Bella met Julian and Mia at the Whitmore Mansion in Sydney, Australia. The trio chatted, laughed, and helped Julian with his packing. Amid the boxes and clothes, promises were made Julian would call them every day, and since their fields were similar, he would guide and support them in the future. Julian was leaving for London for four years, and though it was sad, their spirits stayed high.
After saying goodbye, Bella returned to the Harrison Mansion to spend time with her brother Abby and cousin Jack. Both were preparing to leave soon as well, while little Navya slept peacefully, resting for her first day at Space School tomorrow. Bella, meanwhile, didn't have school commitments; she planned to go to the airport the next day to see off Abby and Jack.
Back at the Whitmore Mansion, Sebastian focused on his studies. London awaited him in three months, yet Bella's image still lingered in his mind. He had promised himself never to face her again but his heart seemed to disagree. He tried to bury the thought under focus and determination.
Three months later…
It was the last day of Sebastian at Space School in Sydney, Australia. His bag was packed, every item carefully arranged for his flight to London the next day. His mind, however, wasn't on the packing it was on Bella. The girl who had turned his world upside down months ago.
As he walked toward the parking area, his thoughts kept circling back to her. Then fate intervened. Someone came running hurriedly from the opposite side. Neither noticed the other until they collided.
"Can't you see where you're going?" Sebastian's voice came out sharp, harsher than he intended, filled with tension that wasn't about the collision at all.
Bella looked up, startled. For a moment, the world stopped around him. There she is. His chest tightened, his heart strangely lighter just by looking into her big, innocent eyes.
"Sorry! I was in a hurry," Bella murmured softly, already trying to move past him.
But Sebastian's hand shot out, almost on instinct, gently yet firmly holding her wrist. His grip wasn't just to stop her from leaving—it was to hold on to the strange calm and completeness he felt whenever she was near.
"What's your problem? Why are you acting like this toward me?" His words were sharp, but inside, his heart was pleading: Don't walk away yet.
Bella blinked, confused by his intensity. To her, he was just a stranger with an intimidating presence. She had no idea she had unknowingly become the reason his heart beat differently.
"I—I said sorry! Please let me go. I'm in a hurry," she stammered, tugging her wrist. Her innocence only made his chest ache more.
Sebastian's grip softened, his thumb brushing against her skin before he let go. But instead of moving away, he leaned a little closer, lowering his voice.
"Okay… you can go. But don't you want to say goodbye properly?" His tone wasn't commanding this time—it was almost desperate, as if a single word from her could soothe the storm inside him.
Bella frowned, taken aback. Goodbye? Why would he want that? She barely knew him. Surely, it was only because she had been rude in her rush.
Her lips parted, hesitant. "Goodbye? Why would I say that? I don't even know you… I only said sorry because I bumped into you."
The innocence of her words cut through him. She didn't understand. For her, he was nobody. But for him, she was everything. Just by seeing her, he felt whole—like all the broken, restless pieces inside him had finally aligned.
Still, he forced a smile, hiding the ache.
Bella sighed, almost impatient. "Okay… goodbye," she said quickly, before rushing toward her car.
Sebastian didn't stop her this time. He only stood there, watching her disappear, his chest tightening painfully. Yet somewhere inside, a warmth lingered.
His lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile as he whispered into the silence:
"Goodbye… my girl. Don't know how I'll survive without you."
. To her, he was just a stranger she accidentally bumped into.,But for Sebastian, that brief encounter became a memory etched deep into his soul. That was the last time he saw her the girl who unknowingly made him feel complete, the girl he could never forget.
The next morning, the Whitmores stood together at Sydney International Airport, sending Sebastian off to London. But while his family spoke of studies, business, and the future, Sebastian's thoughts never left the girl who had collided with him in the parking lot just yesterday. That fleeting moment with Bella—the innocence in her eyes, the softness in her voice—had carved itself into his heart. For the first time in his perfectly disciplined life, he felt complete just by seeing someone.
As he walked through security, his chest tightened. Every step away from Sydney felt like a step away from her. His dreams of London, of building a career and proving himself, had always been clear, but now they carried the weight of longing. "If only time were kinder… if only she and I were ready," he thought. He wanted to turn back, just once, to see her again—but he knew that wasn't fair to her or to the promises he had made to himself.
When he finally took his seat on the plane, Sebastian closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. For Bella, her education, her laughter, her carefree soul were too precious to be burdened by him now. For himself, he needed to become someone greater, someone worthy. So, with a heavy heart but unshakable resolve, he let the engines roar him into the sky—toward a future he could be proud of. And just like that, in the blink of an eye, five years passed.
The world moved on. Dreams were chased, battles were fought, lives were rebuilt.