...
Zastan, now holding both Elara and Amara's hands, was caught between disbelief and amusement. Here he was, sitting at a park bench, and all four girls had just confessed their feelings for him. The moment felt unreal for him. The fountain's soft, rhythmic splashes continued in the background, but the air between them was thick with emotions.
He turned to Fiz, who stood there with her arms crossed but her face slightly flushed, and then to Fiona, whose usually composed demeanor had cracked just enough to reveal her vulnerability. Both of them were waiting, just like Elara and Amara, for a response.
Zastan, despite the unexpected turn of events, couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and humility. He smiled at the four of them, recognizing how much courage it must have taken for each to confess their feelings. For now, he gently squeezed Elara and Amara's hands, then released them, offering a small but genuine laugh to break the tension.
"Well," he said, his voice warm but teasing, "this is a bit overwhelming... but I appreciate all of you. Truly."
The girls exchanged glances, some blushing, others chuckling softly, but the tension had lightened. They each had spoken their truths, and now, for the first time, it felt like a shared understanding had settled between them.
As the fountain continued to dance behind them, Zastan stood up, offering his hand to each of them in turn. "Come on, let's enjoy the night. We'll figure things out... together."
...
As they continued their walk through the park, the air between them felt lighter, though still charged with the recent confessions. Zastan led the group toward a quieter area of the park, where the trees formed a canopy over their head, their branches illuminated by soft, twinkling lights of the lamps hanging between them. The path was lined with blooming flowers, and the faint sound of music from a distant street performer floated through the night.
The girls were quiet now, walking beside him, each lost in their own thoughts. Zastan couldn't help but steal glances at them.
Elara, Amara, Fiz, and Fiona. Each of them had opened up to him in a way he hadn't expected. It was flattering, yes, but it also added a layer of complexity to his relationships with them.
Elara broke the silence first, her voice soft as she gazed up at the lights above. "It's really beautiful here, isn't it?"
Zastan nodded, glancing up as well. "Yeah, I didn't expect this part of the park to be so peaceful."
Fiz, walking a bit ahead, turned and grinned. "That's because most people don't know about this area. It's sort of a hidden spot. My dad always brings me here when he needs a break from work."
Amara chimed in, her eyes gleaming with interest. "It does feel like a secret place... quiet, but special."
Fiona, ever the practical one, looked around, scanning the surroundings. "It's secluded enough, but still safe," she noted, her military instincts kicking in even during a relaxed moment.
Zastan chuckled at her observation. "Always on guard, huh?"
Fiona shrugged, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Old habits."
They continued walking until they reached a small wooden bridge that crossed over a slowly moving stream. The soft gurgle of the water added to the tranquility of the moment. Zastan stopped in the middle of the bridge, leaning on the railing and looking down at the water.
The girls joined him, and for a few moments, they simply stood there, taking in the calmness of the night. The moonlight reflected off the surface of the stream, creating ripples of light that shimmered with each passing breeze.
Zastan, feeling the weight of everything that had happened, turned to face the group. "I want to say... thank you. And to tell you the truth... I never expected that all of you liked me. And I know for a fact at how hard it is to confess something like this."
Elara, standing closest to him, gave a small, understanding smile. "It wasn't easy, but I'm glad we did."
Amara nodded in agreement, her expression soft but firm. "Yeah. We all needed to get that off our chests."
Fiz leaned against the railing, crossing her arms as she grinned. "Honestly, I didn't think tonight would turn out like this, but I'm not complaining."
Amara teased. "Based on what you said, it seems like you get these confessions a lot huh?"
Fiona, standing a bit farther back, looked thoughtful. "What now, though?"
Zastan sighed, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I guess... we take things one step at a time. I care about all of you, and I don't want to hurt anyone. Let's just see where things go."
The girls nodded in silent agreement, each of them seeming to accept the uncertainty of the situation. For now, they were content with enjoying the night together, letting things unfold naturally.
Suddenly, Fiz clapped her hands, breaking the serious tone. "Okay, enough of this heavy stuff! Who's up for some more games?"
Elara and Amara laughed, their moods brightening. "I'm in!" Elara said, her competitive side surfacing again.
"Let's do it," Amara agreed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
...
After chilling at the games for a while, the group began wandering through the park once more, enjoying the fresh night air. As they walked, they passed by a milk tea stall with an eye-catching sign that read "Eternal Enchantment."
The soft glow of the stall's lights illuminated the long line of people eagerly waiting to place their orders and get a drink.
One of the girls, Fiz, eyed the long line and groaned. "Ugh, the line is always so long here. It's like everyone's obsessed with their milk tea," she said, her tone half-complaining.
Amara chimed in with a nod. "Well, to be fair, it is really good. I've been trying to come here for weeks, but it's always packed."
Elara and Fiona both agreed, with Fiona adding, "I don't usually go for sweet drinks, but this place is really worth it."
Hearing this, Zastan's mind sparked with an idea. A sly smile crept across his face. "You guys really like it that much?" he asked casually, hiding the fact that he knew exactly how good the drinks were.
Amara shrugged, "It's kind of hard not to when the reviews are all five stars. But it's impossible to get in without waiting forever."
Zastan smiled mischievously. "If you want, I can get some for you. No line, no wait."
The girls all raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. Elara crossed her arms, her voice teasing. "You're gonna bribe us with milk tea now? Sorry, Zastan, but no one gets special treatment at Eternal Enchantment, not even if you wave thousands of dollars at the staff."
The others laughed, nodding in agreement. Fiz added, "Yeah, the staff there are known for being super strict. You're not gonna get anywhere by throwing money around."
Zastan smiled mysteriously, then he pulled out his phone. "Is that so?" he said, his voice filled with confidence. He stepped away from the group for a moment and dialed the number of one of his managers, the other manager besides Darius who managed the operations of his milk tea business. After a brief conversation, he hung up and returned to the group, still grinning.
"Just wait a few minutes," he said confidently.
The girls exchanged curious glances but didn't press him further. They continued to chat among themselves, all the while keeping a skeptical eye on Zastan.
...
Not long after, a staff member from Eternal Enchantment, dressed in the shop's signature uniform, approached the group carrying two large plastic bags filled with milk tea. The girls immediately recognized the uniform and blinked in disbelief.
"Wait... what?" Amara muttered, confused.
The staff member, with a polite nod, handed the bags to Zastan before heading back to the stall. Zastan set the bags down on the ground and pulled out a cup from each bag, handing them out one by one, starting with Amara.
Amara took the cup from Zastan, her eyes widening in confusion when she noticed he handed her two cups. "Why two?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. But as she glanced at the flavors printed on the labels, realization hit her like a wave.
One of the cups contained the regular milk tea, but the other... the other was the brand-new flavor of Eternal Enchantment, the one that wasn't supposed to be released until tomorrow.
She gasped, took a few steps toward Zastan and looked up. "Wait... this is the new flavor! It's not even out yet!"
The other girls quickly caught on, their eyes widening in shock as they each inspected their own cups. Fiona's mouth hung open. "How... how did you get this? This flavor is supposed to drop tomorrow!"
Elara stared at Zastan, completely bewildered. "Zastan, what did you do? How did you pull this off?"
Fiz was practically bouncing on her toes. "Did you bribe someone? There's no way you got this before the release day!"
The girls bombarded Zastan with a bunch of questions, their curiosity and disbelief palpable. Zastan, still smiling that same mysterious grin, leaned against the park bench and shrugged casually.
"I have my ways," he said, keeping his tone light and playful, clearly enjoying the look of surprise on their faces.
Amara narrowed her eyes playfully, a mix of suspicion and amusement in her voice. "Oh, come on, Zastan. Spill it. How did you really get these?"
Zastan took a sip of his own drink and smirked. "Let's just say... I have a little more influence at Eternal Enchantment than you think."
The girls all stared at him in a mix of shock and realization, the truth slowly dawning on them. "Wait... don't tell me..." Elara began, her voice trailing off as she pieced it together.
Zastan winked at her, the twinkle in his eyes confirming her suspicions. "Yep. Eternal Enchantment is mine."
...