A life , alive

Mia had been so absorbed in her work that she almost lost sight of what truly mattered. Daniel's return, after years away, had injected a burst of energy into her routine. He was more cheerful and confident than ever, and his visits to her office, initially for professional advice, had taken on a different tone. Daniel's transformation was striking; he had grown into a figure who seemed almost too perfect for the mundane world they inhabited.

It was evident in the way he carried himself—an effortless charisma that made him stand out.Ηe appeared as though he were born for the spotlight, each pose and smile capturing an undeniable star quality. Mia couldn't help but be mesmerized by him. His presence was so commanding that it disrupted her focus, making it difficult for her to think straight.

She found herself wondering why Daniel hadn't pursued modeling. His appearance and demeanor suggested he was made for it, and she was increasingly captivated by him, both professionally and personally. The more she saw him, the more she realized how much her life had shifted, and how much she had missed in the interim.

Her turning point came when Daniel visited her office, wearing a black shirt that perfectly showcased his muscles. She couldn't resist asking if he was free to go out with her. The way he eagerly accepted her invitation made her nervous, but also excited.

Despite all the romantic movies she had watched and all the flirting she had done over the years, this date with Daniel felt like one of the most nerve-wracking experiences in a while. She loved Daniel, and seeing him so eager to spend time with her made her happy. But she still had her insecurities about letting him get too close. However, she felt ready this time. They had a reservation at one of the finest restaurants in Korea, surrounded by roses in a romantic setting. When Daniel arrived, dressed in a suit, he greeted her with a warm smile and a kiss on the cheek. Mia couldn't help but laugh at his forwardness, reminded of how he always knew how to make people feel at ease.

"You know what I've realized over the years, Daniel?" Mia said, breaking the silence. "We always come back to the things we love if they haven't hurt us. If they grow with us, those are the things we return to. That's one of the reasons I asked you out tonight."

Daniel nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "I agree. Whether it's fashion or something else, we both knew it was hard to stay in our field before finding success. You never needed to prove anything to your family that wasn't true to who you are. You didn't have to force yourself to grow up too fast—you've always loved this company, and that never changed. It's the same with me. I didn't need to prove my love for fashion to anyone; it was always there, something I loved no matter what. Life brings us back to the things we love."

Mia smiled, feeling a deep connection to his words. "And even when it comes to love, sometimes it's best to let go. I don't know if I ever told you this, but my grandma pressured me a lot about the company and other things. I felt like I had to prove my love by giving it away, by constantly showing it to be worthy of being loved in return. But with you, Daniel, I knew when it was time to let go. Not because I didn't love you, not because I didn't care, but because I needed to find more in life. I needed to expand, to be free of that constant need to prove myself. Letting go was hard, but it was the right thing to do. And when you came back, the love I felt was free—free from expectations and demands. I love you, Daniel."

Daniel's eyes softened as he moved closer, gently kissing her. "I love you too, Mia. And I'm so proud of the journey you've taken."

Mia smiled, feeling a sense of peace and fulfillment. The night continued with a wonderful dinner, accompanied by expensive wine. As they enjoyed each other's company, they found themselves getting philosophical, sharing deep thoughts about life.

"How important it is to live a life fully alive," Daniel mused. "To overcome our fears, to stay true to the things we love, and to let go of what poisons our hearts."

Daniel nodded in agreement. "I can see us living different lives, working different jobs by day, and at night, I'd still be designing clothes."

They both smiled, content in the knowledge that they had found their way back to each other, to the things they loved, and to the life they wanted to live.

"Yes, I would definitely start my own business with my stubbornness, from the start even if I couldn't juggle the family drama and the family company."

Mia smiled. "I would apply in your new company, and I would give you my dress."

"Yes, and I would look at you thinking how beautiful you are, and I'd hope you'd ask me for a date."

"I would, and we'd be dating, and continuing the business together. Though, you'd be very strict sometimes on the deadlines."

"I would have found you."

"Of course you would," Daniel smiled, and looked at Mia tenderly

FOUR YEARS LATER

Here's the dialogue without the bold:

---

"Hey, give me the cake!"

"No way, I want the cake!"

"Kids!" Mia raised her voice. "Stop arguing! Your godparents, Jennie and Leo, are coming soon, so please, can we not have a cake war today?"

At that moment, Daniel walked in, kissed Mia on the cheek, and smiled. "Hey, sweetheart. How's it going in here?"

"Well," Mia sighed, "they're fighting over who gets the bigger slice of cake... again."

Daniel turned to their son. "Manuel, what have I told you about your sister? You should always give her the best of everything."

"But Dad!" Manuel groaned.

"No 'buts.' Be generous. You'll survive without one extra bite of cake, trust me," Daniel said, trying not to laugh.

Mia giggled under her breath just as the doorbell rang.

"Saved by the bell," she muttered.

"Hey!" Jennie burst through the door. "Where are my favorite munchkins?"

"Godmother!" Catherine and Manuel shouted as they ran to Jennie.

"Catherine, my little love!" Jennie scooped them up and kissed them all over. Meanwhile, Leo strolled in, holding a bottle of wine like it was the Olympic torch.

"I come bearing liquid gifts!" Leo grinned, placing the bottle on the table.

Everyone gathered around, laughing and chatting. After a few sips of wine, Jennie couldn't hold it in anymore.

"So, we have something super exciting to announce," she said, her smile almost too big for her face.

"Oh? What is it?" Mia asked, raising her eyebrows and leaning in.

"We are officially inviting you to our wedding!" Jennie exclaimed, flashing a shiny ring.

Mia screamed and practically jumped out of her chair. "No way! You're finally doing it!" She grabbed Jennie in a hug, nearly knocking over a glass in her excitement.

Daniel shook Leo's hand, pulling him in for a hug. "Congratulations, man! Finally making it official, huh?"

"About time, right?" Leo laughed. "We've been through so much, and you two have always been there for us. It felt right that you're the first to know."

"Oh, people are going to lose their minds!" Mia gushed. "The academy's going to be buzzing, and Jennie, your mom must be over the moon!"

"She is!" Jennie nodded. "After all the drama, we patched things up a couple of years ago, and she's thrilled."

"That's amazing," Daniel said. "It's always good to heal those old wounds."

Leo grinned and leaned back. "Now, the real question: When's the bachelor party?" He gave Daniel a wink.

Daniel's eyes lit up. "Oh, it's happening, my friend. Oh, it's happening." They high-fived with way too much enthusiasm.

"And the bachelorette party!" Jennie added, giving Leo a sideways glare. "Don't think you're having all the fun."

"Yes!" Mia clapped her hands together. "Jennie, we are going to throw the ultimate party! I've got ideas... big ideas."

Leo smirked. "Leave it to us, though. We know how to throw a real party, right, Daniel?"

"Oh, totally," Daniel nodded, clearly in on some secret plan.

Mia and Jennie exchanged suspicious looks.

"Uh-huh..." Mia said, narrowing her eyes. "Well, just so you know, I've got an idea from one of my girlfriends in California. It's pretty epic."

Jennie gasped dramatically. "Do tell!"

"Let's just say... it involves a yacht, a live DJ, and maybe—just maybe—a surprise guest performance." Mia raised her eyebrows mischievously.

Jennie's jaw dropped. "You're kidding. I love it already!"

Daniel and Leo exchanged nervous glances.

"Uh-oh," Daniel whispered to Leo. "We might need to step up our game."

"No kidding," Leo muttered back, eyes wide.

The room erupted in laughter as the kids finally settled down, happily munching on their cake, while the adults schemed about the upcoming parties.

The evening had been a lively and joyful one, filled with the warmth of friends and the excitement of new beginnings. After Jennie and Leo had left, Mia took a moment to reflect on the day's events. The announcement of their wedding had been a delightful surprise, and it was clear that everyone was thrilled about their upcoming celebrations. The thought of the bachelorette and bachelor parties already had Mia buzzing with ideas and plans.

As the house quieted down, Mia headed upstairs to check on the kids. Manuel and Catherine were already in their beds.

She entered their room softly, the dim light from the nightlight casting a gentle glow. Catherine stirred as Mia approached, and Manuel looked up at her with curious eyes.

"Mama," Manuel began, his voice filled with the innocence of childhood, "why do you always say we should live a life alive? We're alive now."

Mia smiled warmly as she sat on the edge of Manuel's bed, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "Well, Manuel, being alive is more than just breathing and going through the motions. It's about finding joy in the simple things, staying true to what we love, and not losing sight of the things that make us happy."

She glanced at Catherine, who had woken up and was now snuggling closer to her brother. Mia continued, "When we grow up, we sometimes get so caught up in responsibilities and challenges that we forget the things we truly love. We might put aside our passions or the things that make us happy because we think we have to focus on other things. But it's important to remember to come back to those things, to find joy in them again. That's what makes life special."

Manuel thought for a moment, his young face serious as he considered her words. "So, it's like when you love designing clothes and you still do it even when you have to do other things?"

"Yes, exactly," Mia said, her heart swelling with pride. "It's about staying connected to what you love, even when life gets busy or difficult. It's about finding happiness in the things that matter most to you."

Catherine, now fully awake, reached out and took Manuel's hand. "I love being with you, Mama. I'm happy when we're all together."

Mia's eyes softened with emotion as she looked at her children. "And that's what's important. We find joy in being together and in the things we love. It makes life more meaningful and full."

With that, Mia tucked the children in snugly, their faces relaxing into peaceful sleep as she kissed them goodnight. She lingered for a moment, watching them, feeling grateful for these simple, profound moments.

As she turned off the light and quietly closed the door behind her, Mia felt a deep sense of contentment. The day had been filled with love, laughter, and meaningful connections, and she was reminded once again of the importance of living life fully and authentically.

The house was quiet now, the only sounds being the soft hum of the night. Mia headed downstairs, where Daniel was tidying up the last of the dinner remnants. She joined him, her heart full from the evening's events.

"Tonight went perfectly," Mia said, leaning into him. "I can't wait for the wedding and all the celebrations."

Daniel pulled her closer, a warm smile on his face. "Yeah, it was great. And spending time with the kids like that... it's moments like these that make me realize how lucky we are to have this life together."

They stood together, content in the knowledge that they had built a life filled with love, joy, and the pursuit of what truly mattered. The future was bright, and as they looked forward to the upcoming celebrations and milestones, they did so with the deep understanding that living fully and authentically was what made life truly worth living.

THE END