City Park - 11:30 PM
The park was quiet. The moon hung high in the sky, casting silver light across the empty pathways. The only sounds were the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the city.
And the sound of Matteo's nervous breathing.
He was standing by the park entrance, wearing his best shirt (which he'd ironed three times) and holding a small bouquet of flowers. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing.
He had asked Naila on a date. Their first official date.
And she had said yes.
Matteo checked his watch for the fifth time. "She said midnight. Why did I agree to midnight? Who dates at midnight? Is this normal in this country? I don't know what's normal anymore..."
"Matteo."
He spun around. Naila was standing there, wearing a simple dress and looking... awake. Actually awake. This was a rare sight.
Matteo's face lit up. "Naila! You came!"
Naila nodded slowly. "I said I would. Too much effort to cancel."
"That's... that's the most romantic thing you've ever said to me!"
"I know."
Matteo handed her the flowers. "These are for you!"
Naila took them, looked at them, then handed them back. "Can you hold them? I'm tired."
Matteo blinked. "Oh. Okay. I'll hold them for you."
"Thanks."
They started walking along the park path. It was peaceful. Romantic, even.
Matteo tried to make conversation. "So... how was your day?"
"Slept all day."
"All day?"
"Mostly."
"That's... that's great! Sleep is important!"
Naila nodded. "I know."
Matteo smiled. This was going perfectly.
***
Behind a Large Bush - 50 Meters Away
Four heads peeked out from behind the bush.
Chima was in the front, squinting into the darkness. "Seriously? They're dating at midnight? Who does that?"
Wony adjusted her position. "It's romantic. In a... unconventional way."
Fatimah was holding a pair of binoculars. "I can't believe we're spying on them."
Alice was bouncing with excitement. "This is the BEST DATE EVER! And we're not even on it!"
Chima groaned. "Why are we even here?"
"Because Naila is our friend and we need to make sure Matteo doesn't do anything stupid," Fatimah said.
"He's ALWAYS doing something stupid!"
"Exactly. That's why we're here."
Wony whispered. "Shh! They're stopping!"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfD6LPcVVv
Matteo and Naila had stopped near an old oak tree. Matteo was trying to be romantic.
"Naila," he said softly. "This night is beautiful. The moon. The stars. And you."
Naila looked up at the sky. "Yeah. It's nice."
"I want to tell you something," Matteo continued. "Ever since I met you, my life has been..."
Suddenly, a cold breeze swept through the park.
And then... a figure appeared.
It was a woman in an elaborate Tudor dress, walking slowly across the path. Her posture was regal. Her dress was elegant.
But... she had no head.
Matteo's eyes went wide. "What... what is that?!"
Naila looked up. Her face lit up with recognition.
"Oh! My favorite queen just passed by!" She waved cheerfully. "Hi, Anne! Looking good without the head!"
The headless figure paused. It seemed to wave back.
Then it continued walking and disappeared into the mist.
Matteo was frozen. "N-Naila... did you just... wave at a headless ghost?!"
"Yeah. That's Anne Boleyn. She's cool. I like her."
"SHE'S A HEADLESS GHOST!"
"I know. And she's my favorite queen."
Matteo's brain short-circuited. "You... you have a favorite headless ghost?!"
"Don't you?"
"NO! NO, I DON'T!"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hVcEzHf1i
Behind the Bush
Chima slapped her forehead. "Did Naila just wave at a headless ghost?"
Wony also slapped her forehead. "Naila is NOT okay."
Fatimah lowered the binoculars. "She waved. At a headless ghost. And called her 'Anne.'"
Alice was filming everything. "THIS IS GOLD! NAILA IS BEST FRIENDS WITH ANNE BOLEYN!"
Chima looked at her. "Alice, put the phone down."
"NEVER! THIS IS HISTORY!"
Wony sighed. "I can't believe our friend is more comfortable with ghosts than with people."
"She's always been like that," Fatimah said. "Remember the cemetery picnic?"
"She slept on a grave!"
"Exactly."
Chima shook her head. "I can't deal with this. I can't."
***
Matteo was still in shock. "Naila... do you see ghosts often?"
Naila thought about it. "Sometimes. They're usually nice. Except the angry ones. They're annoying."
"ANNOYING?!"
"Yeah. They complain a lot. Like, 'I was murdered unjustly!' or 'My head was chopped off!' Like, okay, that sucks, but can you just... move on?"
Matteo stared at her. "You're the most terrifying person I've ever met."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
"I know. But I'm taking it as one."
Matteo laughed. Despite everything, he laughed. "You're impossible, Naila."
"I know."
They continued walking. The night air was cool. The moon was bright.
And somewhere in the distance, Anne Boleyn was probably wandering around.
***
They were walking peacefully when a voice rang out from behind them.
"WELL, WELL, WELL. LOOK WHO'S ON A DATE."
Matteo and Naila turned around.
A teenage girl stood there, arms crossed, a smirk on her face. She looked like a younger, more mischievous version of Naila.
Naila sighed. "Azka. What are you doing here?"
Azka, Naila's 16-year-old sister, grinned. "I was curious. My lazy sister actually went out at midnight? I had to see it for myself."
"Go home, Azka."
"Make me."
Matteo looked between them. "Naila... who is this?"
"My annoying little sister."
Azka bowed dramatically. "Azka, the cool one! Unlike my sister, who sleeps 20 hours a day!"
Naila's eye twitched. "Azka. Stop."
Azka wasn't done. "I can't believe someone actually asked you on a date. Like, actually wanted to spend time with you. Are you paying him?"
Matteo was confused. "What? No!"
"Then why would he date you? You're lazy, boring, and you talk to ghosts!"
"AZKA."
"You called a headless ghost your favorite queen! Who does that?!"
Naila's face was getting red. "Azka, I'm warning you."
"You're warning me? What are you going to do? Sleep on me?"
Matteo stepped forward. "Excuse me, little sister—"
"I'M NOT YOUR LITTLE SISTER! And why are you dating her? You know she's going to fall asleep during the date, right? She fell asleep during her own birthday party!"
Naila's voice was quiet. "Azka. That's enough."
"Or what? You'll cry? You always cry. That's all you do. Cry and sleep."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdPolPv7x1
Naila's face fell. The usual sleepy calm was gone, replaced by something raw and hurt.
Matteo noticed immediately. "Naila? Are you okay?"
Naila didn't answer. She just looked at Azka with sad eyes.
"Azka... why are you so mean to me?"
Azka's smirk faltered. "I... I'm not mean. I'm just honest."
"You're not honest. You're cruel."
Azka opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
Naila turned away. "Let's go, Matteo."
"Wait... Naila!" Matteo looked at Azka, then back at Naila. "But—"
"I don't want to be here anymore."
Her voice was so quiet. So defeated.
Behind the bush, Chima was gripping the branches tightly.
"I'm going to strangle that little brat," she muttered.
Fatimah held her back. "Chima, wait—"
"I DON'T CARE! SHE MADE NAILA CRY!"
Wony was already moving. "I agree. That's too far."
Even Alice had stopped filming. Her face was serious. "Yeah. That wasn't cool."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvgk23agoB
Suddenly, the temperature dropped.
The mist rolled in.
And Anne Boleyn appeared again and radiating displeasure.
The ghost pointed at Azka. A cold wind swirled around the teenager.
Azka's bravado disappeared. "W-what is that?!"
Naila looked up. "Oh. Anne's back."
Azka stumbled backward. "That's... that's a ghost?!"
"A very angry ghost," Naila said calmly. "She doesn't like people being mean to me."
"WHAT?!"
Anne Boleyn floated toward Azka, who screamed and started running.
"NO! NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
Azka ran down the path, the headless ghost chasing her.
"I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'LL BE NICE! I PROMISE!"
Anne Boleyn continued chasing her.
Matteo stared in disbelief. "Is... is she going to be okay?"
Naila shrugged. "Probably. Anne's not really mean. She just likes to scare people."
"She's chasing your sister without a head!"
"She's teaching her a lesson. It's fine."
Azka's screams echoed through the park. "I'LL BE A GOOD SISTER! I PROMISE! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
Naila smiled. "She'll learn."
Matteo stared at her. "You're terrifying."
"You said that already."
"I'm saying it again. You're TERRIFYING."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXGlxwwQfx
The four girls emerged from behind the bush.
Chima was laughing hysterically. "THAT WAS AMAZING! A HEADLESS GHOST CHASING A MEAN TEENAGER!"
Wony nodded. "That was the most elegant revenge I've ever seen."
Fatimah smiled. "Naila, you didn't even lift a finger."
Naila shrugged. "Too much effort."
Alice was recording Azka running in the distance. "This is going viral! 'Naila's Sister Gets Chased by Anne Boleyn ghost'!"
Matteo looked at them. "Wait... you guys were here the whole time?!"
"Of course we were," Chima said. "You think we'd let you two date unsupervised?"
"THAT'S INVASIVE!"
"That's friendship!"
***
Azka eventually escaped, though she was traumatized and swore she'd be a better sister.
Naila and Matteo continued their date, with the four girls "supervising" from a distance.
Matteo looked at Naila, completely awestruck. "You know... I thought this date would be normal."
Naila raised an eyebrow. "Did you really?"
"No. I guess not."
"Good. Because normal is boring."
Matteo laughed. "You're right. Normal is boring."
He took her hand and she let him.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7ChtuL1k8
and then Add to home screen.