“Hanaaaa, wake up!”

Hana groaned as Mira’s singsong voice pierced the peaceful cocoon of sleep she had finally managed to settle into. She tried burying her face deeper into the pillow, savoring these rare hours to sleep in after working continuous overnight shifts.

The mattress shifted as Mira plopped down beside her. “Oh no you don’t, missy! You’re not spending your whole day off lounging like a sloth.”

Before Hana could protest, Mira grabbed the edge of the comforter and whipped it off with one fluid yank. She yelped at the rush of cold air assaulting her bare legs through her sleep shorts.

“Miraaaa, come on!” she whined, reflexively curling up into a ball to conserve warmth. “I’m exhausted. Can’t I just rest for once?”

“Nope, not a chance!” Mira was attempting to pull the sheets from under her. “I got us reservations for that super fancy JK place uptown. You’re getting dolled up whether you like it or not, missy.”

Hana pried one bleary eye open to shoot her best friend a withering glare. “What fancy place?”

Mira waved her hand airly. “One of my clients owed me a pretty hefty favor. So I cashed it in for a little glamorous girls’ day out!”

Resigning herself to Mira’s relentless campaign, Hana finally allowed herself to be dragged up into a sitting position, sheets pooling around her waist.

“Okay, okay, you win,” she surrendered. “Please, can I just dress comfortably?”

Mira rolled her eyes indulgently, already launching into energetic musings about hairstyles and jewelry as she bustled around gathering cosmetics and clothes from Hana’s closet...

Soon enough, they were exiting their apartment building and hailing a cab, Hana tugging self-consciously at the emerald green blouse Mira had insisted looked “effortlessly chic” tucked into her trusty black jeans. Before she knew it, they were sweeping through the polished glass doors of the biggest restaurant Hana had ever seen, the gleaming JK logo shining down on them in elegant gold lettering.

Hana followed closely behind Mira as the immaculately dressed butler led them through the opulent restaurant interior. She was trying not to gape too openly at the lavish surroundings. Enormous crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, bathing the plush carpet and pristine white tablecloths in a warm glow. Priceless artworks adorned the walls between grandiose columns.

Mira, on the other hand, seemed to glide through it all with practiced nonchalance. “Can you believe this place, Hana?” she murmured under her breath. “I swear, that Charleston painting alone is probably worth more than both our salaries combined.”

Hana managed a tight smile, giving a meek shrug. High society grandeur like this made her feel painfully out of place. She instinctively shrank closer to Mira’s side, the long skirt of her simple sundress suddenly seeming hopelessly underdressed.

Before Hana could respond, the butler gestured towards an alcove tucked against the wall. “Right this way, Miss Aki. Your table awaits.”

The butler finally stopped before a slightly secluded table in an alcove, pulling out the chairs for them with a flourish. “Right this way, Miss Aki and guest. Your server will be with you shortly.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Mira chirped, sliding into the plush seat with excited elegance.

Hana settled across from her, back rigid against the ornate chair. She twisted a napkin fretfully in her lap, suddenly regretting allowing Mira to talk her into leaving the safety of her pajamas.

Mira must have caught her uneasiness. “Oh, relax, Hana! We deserve to treat ourselves in style once in a while. You work too hard as it is.”

“I know, it’s just...” Hana glanced around again, feeling scrutinized by their Uppercrust surroundings. “Maybe this was a mistake. We kind of stick out, don’t you think?”

Mira waved a perfectly manicured hand in dismissal. “So what? Let them stare. You’re easily the most beautiful woman in this whole place, inside and out.”

Hana felt her cheeks warm at the sincere compliment, some of the knots in her stomach loosening...

She stared down at the leather-bound menu, her eyes nearly bugging out of her head at the exorbitant prices listed. Even the modest side salads were the cost of her entire weekly grocery budget.

“Mira, this is...kind of insane,” she hissed under her breath, flipping another page to find entrees climbing well into the triple digits. “How can people actually afford to eat here regularly?”

Mira had already waved over the snobbish-looking waiter and was sipping delicately at her glass of crisp white wine. “Don’t worry about the cost, sweetie. This is on my client’s dime, remember?” She flashed a conspiratorial wink. “I’m putting that favor to very good use.”

“What kind of favor did you do to score this?” Hana couldn’t help wondering aloud, still gawking at the eye-watering numbers beside each artfully named dish.

Mira shrugged slyly. “Oh, you know...just some smart investments, a little financial advice here and there. Nothing too scandalous, I promise.” She gestured for Hana to start perusing the menu again. “Go ahead, order absolutely anything you want! We’re living it up today.”

Chewing her lip anxiously, Hana nervously ran her fingers along the smooth velvet of her gloves and scanned the listings once more before her practical side won out. “Um, okay...I’ll just have the Caesar salad then, please.” She pointed to the most affordable item she could find.

The waiter’s brow arched ever so slightly in judgment before clearing his throat. “Very good. And for you, miss?”

“Oh, I’ll start with the chilled lobster bisque, then the lamb chops with macadamia cream and a side of roasted asparagus, please!” Mira didn’t even blink at totaling up the costs in her head before handing both menus back with a dazzling smile. “And keep the wine flowing, won’t you, doll?”

Hana shook her head in disbelief as the server whisked away with their orders. Of course, leave it to Mira to go all-out in the name of seizing the moment.

Discretely signaling for just a water refill, she settled in to spectate her best friend’s lavish indulgence.

Hana stifled a laugh behind her water glass as Mira audibly lamented, “Damn, I should’ve ordered that crème Brulé too. That photo looks divine. I’ll ask for it when the waiter comes back around.”

Catching Hana’s amused look, Mira furrowed her perfectly arched brows. “What’s so funny?”

Hana shook her head, still grinning. They fell into a comfortable lull as their plates arrived, Mira eagerly digging into her bisque while Hana picked at her modest salad. True to form, Mira regaled her with the latest gossip between bites, hardly coming up for air.

Then, abruptly, Mira’s animated chatter ceased. Hana glanced up in surprise at the uncharacteristic silence, her friend’s expression now distant and pensive.

“Mira? You, okay?”

“Shh!” Mira hissed, holding up a manicured hand. Her eyes narrowed as she cocked her head slightly. “Listen...”

Hana froze, straining her ears. Following Mira’s gaze, Hana saw nothing out of the ordinary – a group of businessmen laughing at a table a few feet away. But then, a voice cut through the chatter, a voice that sent a jolt through Hana as well, carrying from a neighboring table.

“...Let’s not waste each other’s time.”