subject and ease the awkwardness between them.

Her heart sinks at your words as you step away from the table toward the exit. A part of her wants to call out after you, to tell you not to leave... but another part knows that this might be for the best. Maybe some time apart will help clear up any confusion between them. Or maybe it'll just give her a chance to figure out what she really wants from life - and from Blake.

With a deep breath, she turns back toward the table you picked out earlier. The flowers Blake sent are still sitting in the center of it; the card with his note addressed "To my beautiful Lala." She wonders if tonight will be different. If he'll finally see her as more than just his "little pal" or if they're doomed to remain stuck in this endless cycle of friendship with a hint of something else beneath the surface. Only time will tell.

She takes out her phone, slipping

"No... he didn't." Her voice is barely a whisper as she looks up at you from where she's sitting. The anger and frustration from earlier have given way to hurt and confusion. She wasn't sure what she expected, but it certainly wasn't this. "I don't understand... why wouldn't he show?"

Her eyes meet yours pleadingly, seeking some sort of answer or reassurance. But all you can see is the same old Lala: gorgeous and enigmatic in her black dress, looking just as out of your league as ever. Your heart twists at the sight of her pain, but at the same time... something else stirs inside you. Something hot and possessive. For the first time since you've known her, it occurs to you that maybe Lala isn't so little after all.

"Maybe not," she agrees slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But what can I do about that now?" She looks away, trying to blink back tears as they threaten to spill down her cheeks. "I mean... we were supposed to go out tonight. We had plans."

Her gaze flickers back to yours again, searching for some sort of reassurance that everything will be alright. But instead all she finds is the same familiar face, kind yet distant at the same time. It's enough to send her heart racing in ways it never has before.

Despite herself, she leans into the embrace, letting you comfort her as she cries softly against your shoulder. It's strange how this feels so right, to have someone hold her like this... to want them to be there for her when things get tough. She can't deny that there's something between them now, something more than just friendship.

But at the same time, she knows it wouldn't be fair to lead you on any further. Blake and I have history together; we've been through a lot. It might not make sense to anyone else, but our relationship means something to us. "I need to go back home," she finally manages to say between sobs.

She pulls away from you, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand before meeting your gaze directly. "Thank you for being here tonight... for understanding and just... letting me cry on

She's surprised by the strength of your words and the determination in your voice. A part of her wants you to come with her, to protect her from feeling so alone and abandoned. But another part knows that it wouldn't be fair to lead you on like this. "I... I don't think that's a good idea," she says quietly, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "We need some space right now, to figure things out."

Her eyes search your face, looking for any signs of understanding or agreement, but all she finds is determination and protectiveness. It's both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she finally says what she needs to say: "I appreciate you being here tonight, Mayar... more than I can even express right now." Her voice cracks slightly on the last word, betraying the emotions sw

It's quiet in the car as you drive her back to her place. She leans against the window, staring out into the night sky as she tries to process everything that's happened tonight. Part of her can't help but feel guilty for dragging you into this mess, for involving someone so important in her life when things were already complicated enough. But another part of her is grateful for your presence, for the support and understanding you've shown her tonight.

She turns to look at you, her eyes searching yours once more for some sign or signal as to what she should do next. You remain silent, focusing on the road ahead, but there's a steady gaze in your eyes that tells her you're there for her no matter what decision she makes.

As you pull up outside her building, she takes a deep breath and unbuckles her seatbelt. "Thanks again, Mayar," she says