An expansive field surrounded by forest's lush green grass and towering trees stretches out before them. The sky was a mesmerising shade of azure blue, dotted with the occasional fluffy cloud lazily floating by. The air, crisp and fresh, carried a gentle breeze, its gentle touch playing with their hair and clothing, as In the distance, three figures sprinted ahead, their voices carried by the wind.
Max, Leo, and Sarah, their faces painted with excitement, waved their arms and laughed as they moved through the field. Their clothes and hair fluttered as the wind rustled through them, creating a mesmerising dance of fabric and locks. The grass beneath their feet whispered as they leaped over small patches, their pace unwavering.
Behind them, Daniel, Daisy, Bella, Jackson, Samuel, Jae, and Jia smiled as they observed the trio. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of amusement and affection as they watched the carefree abandonment with which Max, Leo, and Sarah bounded across the field.
As the trio continued their sprint, they eventually came to a halt in the centre of the field, their cheeks flushed with exertion and their chests heaving with laughter. The others catched up, creating a small circle, a bubble of joy in the middle of the picturesque landscape.
Sarah's laughter rang out as she caught her breath, her eyes wide with appreciation. "I've never been to a picnic spot this beautiful," she gasped, her voice filled with wonder.
Max and Leo, still catching their breath, nodded enthusiastically. "Neither have we," they managed to say in unison, their agreement clear.
In the midst of their conversation, Daisy chimed in with a touch of irony in her voice. She looked around at the group, a smirk on her face. "And here's a miracle. Jae actually organised this picnic himself," she pointed out.
Upon hearing Daisy's words, the others chuckled affectionately, their gazes turning towards Jae, who was looking at Daisy with a soft smile, a mix of amusement and pride in his expression. The fact that he had organised the picnic seemed to be a rare occurrence, and the group appreciated his effort.
Jackson, his gaze roaming around the field, pointed to a particular spot under a tree. "Hey, listen. I think that spot under the tree looks good for spreading out the blanket," he suggested.
Everyone followed his gaze, their eyes settling on the designated spot. Daniel, who was carrying the blanket bag, quickened his pace in that direction. "Alright, let's go over there," he said.
And seeing him they all began moving towards the spot, their hands were holding picnic stuff including a variety of food.
Leo called out loudly from behind "We don't need a blanket, we're just going to lie down right here on the grass!"
Saying this, he promptly flopped down onto the ground, a mischievous grin on his face. Sarah, giggling, joined him, and they both began spinning in the grass, laughing uncontrollably.
While Jackson replied in a loud voice without looking back at them, saying, "Do whatever you want."
Max, who was standing nearby Sarah and Leo, watched the duo. He couldn't help but find their antics amusing. "You two are something else," he quipped, shaking his head with a chuckle. "I'm going to join the others instead."
With that, he darted off towards the rest of the group, leaving Sarah and Leo to their own mischievous antics in the grass. Their laughter echoed through the field, a joyful sound that filled the air.
Jackson and Daniel carefully laid out the long blanket on the spot Jackson had pointed out. They were soon joined by Samuel, who lent a hand. Once the blanket was spread out, everyone gathered around and began placing their respective picnic items onto the blanket.
The blanket slowly transformed into a makeshift picnic area, as each person placed their contributions on it. Plates, cutlery, food containers, and even a few board games were arranged meticulously beside one another, ready to be enjoyed. Once all the items were placed on the blanket, everyone took their spots, finding a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Conversations buzzed among the group, laughter filling the air as everyone settled in and began to relax.
Daisy, sitting beside Daniel, couldn't help but place a hand on her stomach, her face a classic picture of food cravings. She pouted and chuckled, and said, "My little one can't wait much longer."
Everyone chuckled in response, and Daniel drew Daisy closer, jokingly saying, "Then let's not keep our baby waiting."
Bella, seated between Samuel and Jackson, couldn't help but chimed in. She chuckled and noted, "I can hardly wait either. I have a feeling Leo was behind this delicious feast."
Jackson nodded in agreement, a small smile playing on his lips. "You're right, it was all thanks to Leo," he admitted.
Bella leaned slightly towards Jackson and teased him with a slight smirk, speaking in a soft tone, "You're acting quite nice today, I must say."
Jackson blushed, a hint of nervousness crept into his voice as he hastily defended himself. "You've got it all wrong," he stammered. "I just don't feel like arguing with you today."
Bella smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she leaned back. Jackson's face still held a tinge of redness, his words revealing his true intentions. Despite their usual argument, it seemed both of them were making an effort to avoid the usual disagreements.
Sarah and Leo, who had been enjoying themselves in the distance, suddenly shouted out to the group, "Save some food for us!"
Jia chuckled softly and called back in a louder voice, "No way! If you want food, come and eat with us!"
Leo and Sarah's eyes widened in surprise, and without wasting a moment, they both dashed towards the group, racing each other as if it were a competition. They ran with all their energy, their faces filled with determination, as if the food awaiting them was the ultimate prize.
Jae, feeling a sense of comfort and intimacy, wrapped his arm around Jia's waist, drawing her closer to him. Jia's attention naturally gravitated towards Jae, her gaze meeting his. His eyes held a deep affection as he looked back at her, a moment of connection shared between them.
On the other hand, Samuel, watching Sarah approach, fought back his natural instinct to stare without blinking. He composed himself, averting his eyes from Sarah, while Max, sitting beside him, observed Daisy, Daniel, Jackson and Jae with a suspicious look. Suddenly, Jackson's gaze landed on Max, to which Max quickly put a smile on his face.
Sarah and Leo finally reached the group, panting and out of breath from their race. They both doubled over, their hands on their knees as they tried to catch their breaths, laughter escaping their lips.
"We're here!" Sarah managed to gasp out, struggling to slow down her heavy breathing.
Leo, beside her, was equally winded, his chest heaving as he let out a wheezy chuckle. With a few deep breaths, they both managed to regain their composure, then settled down on the blanket. A sense of satisfaction was evident on their faces, as if their race had been more about the thrill than the actual destination.
The group quickly shifted their focus back to the food spread out before them, picking up plates and beginning to fill them with the delicious fare laid out. The atmosphere was filled with the sounds of conversation, laughter, and the clinking of silverware against plates.
Daniel, as he fed Daisy a bite of food, noticed Daisy's gaze fixed on elsewhere. He followed her eyes and saw Jae was feeding Jia, a small smile playing on his lips.
Taking notice, Daniel leaned in close to Daisy's ear and whispered teasingly, "Don't stare at them like that. You'll jinx them"
Daisy, surprised yet amused, looked at Daniel with a disbelieving smile and gently hit his arm. Daniel couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, finding humour in the situation.
Daisy then looked back towards Jae and Jia, her smile growing slightly as she spoke softly, "I'm glad Jae found his Fairy."
Her words held a genuine happiness for Jae's happiness, though the underlying tinge of the words carried hints of Daisy's bittersweet feelings.
Daniel smiled fondly as he looked at Daisy, his expression filled with affection. He then held up a spoonful of food towards Daisy's mouth, commanding her to take a bite. "Alright, alright, now feed my baby," he teased, a hint of mock seriousness in his tone. Daisy didn't miss a beat, dutifully opening her mouth and taking a bite from the spoon.
Max, immersed in his meal, was suddenly yanked back to reality as Leo tugged on his hair with unexpected force. Max, a mix of disbelief and anger in his eyes, turned to look at Leo, who was staring back at him with narrowed eyes.
Max, feeling annoyed, asked, "What's your deal?"
Leo leaned closer, his eyes still narrowed, and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Sarah told me about Jia's attempted suicide and you knew about it. Why didn't you tell me about it?"
Max's expression faltered, his irritation momentarily forgotten as Leo's words sunk in. He hadn't expected this revelation to come up in this manner, especially not in front of the entire group. Leo's direct confrontation attracted everyone's attention, the group's focus now on Max and his reaction.
Max glanced around at the group, searching for the right words to respond to Leo's question. He finally spoke up, claiming, "I was busy, that's why it slipped my mind."
Leo's expression shifted to one of complaint, his voice filled with disbelief. "How could something so important slip your mind?" he remarked then turned to look at Jia, concern evident in his eyes, he asked her, "I shouldn't ask you this today, but the question keeps nagging at my mind. Why did you do it?"
A strange wave of discomfort seemed to wash over Jia as Leo posed the question. Jae, observing her reaction, could feel her discomfort and looked at Leo with a mixture of anger and authority.
"Enough," Jae said firmly, his voice stern. "Hold your tongue, and end this topic right now."
Bella, chiming in, added, "Please, Leo. Let's enjoy today. You can ask me later."
Leo let out a frustrated sigh, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Alright," he relented, his voice softer than before. "We'll drop it for now. You're right, we should just enjoy today."
The tension in the group eased slightly as the conversation shifted away from the heavy topic. Everyone tried to return to the light and cheerful atmosphere of the picnic, but the recent exchange still hung in the air, casting a slight shadow over the pleasant mood.
On the other hand, Max shot a slight glare in Leo's direction, still feeling a pang of annoyance at Leo's sudden questioning. While Leo, sensing his glare, looked at him and rolled his eyes.
Their focus shifted back to enjoying the food and each other's company, the earlier tension slowly fading away. Jokes were cracked, playful insults were exchanged, and the group's spirits lifted. After a while, the group finished their meal, their plates now empty with just a few crumbs left behind. They all leaned back, their bellies full and their cheeks flushed with laughter, having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Suddenly, Leo, Daisy, and Daniel simultaneously cleared their throats, towards Jackson, giving him a signal. Jackson, understanding the cue, felt a little nervous and looked over at Bella.
While Bella noticed the trio's collective throat-clearing, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is everyone's throat acting up at once or something?"
Suddenly without warning, Sarah swiftly rose from her seat and moved stealthily behind Bella, quickly covering her eyes with her hands.
"What the-!" Bella exclaimed, her words abruptly cut off as Sarah's hands covered her eyes. Taken by surprise, Bella reached up to remove Sarah's hands, trying to understand what was happening.
Before Bella could remove Sarah's hands from her eyes, Sarah quickly said, "Bella, Bella, Bella, hold on. I need to show you something. Stand up, please."
Sarah helped Bella to her feet and steered her away from the blanket, turning her to the side.
With Bella's vision still obstructed, she protested, "It's not my birthday today, Sarah. Did you forget?"
Sarah smiled and responded, "Just be patient and stay quiet." Reluctantly, Bella acquiesced, saying, "Alright, fine. I'll be quiet."
Everyone's attention shifted to Jackson as he pulled a beautiful diamond ring box out of his pocket. He lowered himself to one knee in front of Bella, holding the open box containing the ring out in front of her. As he took a deep breath, his nerves evident, he glanced towards Sarah, signalling for her to uncover Bella's eyes.
Sarah did so, slowly removing her hands from Bella's eyes, allowing her to slowly open them and adjust to the light. As Bella's vision came into focus and she saw Jackson knelt before her, ring in hand, she froze, her mind seemingly in shock. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her brain struggling to process the situation.
The rest of the group looked on, anticipation hanging heavy in the air, eagerly awaiting for Jackson to speak, expecting him to deliver a beautiful and poetic proposal.
However, to their surprise, Jackson simply said, "Take it."
Everyone's jaws dropped, while Sarah and Leo facepalmed, a bit disappointed that Jackson had not followed the usual romantic script.
Bella, still in disbelief, asked, "Take what?"
Jackson gestured towards the diamond ring with a nervous smile, his voice trembling slightly. "The ring," he managed to say softly.
The group exchanged glances, some shaking their heads in disbelief while others chuckled silently, entertained by Jackson's unexpected and blunt proposal.
Bella looked at the sparkling diamond ring, then back at Jackson's nervous yet hopeful smile, her eyes filled with a mix of shock and disappointment. "The... ring?" She repeated slowly, her voice almost a whisper.
Then she asked bluntly, "Why?"
Jackson nervously answered, "Because I love you and I'm proposing you to marry me—,"
The words barely left his mouth that Bella suddenly kicked Jackson hard on the head, causing the ring box to fly out of his hand and resulting in him falling to the ground.
Annoyed, Bella looked down at Jackson and said, "Isn't your way of begging a little casual? And you jump straight to the topic of marriage. You've got some nerve, don't you?"
Jackson, now feeling frustrated, pounded his fist on the ground and exclaimed, "I knew it, I knew this woman is crazy, her brain is completely messed up."
The group watched the scene unfold, a mix of surprise and bemusement on their faces.
Suddenly Bella picked up the fallen diamond ring box from the ground, confusing everyone and looked at it intently before casually stating, "Alright."
Frustrated, Jackson quickly got back on his feet and asked urgently, "What do you mean 'alright'? What are you saying 'alright' for?"
Bella looked at him with an annoyed expression and said bluntly, "I'm accepting your proposal."
Silence fell over the group, and they all watched with amused grins as Jackson froze, looking at Bella. His eyes widened, and his mouth hung open slightly. He looked like he had been completely caught off guard by Bella's response.
In a blink Jackson placed a hand on his waist and began massaging his forehead with his other hand, muttering, "Oh my god, I'm gonna have to deal with this for the rest of my life."
Bella, still annoyed, demanded, "What did you say?"
In frustration, Jackson looked at her, pointed at his own heart and exclaimed, "I don't know how this stupid heart of mine, it's started pounding for you, you're annoying!"
Bella, her irritation growing, slowly stepping towards him. "Shut up, or I'll kick you again, and this time you'll fly even higher."
Jackson, unable to control himself, blurted out, "I'm not wrong, no other rude or annoying woman like you has ever been in my life."
Bella, gritting her teeth, responded with a warning tone, "Listen, Son of Jack. I'm warning you. Shut your mouth."
Leo, hesitant but unable to hold back, interrupted, "Excuse me for interrupting, but should we consider everything alright or not?"
Hearing him, Jackson, frustrated, quickly snatched the diamond ring box away from Bella and took out the ring before forcefully placing it on her finger with a slightly aggressive gesture.
And he spoke to Leo, his gaze flicked towards Bella with a hint of incredulity, he said, "Everything's fine, but there's something wrong with this woman's brain."
As soon as everyone saw Jackson put the ring on Bella's finger then despite their arguing and strange behaviour in their special moment, everyone clapped their hands in celebration and joy, even Max, Sarah, and Leo couldn't help but let out excited cheers as they watched the scene unfold.
Suddenly, Bella slapped Jackson across the face with a punch to his response, leaving him looking at her with a mixture of anger and disbelief. He then muttered through clenched teeth, "Witch!"
Bella, equally annoyed, retorted, "Gorilla!"
The two continued their amusing argument, trading insults back and forth with increasing intensity. The rest of the group watched the ongoing fight between Jackson and Bella with weary amusement, shaking their heads at the typical exchange of insults.
As the fight continued, Sarah, Max, Leo, and Samuel quickly stood up, interrupting the argument. Excitedly, Sarah urged, "Come on, come on, let's play a game of badminton."
Saying this Sarah picked up the badminton bad from the side and quickly made her way towards the good space to play. The three boys quickly followed Sarah, eager to get away from the escalating tension between Jackson and Bella.
Jackson, still seething, watched as Sarah, Samuel, Leo and Max left, while Bella, also still fuming, was tempted to continue their verbal sparring match. However, as the others called them to join the badminton game, they both huffed and, with one last glare at each other, reluctantly followed the group.
As they six left to play badminton, Jae turned his attention to Jia. He smiled and took her wrist, pulling her to her feet and saying, "Come on."
Jia, looking slightly confused, asked, "Where?"
Jae chuckled softly and began leading her away, dragging her with him, replying, "Just follow me."
Meanwhile, Daniel and Daisy, who were still seated, looked at each other. Daisy then asked, "What should we do now?"
Daniel, his expression playful, pulled the yut nori board closer and suggested, "How about we play this game?"
Daisy looked at him with a bored look and said, "You always end up losing," she complained.
Daniel shrugged, still playful, and chuckled, "So, this time you lose."
Hearing him, Daisy, determined, responded, "Never."
The banter between them continued as they began playing the yut nori game.
On the other side, Samuel held his badminton racket, ready to start playing. However, he noticed Jae leading Jia away while holding her wrist. As he watched them walk away, a bitter smile appeared on his face. Sarah, who was also holding a badminton racket, noticed Samuel looking at Jae and Jia and seeing the scene her own smile tinged with bitterness and she approached him.
Pushing her little sadness aside, she teased Samuel, asking, "Are you feeling jealous?"
Samuel quickly looked at her, scoffing slightly before replying, "Jealousy? It's probably you who's feeling jealous."
Sarah chuckled and replied mockingly, "I would be jealous if it were someone other than Jia."
For a moment, Samuel stared at Sarah intently, their gazes locked, as he was trying to understand her heart.
However, Max's voice broke eye contact as he called out, "Ready?"
Hearing his voice Sarah and Samuel quickly averted their gazes and focused on ahead where in their opposite team were Max, Leo and Jackson and in their own team were Samuel, Sarah, Bella. Both of them quickly took their positions for the game.
Sarah responded, "Yes, we're ready."
With that, everyone took their positions to begin the match. The game starts with Jackson serving the shuttlecock. As the game progressed, the competitive tension builded on both sides. Despite the initial banter, everyone was focused on the game, determined to win.
***
Jae led Jia a short distance away from the group's sight and gestured for her to stop. "Just wait here," he said, letting go of her wrist and moving to the other side of a nearby tree.
Jia stood there, her curiosity piqued, waiting to see what Jae was up to.
Jae quickly returned, sitting on a beautiful silver-coloured horse and holding its halter in his hands, a warm smile on his face.
As she catched sight of the beautiful silver horse with Jae, she was completely surprised, as if her breath had been taken away.
The horse was stunning with a glossy silver coat, its mane flowing in the breeze. Its eyes were intelligent and kind, betraying a gentle demeanour. Its powerful muscles were visible beneath its sleek body, hinting at its strength and grace.
Jia's eyes widened with awe and disbelief, and she was rendered speechless by the unexpected sight of the magnificent animal in front of her. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, still unable to believe what she was seeing.
Finally, she managed to speak, her voice soft and filled with wonder. "You…brought it for me?"
Jae smiled warmly at her response, pleased with her reaction. "Yes," he confirmed. "Isn't it beautiful?"
Jia nodded, her eyes still fixed on the horse. She climbed her steps towards them and slowly reached out a hand to touch the horse's coat, half expecting it to disappear like a figment of her imagination. But as her hand made contact with its velvety smooth skin, she knew that this was no dream.
As Jia continued to marvel at the horse, she was remembering that 14 and half years ago, she had a conversation with little Jae about the horse at their very first meeting, when she considered him a prince and asked him for a horse. Suddenly, the realisation hit her that this was the moment she had dreamed of, and the man who had fulfilled her wish was Jae himself.
Her heart filled with gratitude and wonder, Jia turned up to Jae and asked, "My prince?"
Jae smiled subtly as he slightly shook his head in deny and held out his hand towards her, saying, "No, this is your King, my Queen."
Jia smiled affectionately at Jae's words, and she quickly took his hand, feeling the weight of her emotions. Jae, already sitting on the horse, firmly gripped her hand and pulled her closer, safely seating her in front of him on the horse. As Jia settled into the saddle, she could feel the warmth of Jae's body behind her, his presence a comfort and a constant reminder of his care.
The horse seemed to sense the shift in weight and as Jae was holding the halter in his hands, pulled on the halter gently guiding the horse with expert ease as it began to move forward.
The horse's gait was smooth and steady, its hooves making a soft tapping sound against the uneven terrain where grass was less. As they rode together, Jia felt a sense of security and contentment, trusting in Jae's ability to navigate the path ahead.
She leaned back slightly, resting against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breaths.
The world around them seemed to melt away as they rode in silence, the only sound the soft rhythm of the horse's footsteps and the wind rustling through the trees. Despite the peacefulness of the moment, Jia's mind was filled with the memories of their childhood conversation and the realisation that Jae had remembered her years old request. She couldn't help but feel touched and grateful that he had gone out of his way to surprise her with this horse. As they continued riding, she turned her head slightly to look back at him and their eyes met.
"I Love You" she whispered, her voice soft and filled with emotion. And after saying that, she quickly turned her head forward as she knew he never replied to her these three words and she never asked him to say. While Jae smiled at her words, his eyes were warm and affectionate.
He leaned down slightly, his mouth close to her ear, and whispered, "You deserve everything, my Fairy."
The words sent shivers down Jia's spine, his voice laden with love and admiration. They rode on in silence once more, the connection between them growing deeper with each passing moment. The horse continued its steady gait, carrying them further into the quiet and peaceful surroundings, as if it understood the significance of the moment they were sharing.
Suddenly breaking the silence, Jia carefully chose the right and masked words before without turning to him she asked him, "I heard that you know one of the Indian languages as well?"
Hearing her, Jae didn't immediately respond, but after a moment, he affirmed, "Yes."
Jia's excitement grew upon hearing this as he didn't deny it, and she eagerly asked, "You're really talented, then. Can you say something in that language?"
Jae chuckled at her request, and replied playfully, "Well, I won't tell you what your name is or how you are."
Jia was amused by his reply and laughed slightly, appreciating his witty humour. She nodded and said, "Okay then just recite some poetry for me instead, it would be unique."
Jae chuckled again upon hearing Jia's request, amused by her enthusiasm. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he began to think about the words he would say, a small smile playing on his lips.
The horse continued to move at a slow pace, and a brief silence fell between them as Jae focused on crafting his words carefully, his mind working to create the perfect verse. Jae took a deep breath and finally began speaking in his native tongue, his voice smooth and lilting.
◇ "Na ho kabhi Khatam ye silsile.
◇ Na murjhaye iss guftagu ke phool, jo hain khile.
◇ Jo chootey aise pakad ki khwaab na dekhu mein,
◇ Bhale hi na ho mein uss jannat me, par tu waha zaroor mile.
◇ Jo bhuj jaye aisi koi shamma di nahi, dena chahu bhi toh wo, jo marne ke baad bhi jale.
◇ Kis lafz se bayan karu dil ka haal tujhe? Aisa koi lafz hi nahi.
◇ Na kia ho zubaan se izhar sahi, par mohabbat ki hai tujhse waade nahi."
He spoke the words with a quiet intensity, his eyes fixed on Jia's head from behind, watching her with his affectionate eyes.
As Jae finished reciting the verse, Jia eagerly turned her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She asked excitedly, "What does it mean?"
Jae tried to hide his smile, but his eyes betrayed his true emotions. He replied with a playful tone, "Nothing."
Jia, unsatisfied by his answer, insisted, "What do you mean nothing? There must be a meaning to it. Please tell me."
Jae held Jia's head and turned it forward while saying, "It doesn't mean anything."
Hearing his continued lies, without looking back at him, she complained, "You spoke in Indian language, but I didn't understand a word, that's cheating."
Jae grinned at her complaint and replied with a sly smile, "I happen to like cheating."
Jia giggled at his response, still eager to know the meaning behind the words he had spoken. But Jae's continued refusal suggested that he wasn't going to give her an answer that easily.
In that same moment, Jae grabbed her waist tightly and suddenly increased the speed of the horse, causing the animal to pick up its pace. The sudden change took Jia by surprise, and she instinctively held onto him tighter, feeling the rush of the faster movement. The wind whistled past them, and the scenery blurred as the horse galloped beneath them. The world outside seemed to transform into a vibrant, ever-changing canvas, as if the speed of their movement had altered reality itself. The speed at which the horse was moving had a strangely exhilarating effect on Jia.
A burst of laughter escaped her lips, the air rushing through her hair and their clothes as if trying to merge them with the speed of their journey. Even the horse seemed to have picked up on the fun, its trotting becoming more spirited, propelling them forward in a powerful and rhythmic motion.
Laughter and wonder dance in the air, blending with the scent of the forest and the sound of their shared breathing. For a brief moment, it felt like nothing else in the world matters but the speed and the freedom they were experiencing.
***
Max, Leo, Sarah, Samuel, Jackson, Bella, Daisy, Daniel, Jae and that silver coloured horse beside Jae - stood together in front of a tree, each of them posing for Jia, who sat on a nearby folded chair, her easel set up in front of her. She was painting their portraits with enthusiasm and skill, her brush gliding across the canvas as she captured their likenesses with each stroke. Around them, leaves from the trees floated gently to the ground, creating a picturesque and romantic setting. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting shadows across the ground and dappling the scene with patches of light and shadow.
Some of them sat, while others stood, their bodies forming a tableau of friendship and creativity. The air was filled with the scent of freshly cut grass, mingled with the faint aroma of paint and the earthy smell of the trees. Birdsong echoed from somewhere nearby, creating a lulling soundtrack for the scene. The group of them chatted amongst themselves, their voices low and easy, occasionally sharing a laugh or offering words of encouragement to Jia as she worked.
While Jae's gaze was lingering on her only with a different depth of love and adoration that was noticeable even to the others. The way his eyes followed her every movement, the way his expression softened whenever she looked at him, it was clear that his feelings for her were far beyond its limit.
After working diligently on her painting for some time, Jia finally completed it and leaned back in her chair, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. A smile spread across her face as she looked down at the canvas, studying her creation with a mixture of pride and contentment. The portrait beautifully captured the likeness and personality of each subject, and it was clear that Jia had poured her heart and soul into the painting.
Jia looked up from her painting, she smiled and confidently announced, "All done."
Her words prompted the others to quickly turn their attention towards her, eager to see the finished portrait. They quickly started to move closer to Jia, all of them curious to see how she had captured their likeness on the canvas.
In the painting, each figure was depicted with care and attention to detail, perfectly conveying the individuality of each person. The colours and shading in the painting vividly brought out the essence of each person portrayed, making them come alive on the canvas.
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Jia stood before the painting hung on the wall, her eyes fixated on the newly added details. The painting featured her standing alongside Jae, a picture of contentment in their togetherness. But the addition that caught her eye was the figure of Gale, perched on the horse beside Jae and her. And the one who added Jia and Gale into the painting was Jae himself.
It was clear that as Jae had added the two of them, his love for them was evident in every stroke. Though his painting technique was not perfect, the devotion with which he had depicted them had rendered the painting complete, filling it with warmth and affection. The painting now held a new significance for Jia, as she stood before it, lost in thought.
After adoring the painting for a while, Jia moved away from there, leaving the canvas still, suspended in time on the wall. Its presence was like a captured moment, eternally frozen in its perfect form.
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