Luna approached Tanya's table, and a warm, genuine smile lit up her face. Tanya immediately stood and pulled Luna into a tight hug, her energy as lively as ever. "Oh my gosh, Luna! You haven't aged a day! You're glowing!" Tanya exclaimed, her eyes brimming with excitement.
Luna laughed, shaking her head as she gently held Tanya's shoulders. "Look who's talking! You look incredible, even with baby number four on the way!" she teased, her tone light and affectionate. The two women shared a laugh before Tanya turned to introduce her husband.
"This is Louis," Tanya said proudly, gesturing to the man standing beside her with a kind smile. Luna extended her hand but was met with a warm embrace instead.
"Congratulations to both of you," Luna said sincerely. "Your house is about to get even livelier!"
Tanya and Louis chuckled, exchanging a quick, knowing glance that spoke of their shared anticipation. Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, Jovy and her husband, Rome, stood waiting. Though Jovy's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, Luna chose to let it slide. She knew Jovy well enough to understand her reserved nature didn't equate to indifference.
"Jovy, Rome, it's so nice to see you both again," Luna greeted, her voice warm but cautious. She kissed Jovy on both cheeks and shook Rome's hand.
Jovy returned the gesture with a polite nod, her smile faint but present. Rome, on the other hand, was more enthusiastic, engaging Luke and Josh in a quick handshake before retreating to Jovy's side.
Tanya, ever the extrovert, looped an arm around Luna's shoulder and exclaimed, "Do you remember the time Louis got jealous of Josh back in college?" She erupted into laughter, prompting Louis to roll his eyes playfully.
"You're never letting me live that down, are you?" Louis asked, his voice tinged with mock exasperation but softened by an affectionate smile.
"Of course not," Tanya retorted, winking at her husband. "It's one of my favorite stories!"
Josh, never one to miss an opportunity to poke fun, added, "Hey, Tanya, if Louis ever dumps you, I'm still available!" He smirked, earning a loud laugh from the group.
"Josh, even if Louis dumps me, you'll still be my last choice!" Tanya shot back, delivering a playful smack in his arm.
"Argh! Tanya, I'm not a punching bag!" Josh whined, rubbing his arm but grinning nonetheless.
Not to be outdone, Marley chimed in, "Oh please, Josh. Why don't you look in the mirror before offering yourself? You're a bigger mess than I am, and that's saying something!" Her tone was sharp but carried an undertone of humor, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper.
Josh's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Oh, Marley, you wound me," he replied dramatically, clutching his chest as if she'd struck him straight through the heart.
Marley rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair. Yet, despite her outward annoyance, there was a small part of her that still lingered on memories of their past. One drunken night, one reckless mistake and a string of mixed signals left her heart unsure whether it should ache or let go.
Josh, despite his constant teasing of Marley, was terrified of losing her from his life. Their friendship was precious to him, and he didn't want it to escalate into a bitter feud like the one between Luna and Kai—two former friends who had loved each other deeply, only to end in painful separation. He didn't want to experience that kind of heartbreak with Marley.
Amidst the laughter, Josh turned to Luna. "So, how's married life in the US, Luna? Don't you get bored? Just staying home all the time?" he asked, a playful grin on his face.
Luna just laughed. "Josh, I'm happy with what I have now. Why would I worry about tomorrow? What's more important for me now is my husband and my son. I won't ask for more."
"Wow, imagine, our former mischievous friend, the best in leadership during our wild nights, turned out to be a model housewife!" Josh teased, barely suppressing his laughter. Luna didn't let that slide and playfully punched his arm.
"Ouch! These women in our group have no mercy! I'm always getting beat up!" Josh complained, dramatically clutching his arm.
"Well, you look like a punching bag!" she rolled her eyes. Everyone burst into laughter, and even Marley cracked a small smile.
"Where's your son?" Suddenly Luke asked Luna.
"Oh, he's with my parents. They wanted to bond with their grandchild," Luna replied, swirling the wine in her glass, a wistful look in her eyes.
"So, Luna's back to her old ways tonight?" Josh interrupted, a teasing tone in his voice, giving Luna a knowing look. His eyes sparkled with mischief.
"No way! I've turned over a new leaf!" Luna quickly denied it, raising her hand as if taking an oath. The laughter erupted again, a wave of sound washing over the group. The friends knew how wild and carefree Luna used to be. She was the self-proclaimed "bad girl" of the group—even wilder than Marley, who, while touchy, was relatively tame before. Luna was the mastermind behind countless cutting classes for outings, dragging everyone with her, including Luke. The former top student and student council president had almost lost his honors because of her, but that same recklessness had also brought Luke closer to the group.
"Seriously, if it weren't for Luna, we probably wouldn't even have this group," Luke said jokingly, shaking his head. The casual atmosphere of the gathering was a testament to their enduring bonds.
"Wow, is that an inspirational quote?" Tanya quipped, breaking into laughter. "It's true what they say, as you get older, the future becomes more predictable." The lighthearted banter continued, punctuated by shared memories and inside jokes, painting a vivid picture of their long and cherished friendship. The restaurant buzzed with life around them, but their small was a quiet intimacy, a sanctuary of shared history and enduring bonds.
"Oh really? That explains why one of you seems stuck in and perpetual childhood—still so immature," Marley teased Josh, a sly, slightly bitter smile playing on her lips. The warm ocean breeze stirred the white curtains around them, creating a gentle rustling sound that accompanied their playful banter.
"Wow, Marley! I'm not even 40 yet, why would I be thinking about the future?" Josh retorted, looking at Luke for support. "Right, Luke? Future planning isn't even on the deadline yet!"
"Hey, don't look at me! That's your midlife crisis, not mine," Luke laughed, averting his gaze as a blush crept onto his cheeks. The setting sun casts a golden hue across the resort, painting the scene in a warm, romantic light.
Luna suddenly turned to Luke, still mesmerized by his transformation. "Seriously," she joked, patting his arm, "I still can't believe that my first crush, the skinny, nerdy guy back then, is such a hunk now!" Her voice held a genuine fondness, a touch of nostalgia for their shared past.
"Hey, Luna, if you were single, I'd be courting you right now. You know, if I wasn't such a klutz, I might even manage to make your knees weak!" Luke replied with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling with playful intent, a self-deprecating humor that made his confidence more endearing.
A chorus of "OHHHH!" erupted from the group, followed by peals of laughter. Even Luna laughed, playfully pinching Luke's side. "Oh, you rascal, you've learned to fight back!" Luna exclaimed, her laughter echoing through the tranquil resort.
"Hold on a second," Marley interjected, her voice cutting through the laughter, a hint of playful competitiveness in her tone. "Me, Luke! I'm single. I want to see if that knee-weakening claim of yours is true!" Her arm snaked around Luke's, a mixture of playful challenge and underlying affection evident in her touch. The comfortable intimacy of their group was clear, the years of shared experiences creating a bond that allowed for such open and teasing exchanges.
"Marley, please," Josh interrupted, laughing, but his words were met with a dramatic eye roll from Marley. "He doesn't go for the Peter Pan types!"
The laughter continued, but Marley's irritation was evident, a subtle tightening of her lips betraying her amusement. "Keep going, Josh," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "At your age, you probably won't even make it to 40 to start thinking about the future!"
In the midst of the laughing, Luna's attention was suddenly drawn to two new figures entering through the doorway. Their arrival instantly silenced the jovial atmosphere, their presence as captivating as a scene from a slow-motion film. All eyes turned towards them, a collective hush falling over the group as they took in the newcomers.
The woman was a vision of elegance, a goddess in a cream-colored blazer draped over a white corset top adorned with intricate gold embroidery. Her carefully styled hair, a cascade of auburn waves with a touch of bangs, framed her oval face perfectly.
"Who is she? I've never seen her before..." Luna murmured to herself, a flicker of curiosity sparking in her eyes. The warm glow of the setting sun cast a soft light on the woman, highlighting her delicate features and the subtle shimmer of her gold jewelry. Her tailored pants, matched with a belt featuring a gleaming gold buckle, accentuated her figure, exuding an air of sophistication and confidence. She looked every bit the professional model, a powerful aura radiating from her. Luna couldn't help but feel a pang of intrigue, a sense of being outshone, a feeling she hadn't experienced in years.