After their long embrace beneath the starlit sky, they touched foreheads and shared quiet laughter. Still holding hands, they made their way back to the tent, where their friends waited with knowing smiles.
Miguel cleared his throat with theatrical flair.
“Well then, I suppose we should start planning Alex’s promotion celebration—and his farewell party,” he announced with a mischievous grin.
Alex pulled out a chair, sat down with easy confidence, and gently drew Naosa onto his lap.
“There won’t be any farewell,” he said warmly. “We’re not going anywhere. Nothing’s changing. Everything stays exactly the same.”
Miguel raised an intrigued eyebrow.
“And what exactly does that mean?”
Alex’s face lit up with pure joy.
“My adorable girlfriend cried and begged me not to go. So naturally, I’m staying right here.”
Naosa turned crimson from her ears to her neck, ducking her head in embarrassment.
Sally fixed her with a skeptical look.
“You might want to reconsider that. You’re clearly not thinking straight. You’ve just endured months of psychological warfare—‘Be my girlfriend or I’m off to Africa!’ That’s emotional manipulation 101.”
Naosa looked up with mock seriousness, as though giving this new revelation careful thought.
Alex’s confidence crumbled instantly.
“Hey, come on, Sally—don’t put ideas in her head!”
Miguel couldn’t resist joining in.
“She’s got a point. If it’s true love, you should be able to survive a couple of years apart.”
“A couple of years…” Naosa repeated thoughtfully, looking genuinely concerned for the first time.
Alex looked on the verge of tears.
“Can we please stop this conversation? Please?”
Then Naosa’s expression brightened with mischievous delight.
“You know what? Two or three years apart… I think I could handle that.”
Alex yelped in mock horror.
“Absolutely not—I’m never leaving you!”
He wrapped his arms around her protectively from behind, and the entire group burst out laughing.
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Later that night, Miguel and Alex drove Naosa home through the quiet streets. When they pulled into her driveway, Alex seemed reluctant to let her go—lingering just to hold and kiss her tenderly under the warm porch light.
Lu and Kacy, who had been waiting patiently by the front door, cleared their throats in gentle interruption.
Lu teased, her tone full of affectionate amusement.
“I came outside to thank you properly, but I can see I’m interrupting something far more important.”
Kacy glanced at Naosa with knowing eyes.
“Ah, the classic honeymoon phase. Don’t worry—it’ll wear off eventually.”
Alex gave Naosa an exaggerated look of mock alarm. She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling.
“See you Monday!” she said brightly, giving him one last quick kiss before running to join Lu and Kacy at the door.
Back in the car, Alex kept watching until she disappeared completely from view. He sighed, his voice soft with wonder.
“It’s incredible,” he said quietly to Miguel. “I never knew anything could make me feel this happy. It’s an entirely new sensation.”
Miguel nodded.
“You’re a lucky man. Don’t ever take it for granted.”
But in his heart, Miguel felt no worry at all. He knew Alex had found something real and rare—and he couldn’t be happier for his friend.
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Monday morning seemed to glow brighter than usual for Naosa. She rose early to skimboard along the beach at dawn, baked fresh bread that filled the kitchen with warmth, and hummed as she prepared breakfast. She could hardly wait to see Alex again.
At the breakfast table, Lu and Kacy exchanged knowing glances.
“Nao, you look particularly radiant this morning,” Lu said with a gentle smile.
“It’s the transformative power of love,” Kacy added wisely.
“I suppose the honeymoon phase is still working its magic,” she teased.
Naosa laughed with pure joy.
“It must be one very long honeymoon.”
They all laughed—except Kazu, who looked thoroughly confused.
“What are you all even talking about?” he demanded.
──────────
Early that morning, Alex went straight to Mr. Ellis’s office and knocked confidently on the door.
Mr. Ellis greeted him warmly.
“Well then,” he asked expectantly, “have you made your decision about the Africa position?”
“Yes,” Alex said. “I’ve decided to stay at Saint Clarion. I won’t be accepting the Physician-Scientist post in Africa.”
Mr. Ellis blinked in surprise.
“May I ask what led you to that decision?”
Alex scratched his cheek, a little shyly.
“Because… my girlfriend would be heartbroken. She said she’d be terribly lonely without me. I just can’t bear to leave her.”
Ellis was momentarily speechless.
“Very well then,” he said at last, regaining his composure. “I’ll recommend someone else—probably Dr. Mason’s assistant manager. Are you absolutely sure about this?”
“Completely,” Alex said without hesitation. “He’s the perfect choice for it.”
After Alex left, Mr. Ellis leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief.
He’s nothing like what I expected.
──────────
Later that morning, Mr. Ellis called Dr. Mason.
“About that promotion opportunity,” he began, “do you think your assistant manager would be interested?”
Dr. Mason’s face lit up.
“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”
“Excellent. Please let him know right away.”
Then Ellis added confidentially,
“Between you and me—I originally had Dr. O’Neill in mind for the role. I even brought him to last week’s meeting to gauge his interest. He seemed genuinely intrigued… but then turned it down. I still don’t quite understand why.”
Dr. Mason chuckled.
“Dr. O’Neill’s exceptionally gifted. He’d excel anywhere. But honestly, I’m glad he’s staying. He’s a natural leader, even this young.”
Ellis frowned slightly.
“He told me he declined because of his girlfriend. That wasn’t the kind of reasoning I expected from someone of his caliber.”
Dr. Mason laughed.
“Love makes fools of us all, Ellis. It changes people—usually for the better.”
──────────
In the pediatric playroom, Maggie studied Naosa with the intense curiosity only children have.
“Did something really good happen to you?” she asked bluntly.
Naosa smiled mysteriously.
“What makes you think that?”
“You’re glowing! You look all sparkly and magical—like, extra beautiful today.”
Naosa blushed, smiling shyly.
“Really? That makes me so happy to hear.”
“Hey—we promised no secrets between us!” Maggie protested with mock indignation.
Naosa looked down bashfully, then lifted her gaze with a soft, radiant smile.
“Let’s just say… the Queen of Naïveté might have fallen completely in love with the King of Clutter.”
Maggie gasped dramatically, then burst into delighted laughter.
“I knew it! I totally knew it!”
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