Bella loved the breakfast spread so much that she almost forgot to breathe between bites. Warm buttery toast, scrambled eggs, fruit bowls glistening with morning dew, soft pancakes with honey drizzled on top, everything arranged beautifully on the low outdoor table. And around her, everyone she adored sat close, talking, laughing, stealing food from each other’s plates like loud, overgrown children.
Her heart felt full in a way she hadn’t known for years. She loved monts like these, where the morning sun ward her back and the sound of her friends’ laughter curled around her like sothing soft. Still, a tiny part of her missed her other circle too, especially Theo. He had ssaged her that he would co soon, but there was no news after that.
anwhile, things on the other side of the table were far from calm.
"Dominique, stop stealing my pancake!"
"I didn’t steal it, Jason, you put it too close to my plate!"
"That doesn’t an... hey! Casper, you saw him! Tell him!"
Casper raised both hands lazily. "I didn’t see anything. I am trying to ditate. You two disturb my spiritual flow."
"You have no spiritual flow!" Jason snapped.
"You have no pancake!" Dominique shot back.
And just like that, they were arguing again, bickering like two old ladies fighting over the last tomato in the market.
Scarlett finally snapped.
"Goodness," she shouted, slamming her spoon on her plate, her eyes shooting fire. "You two are giving a headache. If you don’t shut up, I swear I am throwing both of you into the lake."
Jason shrieked dramatically. "Scar, no. My hair."
Dominique gasped. "My skin care. The lake water is not pH balanced."
Scarlett rubbed her temples. "Exactly. Both of you deserve it."
Bella giggled behind her hand, warm sunlight brushing her cheek as she watched them with sparkling eyes. She hugged her mug of warm cocoa closer.
However, she nearly choked on her saliva when Dominique puffed up his chest like a peacock and announced, loud enough for half the forest to hear, "My future wife is so beautiful. I am already whipped. The mont I find her, I know she will fall hard for ."
Jason burst into laughter instantly, head thrown back like a hyena witnessing peak cody. "You? Whipped? Bro, you have nothing except a pretty face and big delusion. Seriously, how did you even beco a top model? God just rolled dice that day."
Dominique clutched his heart dramatically. "My beauty is a curse. Don’t be jealous."
Jason ignored him completely and leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "Wait. This masked woman you always talk about... what if she’s a celebrity? Or soone dangerous? You said she had a tattoo, right? Snake or sothing?"
Dominique clicked his tongue. "Do you think I am stupid like you? Of course I checked. I made software myself, scanning every model and actress in the entertainnt industry. I even hired a digital artist to create a full predicted face. None of them matched."
He sagged forward, dramatically mournful. "Fate is tragic. But I will find her."
Jason scoffed. "Who are you calling stupid, you lovesick peacock? Your software probably crashed from your own selfies."
Dominique gasped. "Take that back."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Bella watched them, her cheeks puffed with amusent, trying not to giggle as they bickered like two kids fighting over a lollipop. The morning breeze fluttered through her hair, and she set her cup down, her smile soft and warm.
She looked up when she noticed Leo and Zion approaching them, sunlight outlining Leo’s tall figure and Zion’s calm stride. She noticed their black sports tees and fitted joggers. They looked like they were ready to run the entire forest.
"Are you all done?" Leo asked, stopping in front of them.
"We’re done," Dominique announced dramatically, pointing an accusing finger at Jason. "But I don’t know about this stupid Jason. He just fights with and forgets his food."
Leo gave Jason a flat, unimpressed frown.
Jason blinked with an awkward laugh, scratching his cheek. "Dom is lying. He stole my pancake first."
Dominique gasped loudly. "That was my pancake. You already had two."
Bella giggled softly, and Leo’s face eased ever so slightly at the sound.
Zion shook his head, amused. "There’s a trekking site nearby. We can go."
"Trekking?" Bella echoed, her eyes bright as stars.
"Woah, yes," Jason and Dominique shouted together, imdiately forgetting their feud.
Jay and Jace walked out of their tent at the sa ti, both already in matching sportswear, hair perfectly set. The rest stared at them suspiciously.
Dominique leaned toward Jason and whispered loudly, "Why do they look like they just fild a couple photoshoot?"
Jason narrowed his eyes. "I swear they are hiding sothing."
Jay glared at them. "Shut up. We woke up early. That’s all."
"Sure," Scarlett muttered, exchanging a knowing glance with Bella.
Soon everyone was ready, bags slung over shoulders, water bottles in hand, and they made their way to the cars. The ride to the site passed quickly, filled with soft chatter and playful teasing, until they reached the beginning of the trek.
The trail was beautiful. A wide dirt path stretched ahead, lined with tiny purple and yellow flowers brushing softly against their ankles. Sunlight fell gently through the trees, painting the road in warm golden patches. The sll of fresh leaves and damp earth made Bella inhale deeply, her shoulders relaxing.
She walked beside Leo, who kept an eye on her every few steps. Whenever her pace slowed even a little, he unscrewed his water bottle without a word and held it out.
"Here," he said simply.
Bella took it with a grateful smile. "Thank you."
Leo stopped walking and narrowed his eyes at her. "Bunny."
"Yes?" she blinked innocently.
"I am your husband. Don’t thank ."
Bella’s cheeks ward. "Oh... sorry."
He flicked her forehead gently. "That too. Don’t say sorry."
She pouted softly. "Then what do I say when you take care of like that?"
Leo looked away for a mont, mildly flustered, then leaned down and whispered so only she could hear. "Just look at the way you do. That’s enough."
Bella felt her heart tumble and nearly tripped on a pebble.
Jason shouted from the back, "Hey, lovebirds. Walk slower. Dom is dying."
"I am not dying," Dominique barked, clutching his knees dramatically.
The group continued along the trail, teasing, laughing, and soaking in the beauty of the place until a soft breeze guided them toward a breathtaking sight, a lake ahead, shimring under the sun like a piece of sky fallen onto earth.
Bella gasped softly, grabbing Leo’s hand without realizing.
"It’s beautiful..." she whispered.
Leo’s hand tightened around hers.
"So are you," he murmured.
And Bella forgot how to breathe for a mont.
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