Sarah was casually lounging on her bed in her apartment, her stomach pressed against the mattress, her laptop propped up before her. She was watching Netflix and munching on a bag of chips, the light from the nearby glass wall casting a soft glow in the room. The room was a mess, with clothes and snack wrappers scattered everywhere, yet Sarah's focus remained fully on the screen, her eyes fixed on the show she was watching.
Suddenly, she jolted from her lazy lounging when she heard the doorbell ring. She paused the show on her laptop, her movements slow and languid as she made her way to the door. Before she opened it, she checked the camera mounted on the wall, and her eyes widened with surprise when she saw who was standing outside.
There stood Samuel.
A mixture of surprise and disbelief washed over her as she stared at his figure through the screen, struggling to process his unexpected arrival. Without wasting any more time, she hurried to her bedroom and quickly sprayed on some perfume before returning to the door.
Taking a deep breath, she tidied her hair and then opened the door, revealing Samuel standing on the other side.
Her face lit up with a big smile, her emotions were a mix of joy and excitement, and she couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes. Samuel, on the other hand, looked at her in casual clothes from head to toe but remained composed with a straight expression on his face, not showing any reaction.
Sarah, filled with unexpected happiness, asked, "How are you? How come you're here?"
Samuel continued to look at her silently for a moment, before finally breaking his composure. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bracelet, extending it toward Sarah.
"You dropped this in my car. It's quite expensive," Samuel stated.
As Sarah looked down at the bracelet in Samuel's hand, her eyes slightly widened in surprise. Nervously, she took the bracelet and thanked him quietly, but then added jokingly, "You could have sent it with anyone else." Sarah was trying to rile up Samuel, testing his responses.
Samuel's expression remained unchanged as he responded in an impassive tone, "I'm going."
He began to turn away, ready to leave, when Sarah abruptly reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him into her apartment. "Hey, you've come this far, why don't you come inside?"
Samuel stared at her in disbelief, surprised by her bold move, and he exclaimed incredulously, "What kind of behaviour is this!?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sarah released his arm and swiftly closed the door behind them. Turning back to face Samuel, she gave him a quick, excited smile before quickly asking, "You like coffee, right? I'm going to make it." Without waiting for a response, she grabbed his forearm and forcefully pushed him towards the dining table, forcing him to sit on the chair.
"Just stay seated here." Saying this, she hurried towards the kitchen.
He was annoyed and frustrated with the situation, but with no other option, he stayed seated. He settled into his seat and began to wait. As he did, he started to examine the surroundings, and his eyes eventually fell on the bedroom from the open door, which was visible from where he sat. His gaze lingered there, and as he took in the sight of the messy bedroom, he couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. After a short while, Sarah returned with a bright smile, holding two coffee cups in her hands.
She placed one cup in front of Samuel, who took it reluctantly before sitting opposite to him and quickly placing her own coffee cup on the table. Then she looked at annoyed Samuel with sparkling eyes, asking excitedly, "Isn't today a great day?"
Without giving her answer, Samuel took a reluctant sip of his coffee. While Sarah eagerly waited for his response.
However, noticing Sarah's continued expectant gaze, Samuel turned his eyes away and sighed before answering her question. "I don't know," he replied.
"Why don't you know?"
Samuel glared at her incredulously and responded, "Just because you're having a great day doesn't mean I am."
"Why so?" She asked again.
Frustrated by her nonsense questions, Samuel placed his coffee cup on the table and pointed at both of them, emphasising their differences. "Because you and I are different."
Sarah rested her elbow on the table and popped her face in her palm, gazing admiringly at Samuel as she asked again, "How?"
Samuel momentarily closed his eyes to suppress his frustration and then looked at Sarah, saying, "Can you please stop asking useless questions?"
Ignoring his request, Sarah asked once more, "Why do you want me to stop?"
This time, Samuel conceded and didn't answer, but instead continued drinking his coffee quickly. While Sarah continued to look Samuel admiringly without blinking. Despite his discomfort, he was used to Sarah's loving gaze, but it still made him feel a bit awkward.
The silence continued, with Sarah still admiringly gazing at Samuel as he tried to finish his coffee as quickly as possible.
Suddenly, she softened her voice and asked, "Are you still in pain?"
In response, Samuel quickly looked at Sarah, even though she was smiling. However, Samuel couldn't ignore the pain and genuine concern in her eyes.
Despite knowing the reason for her question, Samuel asked in a matter-of-fact tone, "What kind of pain?"
Sarah then answered, "Jia."
Samuel leaned slightly toward Sarah and said, "It was my fate, and I can't fight my fate, can I?" As he spoke, he leaned back in his seat and began sipping his coffee again.
"Why are you being so practical? You can fight your fate if you have the determination to do so." Sarah responded.
In response, Samuel sarcastically asked, "So are you saying you want me to ruin her married life?"
Sarah quickly sat up straight in her chair and defended herself, saying, "No, I don't want that at all. I was just telling you that—fate can be changed."
Samuel continued, "I have no interest in changing my fate."
Sarah fell silent, and Samuel returned to drinking his coffee while looking away. But Sarah continued to admirely gaze at Samuel, her eyes betraying a hint of pain, but also carrying a faint smile.
She softly declared, "Whether you ever love me or not, I will always love you because that's where my happiness lies."
Hearing her words, Samuel intently stared at her, transfixed by her mix of emotions. He looked into her eyes as if he was lost in that moment, trying to understand her. They both sat in silence, but it spoke volumes, leaving Samuel confused. He abruptly broke eye contact, placing his coffee cup on the table and standing up.
There was a hint of hesitation in his voice as he said, "I have to go."
Immediately, he started heading towards the door. Sarah continued to sit and watch him from the dining table. However, as Samuel approached the door, his eyes caught sight of a pink carnation flower bouquet neatly placed on a shoe rack near the door. This momentary pause confused and perplexed him. And he picked up the bouquet, still standing at the door.
Sarah, seated at the dining table, observed this with a puzzled expression. Samuel continued to hold the bouquet, studying it intently for a few moments before turning his head towards Sarah.
He immediately asked, "Who gave you this?"
Sarah looked at him with a teasing smile and asked, "Are you feeling jealous?"
Samuel responded matter-of-factly, "Just answer the question."
He appeared both curious and anxious about the bouquet, his intense interest in the carnation flowers clear to Sarah as she stood up from her chair and walked towards him.
Once she was standing in front of him, she looked at his face then at the flowers and replied, "I don't know. Every month, for four years, when I came to korea to live, someone unknown has been leaving this at my door and then disappears."
Samuel furrowed his eyebrows, clearly troubled and puzzled by her revelation. Suddenly he noticed the ribbon attached in the bouquet and ran his fingers over it before saying, "This is Italian."
Sarah shrugged her shoulders and responded with a hint of confusion, "Yeah, I've received ones from Canada and Korea too, and most of it is from Korea, but for the past few months I have been continuously getting it from Italy. And the interesting part is that it is always in pink carnations."
Samuel turned to Sarah, his eyes full of surprise and confusion. He waved the bouquet slightly, looking at her with desperation. "I have a suspicion."
Sarah, perplexed, asked, "What suspicion?"
Samuel responded desperately and firmly, "I think it's from my mom."
Hearing him, Sarah scoffed mockingly in response and replied, "Why would your mom send me this? And your mom is not even alive."
Samuel pondered his response, a mixture of confusion and suspicion in his eyes. He finally answered, "My dad never told me my mom died, he said she left us when I was born, and before getting married, my mom always used to send my dad pink carnations every month as a symbol of their love, with a ribbon attached to it that matched the location she was currently at."
Sarah queried, puzzled, "Why would your mom send me these flowers? I don't even know her."
Samuel placed one hand on his hip and began pacing back and forth in the small space as he responded. "I don't know the exact reasons, but I think I can find her and ask her why she left us."
Sarah observed Samuel's determined, hopeful demeanour, and she felt a tinge of concern and sadness for him as she asked, "But how will you find her?"
Samuel stopped pacing and looked at the bouquet, seeing the Italian ribbon. He declared, "The ribbon comes from Italy, so she must be there currently." Sarah listened silently as Samuel continued, his voice brimming with desperation, "There's definitely a clue hidden in this bouquet."
Without wasting any time, Samuel quickly tore the bouquet aggressively, catching Sarah off guard. And just as he had hoped, a small piece of paper fell to the floor, immediately grabbing both Samuel and Sarah's attention. As they eye the paper, Sarah looked at Samuel with an expression of surprise, mirrored in Samuel's own glance.
Samuel let the remaining flowers drop from his hand and quickly picked up the paper. Now both their eyes were fixed on it, and Samuel started reading the phrase written on it aloud.
"I'm currently in Italy, if you want to meet me then meet a person named Min doh-yun at Apartment 501, Sakura Heights, 90 Cheongun-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea."
Hearing the message Sarah looked at Samuel with an amused smile and remarked, "You should be a detective, seriously."
Samuel looked at her, his surprise and disbelief evident in his open-mouthed smile.
Sarah then asked inquisitively, "So what now?"
Samuel turned to her fully, determination shining in his eyes, and declared, "We're going to find my mom."
Surprised, Sarah's eyes widened slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. She tried to confirm, "We?"
Samuel nodded firmly and replied, "Yes, we."
Sarah's excitement bubbled over, and she started jumping up and down like a child, clapping. She exclaimed, "We're going to go on an adventure."
Samuel couldn't help but smile warmly at her childlike enthusiasm. After watching Sarah for a moment, Samuel clenched the paper piece tightly in his hand, determined he announced. "Now I'm leaving."
Without waiting for her response, he turned around and reached out for the knob when Sarah's voice stopped him.
Samuel immediately turned around and saw Sarah, now squatting in front of him. Starting back, Samuel took a step back in aghast and confusion.
Sarah chuckled and teased, "Don't worry, I won't do anything weird."
Saying this, she reached for Samuel's shoes, tying his open laces tightly. Samuel was frozen in place, watching in disbelief as she performed such a caring gesture. He couldn't believe that a girl could be so in love as to do something like that.
After Sarah finished tying Samuel's shoelaces, she stood up with a content sigh and smiled. "There, you can go now," she said.
Samuel just stood there, staring at her without saying a word, unable to even thank her. Finally, he tore his gaze away from her, turned around, opened the door, and quickly stepped outside.
Sarah smiled and waved from the doorway, saying, "Bye, we'll meet soon for our adventure."
Samuel left without looking back or responding. Sarah watched until he disappeared from her sight, then closed the door with a tight-lipped smile.
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Jae slowly pushed open the front door of his spacious bungalow and stepped inside. The sound of the television echoed from the drawing room, and he turned towards it. As he entered the drawing room, he found Jia sitting on the sofa, her back facing him and her eyes glued to the television screen, where a news report was playing about a mysterious killer hunting down the most dangerous criminals and leaving an XO mark on their foreheads, no one knew the reason behind the killer's action or what his motive was.
Jae was already familiar with the news, but now he was observing Jia, taking in her intense focus on the news without even shifting in her seat.
Just then Jae called out softly, "Jia!"
However, even after hearing his voice, Jia didn't move. She didn't even turn around or look in his direction, which made Jae frown in confusion.
Then, after a moment, he finally heard her voice, filled with sadness and concern, as she spoke without turning around. "You're a criminal too. Why are you? You're in danger. What if I lost you? What would happen then?"
It was clear from her voice that she was extremely sad. Then she stood up, turning to face Jae.
When Jae looked at her face, he felt a strange sense of unease. Her expression was filled with mysteriously dark sadness, and she was staring directly at him, waiting for his response. Jae stared blankly at her for a moment, feeling a mixture of perplexed and concerned. He couldn't find the right words to explain or reassure her. The weight of their situation hung in the air as they stood facing each other, the news report still playing in the background.
Jia bitterly scoffed and asked, "No answer, huh?"
Jae stayed silent. He wondered if the news report had truly scared her that much to make her so upset.
Without a word, Jia turned and walked out of the room, leaving Jae alone with his thoughts. She had been fiery, angry and argumentative, but he had never seen this kind of dangerous sadness from her before.
Feeling anxious, Jae quickly followed her. As Jia walked up the stairs, Jae quickly caught up to her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her close to him and wrapping his arm around her waist.
He looked into her eyes deeply and reassured her, "Nothing will happen to me."
Jia responded without any change in tone, "I understand." She then removed his hand from her waist and slid her wrist out of his grip, continuing up the stairs without glancing back. She added, "I need to sleep. You should come too."
Jae watched her go upstairs, his face etched with concern and confusion. He stood there for a moment longer, reflecting on how unexpected this behaviour was coming from Jia.
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Samuel was driving the car, his focus mainly on the road. However, he was noticing Sarah's constant subtle glances in his direction from the passenger seat, and couldn't help but feel distracted by them, occasionally stealing a glance of his own. He had instructed her to remain quiet, but her impatience and curiosity were getting the best of her.
Samuel sighed in resignation which reflected his annoyance, and without turning his head to Sarah he said, "Go ahead. Say what you want to say."
Sarah's face lit up with a smile the moment she was given permission to speak. Without wasting a second, she quickly started to ask, "As we're going to this guy Min Dohyun—but are you sure those flowers were sent by your mother? I mean, why would she send them to me? It's possible that someone else may have a similar habit."
Samuel's expression remained neutral as he responded. "I'm sure about this, and if you don't want to come with me, you can get out of the car right now."
Sarah widened her eyes at his cold response. She shook her head quickly and retorted, "No, no, I want to come with you. Stop being so rude."
Saying this, she looked out the window, but her mind was still restless with questions. She turned back to Samuel and asked suddenly, "I never asked, but why did you become an actor?"
Samuel remained silent for a moment as he continued driving, his gaze fixed on the road. After a while, he glanced at Sarah and said in irritation, "Can you stop with the questions?"
But Sarah persisted, grabbing his arm and shaking it, determined to get an answer. "Just tell me! I want to know," she demanded.
Samuel grew annoyed and pulled his arm away, grumbling, "Stop bothering me!"
Sarah raised her hands in surrender, smiling innocently. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. But can you please answer my question now?"
Samuel sighed deeply, but he reluctantly responded. "Because of Jia," he said in an annoyed tone without glancing at her.
Sarah was taken aback by his answer but continued to stare at him for a few moments, her smile faltering.
Eventually, after a few silent moments, she nodded and turned her head away, hiding her pain behind a forced smile. "I see," she replied softly. "But now she left this industry, what about you?"
Samuel responded quickly, "This is my career now, and I enjoy it."
Sarah nodded again, giving him a thumbs up, looking back at him for a second with a tight-lipped smile before turning her head towards the window.
The car fell silent, and she continued to stare out the window, her unfocused gaze aimed at the outside view. While Unknowingly, Samuel couldn't help but steal glances at Sarah, his gaze occasionally flickering in her direction. He noticed the way her forced smile didn't reach her eyes, and he could sense the pain she was trying to hide.
The silence in the car continued, neither of them speaking a word. Samuel could feel the tension between them because of Sarah's silenceness with her own will.
Suddenly, Sarah spotted something outside the window, her eyes widening slightly in excitement. She quickly placed her hand on Samuel's shoulder and began to tap it urgently without looking at him as her eyes were fixed on that thing outside, "Stop the car, stop the car," she said.
Samuel immediately put the car into a quick brake, glancing at Sarah in confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Sarah turned her head towards him, her hand still tapping his shoulder with excitement. "It's the orphanage," she explained. "I visit there often. Let's go there and the kids will be really happy and surprised to see you."
Samuel looked at her hand which was still tapping his shoulder and he said in annoyance, "Could you stop tapping my shoulder first?"
Sarah immediately removed her hand from his shoulder, looking a bit sheepish. Samuel couldn't help but express his disbelief and annoyance as he asked, "And you've forgotten where we're going, haven't you?"
Sarah began to convince him. She insisted, "I remember, but it's on the way, so what's the harm in stopping and spending a little time with the kids? They'll be so happy to see you." She paused for a moment, looking at Samuel with pleading, hopeful eyes. "Please, do it for the sake of those children's happiness."
Samuel looked at Sarah's imploring eyes, feeling increasingly frustrated and weak. He looked away from her, sighing in resignation and irritation.
Finally, he turned back to her and asked, "Why do you always have to be so stupidly stubborn?"
However, Sarah simply responded to Samuel's question with a pleading "please," her eyes sparkling like a child's.
Samuel couldn't help but feel the same mix of emotions as he looked at her. He grudgingly agreed, "Fine."
Sarah's face lit up with happiness, and she unexpectedly hugged him, catching him off guard.
Samuel quickly pushed her away as if he had been touched by a ghost, pointing his index finger at her and saying, "Do whatever but don't even dare to touch me!"
Hearing him, Sarah teasingly poked fun at him with a mischievous smile, "Looks like the hero is embarrassed."
Samuel grew more and more frustrated, grumbling, "Stop talking nonsense."
Despite his anger, Sarah started laughing teasingly.
Frustrated by Sarah's quirky behaviour, Samuel started massaging his forehead, accepting the fact that he would have to endure her antics.
***
Sarah led Samuel into the hall of the orphanage where their eyes met the sight of a group of kids of all ages from 3 to 14, who were engrossed in their activity. She was familiar to them, but Samuel was new, who had come here for the first time at Sarah's request. Sarah walked fully into the hall, grabbing their attention, causing all the kids to be extremely happy and excited to see her.
They immediately rushed towards her, hugging her in unison. They pulled on her clothes, trying to get her attention, and chatter amongst themselves in gleeful voices. Meanwhile, Samuel stood at the doorway, watching the scene unfold before him. The kids were too engrossed in their excitement for Sarah to notice his presence. He stayed patiently at the side, observing the joyous reunion between Sarah and the children.
After addressing the kids' concerns, Sarah loudly said, "Okay, everyone, calm down. I have a surprise for all of you."
The kids instantly quiet down and turned their curious smiles and gazes towards her, eager to see the surprise.
Sarah then moved slightly to the side, clearing the view of the doorway, and enthusiastically gestured towards Samuel, introducing him with a cheerful "Tada!!"
The kids' eyes immediately widened in shock as they saw Samuel standing near the doorway, his hands in his pockets, and a warm smile on his face.
The room fell into a pin-drop silence as all the kids were unable to believe that the famous actor Kim Samuel was standing before them. Their eyes widen and their mouths hang open in shock. Sarah watched their reactions, a satisfied smile on her face. Some of them even rubbed their eyes, thinking that they might be dreaming. Others nudged their friends, as if to confirm that Samuel was really standing there.
After overcoming their initial shock, the kids quickly ran towards Samuel and surrounded him from all sides, hugging him and expressing their excitement at his arrival. They showered him with a barrage of questions and comments, overwhelmed by their joy.
Samuel smiled warmly, expertly managing the swarm of children and their inquiries. The kids chatter excitedly, their voices overlapping as they were asking Samuel various things. Some of them still couldn't believe that they were actually meeting one of their favourite actors, while others wanted to know more about him.
Meanwhile, Sarah who was admiring the scene from a distance, her smirk widening as she saw how good Samuel was with the children. After a few moments of admiring them, Sarah finally took her gaze away from the group and looked around, searching for someone.
She eventually walked towards a small garden area under an open sky to find the person. There, she spotted a one and only 16 year old lone girl from that orphanage, sitting on a swing bench, immersed in a fictional storybook. This girl had a plump appearance and was on the slightly heavier side, but she was incredibly cute. Sarah smiled slightly as she watched the girl, observing how absorbed she was in her reading.
Sarah approached the girl and called out to her affectionately, "Nina!"
Nina was surprised to hear her name and jolted up her head at Sarah, her eyes wide with surprise. She immediately jumped up from the swing bench, throwing the book on the bench before excitedly running towards Sarah and hugging her tightly, her voice brimming with happiness as she said, "I missed you so much, Sis!"
Sarah returned the hug warmly, her own voice filled with emotion as she replied, "I missed you too."
Once the hug ended, Nina quickly pulled Sarah onto the swing bench beside her, and Sarah picked up the book that Nina was reading and began inspecting it. Sarah glanced at the cover of the "fiction" book and raised an eyebrow, teasing Nina.
"Hmm…Looks like you're escaping into the world of fiction once again," she remarked with a playful smile.
Upon hearing Sarah's remark, Nina wrapped her arm around Sarah's arm and rested her head on Sarah's shoulder, snuggling closer to her.
"Why is every good and perfect thing fictional?" Nina asked, a hint of sudden sadness was audible in her voice. While Sarah paused, considering her question for a moment before responding.
"Ah, I see what you mean, sometimes reality seems unfair, doesn't it?" Sarah looked at her, her gaze thoughtful. "It's true that some of the most wonderful things exist in fiction--in stories, anime, movies…" she chuckled softly while continuing. "But that's precisely why they are considered 'perfect' and 'good', because they are crafted to be ideal. Real life isn't like that."
"But Can't we make our real world like them?" Nina asked.
Hearing her, Sarah sighed softly, understanding the wishful thinking behind her question.
"If only we could. But it's not so simple, you know."
Sarah's expression was a mix of empathy and realism. "Life isn't perfect. It's messy, it's complicated, and it's filled with uncertainties. That's what makes it real." She paused. "And sometimes, the imperfections make it beautiful."
As Sarah was speaking, she suddenly noticed the tears welling up in Nina's eyes, and her heart softened even more.
"Hey, don't cry. It's alright." She wiped away a stray tear gently with her thumb, her gaze filled with a mix of tenderness and understanding. She continued, her voice gentle and soothing. "Life is tough. It's normal to feel overwhelmed, to want things to be better. But real life is about dealing with the imperfections, facing challenges, and finding strength within yourself."
Nina between her sobs said, "I understood."
Sarah smiled in response to Nina's words, and gently patted her head, offering comfort. "There, there," Sarah said soothingly while wiping her tears completely. "Now, stop crying."
Nina still clung to Sarah's arm, feeling the sensation of being reunited with her pseudo-mother figure Sarah.
After a short moment of silence, Nina lifted her head up, turned to Sarah again and asked earnestly, "You spoke about love in your speech at the show. I've read about love in fictional stories as well, but what do you personally think love is?"
Sarah chuckled at Nina's question before taking a deep breath and responding with a warm smile. "Hmm…Love? Sarah began, her voice thoughtful and warm, "Well, love is a complex emotion and I suppose it has many definitions. But to me, love is a feeling of strong affection, care, and connection towards someone, something or even an idea." she paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "It's about wanting what's best for someone, even if it means sacrificing your own desires. It's like an invisible thread that ties two souls together, creating an unbreakable bond."
"It's when you can't imagine your life without that person or thing, and their happiness and well-being matter more to you than your own. Love is about trust, understanding, respect, and acceptance. It's about being there for each other through thick and thin, supporting and encouraging one another to grow and become the best versions of ourselves. Love can take many forms," Sarah continued, "it can be romantic, familial, or platonic."
She smiled warmly at Nina, hoping her answer had helped to provide some clarity.
"Remember," Sarah added with a gentle tone, "love isn't just about grand gestures or dramatic declarations. It's about the little things, like the way you make someone feel special, how you listen without judgement, and how you show up for them, even in the most ordinary moments."
Sarah put her arm around Nina's shoulders, giving her a comforting squeeze. "Does that help answer your question?" she asked, looking at Nina warmly.
Nina nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face as she took in Sarah's words. "Yes," she replied softly, a small smile playing on her lips. "That's a beautiful definition of love."
Sarah returned the smile, feeling glad that she could offer some wisdom to Nina. "And you're one of the definitions of Love" she said affectionately, before squeezing her shoulder once more. While Nina giggled.
"Remember, love is a journey, not a destination. It's something we keep learning about every day and nurture through our actions."
Nina nodded again, her expression becoming more content as she snuggled closer to Sarah. "I'll remember that," she said quietly, feeling safe and loved in Sarah's presence.
Suddenly Sarah noticed Nina suddenly froze in place, her eyes fixed on something in the garden's doorway. Sarah followed Nina's gaze and saw Samuel standing there, watching them both. Sarah wondered how long he had been there already.
Nina covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide as she looked between Sarah and Samuel. She asked, "Can you see Kim Samuel?"
Sarah quickly composed herself and replied with a poker face, pretending not to see Samuel. "No, I don't see anyone."
Nina was shocked and pointed towards the doorway where Samuel was standing, stating, "Look there, he's right there!"
Sarah looked in the direction that Nina was pointing, and replied with a hint of playfulness, "No, there's nobody there. You must be imagining things."
Nina frowned, confused by Sarah's denial. She pointed more emphatically towards the doorway, her voice becoming more insistent. "No, no! I'm not imagining things! He's really there! Can't you see him?"
Sarah continued to play along, maintaining her poker face as she shrugged her shoulders. "Really, I don't see anyone," she replied nonchalantly.
Nina, however, became more insistent and walked up to the doorway where Samuel was standing. She motioned towards him, trying to get Sarah to acknowledge his presence.
"Look, he is standing right here."
Suddenly, Samuel's voice surprised Nina, making her flinch and cover her mouth again. Samuel said with a charming smile, "Yes, I'm right here."
Hearing Samuel's words, Nina understood that Sarah was pretending all along. She looked back at Sarah, who was now smiling. Nina then looked at Samuel, scanning him from head to toe and then turned back to Sarah, asking, "You brought him here, right?"
Sarah nodded in affirmation. Nina then turned back towards Samuel and said, "You're even more handsome in person than you are on screen."
Samuel chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately, replying, "You're very cute too."
Nina blushed and grinned widely, looking utterly thrilled. Sarah watched them with a warm smile on her face.
Nina gestured towards the swing bench, inviting Samuel to sit. "Please sit."
However, Samuel gently declined with a smile and said, "Next time. We have to go now."
Nina nodded in understanding, with a tight lipped smile, and said, "Okay, that's alright. I'll be looking forward to your next visit then."
"Of course. We'll definitely come back." Samuel replied.
Nina grinned, looking forward to the future. Sarah stood up and stepped forward and stood in front of them, looking at Nina affectionately. She said, "Alright, Nina, we'll meet again, okay?" Saying this, she patted her head gently.
At the same time, Samuel also chimed in, saying, "No more crying, alright?"
Sarah and Nina both realised that it was confirmed Samuel had been watching them silently for a long time.
Nina, feeling a little embarrassed, smiled and replied earnestly, "No more crying, I'll definitely look forward to your return."
Nina's statement caused both Sarah and Samuel to smile warmly. They then bid Nina farewell, with Samuel adding one last thing, "No more crying, okay?" as a final reminder not to cry anymore.
Nina nodded in agreement, promising no tears the next time they met. Sarah and Samuel then turned to leave, with Sarah glancing back at Nina one last time as they walked away.
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