Midst of everyone enjoying their meal, Mike held Stella's hand firmly, their eyes locked in a loving gaze.

Robin, deep in thought, muttered to himself, "I never thought this moment would come."

Curiosity got the best of him, and he turned to Mike with a puzzled expression. "Mike, how did you manage to escape from Aiden? We saw he was surprisingly nice to you at the end of the session. You and Stella weren't even part of the session, yet he didn't complain. What happened?"

Mike's face lit up with a fond smile, and he began to recount the surprising turn of events. "He's the one who actually helped me get closer to Stella."

The revelation left everyone at the table in shock, eager to hear more about this unexpected twist in the story.

He's my friend. Long back, when I wasa small kid, I came here for the first time with my Dad due to some business deal with my father. I was staying at one of the luxurious hotels in the Aerobi.

Those days I was not the guy you all know. I was shy and did not have friends at all. Because of my stammering, I faced a lot of bullies in my school. So I made a shell to cover me all the time.

Everyone in that dining was looking at Mike interestingly at the same time, shockingly as if he was telling some thriller fiction story, and this wasn't easy to believe what Mike was saying. People considered Mike as one of the rowdy guys.

But today, everyone sees Mike's most vulnerable side, which he never tried to show.

That's why you pretended all the time so strongly that no one, not even their dreams, thinks about you to do bullies on you? Stella ended the conclusion, and Mike did not say anything instead of looking at the table with accepting her question silently. Stella held Mike's hand tightly, providing him with a sense of relief and assurance that he was no longer alone in this journey of healing and self-acceptance.

As the atmosphere around the dining table grew warmer and more supportive, Riana and Robin also took the opportunity to express their love and care for Mike, creating a sense of unity and understanding.

Mike managed a small but genuine smile and reassured himself, "Yeah, I am okay." He drew strength from the presence of Stella beside him, finding comfort and security in her unwavering support.

With the mood lighter and more connected than before, Robin couldn't contain his excitement about the unfolding story. He eagerly asked, "So, what happened next? How did you initially meet Aiden, and where is this story leading?"

As Mike's story unfolded, he continued, "While staying in Aerobi, my father had a business meeting, and I was left alone in my room, which had a perfect view of the beach from the window."

He went on, "I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be at the beach alone, and how much fun it could be. So, I made the decision to venture to the beach by myself. I sat there, basking in the view of the sea, and the soothing sound of the waves washed away all my stress and pain. It was like a healing balm for my body."

Mike's voice softened as he recounted the moment. "That's when I met Aiden. He's 4-5 years elder than me and was sitting near me, wearing a torn shirt, but his face was filled with a radiant happiness."

The story had taken an unexpected turn, and everyone at the dining table leaned in, eager to hear more about this chance encounter with Aiden.Hey, don't you think it's so wonderful," He started the conversation.

I was trying to decide whether to respond to him back or not. This is unusual to me. But I felt comfort that first time someone casually spoke with me like a friend. So I responded to him with my stammering voice, "Ye...ye..sss."

As Mike continued his narrative, he recalled the early moments of his conversation with Aiden. Aiden had looked at him, smiled widely, and said, "You're new here, right? I haven't seen you here before."

Mike, still in his shell of shyness, responded with confusion, "Do you know everyone here?"

Aiden chuckled and replied, "Yeah, kind of. I come here a lot. You know I love this place. So, what's your name?"

Mike introduced himself, "Mike. And yours?"

"Aiden. Nice to meet you, Mike. You can call me Aide also."

Curiosity led Mike to inquire further, "So, are you from here?"

Aiden confirmed, "Yes. I live here with my uncle and aunt."

Mike then asked, "Your parents? Don't they live with you?"

Aiden's smile remained, but it held a hint of sadness. "No," he replied simply.

Mike persisted, "Why? Don't they love you?"

Aiden smiled and shared, "They are gone, near God. But I can feel their presence in every beat of my heart." His gaze turned to an empty seat at the table, undoubtedly symbolizing their absence.

Mike, empathetic and understanding, expressed his condolences, "Sorry for your loss, Aide."

Aiden acknowledged with a melancholic nod, "Yeah, but I'm staying with my uncle and aunt. So anyway, are we friends now?" He extended his hand toward Mike, a genuine gesture of friendship.

Overwhelmed by the connection he felt, Mike didn't hesitate. He reached out and firmly shook Aiden's hand, accepting the offer of friendship. In that moment, Aiden became not only Mike's first friend but also the person who made him feel comfortable, despite all his insecurities. 

Mike continued his tale, reminiscing about the day Aiden took him to his ice cream shop near the beach, marking the start of their friendship. It had been a day filled with joy and laughter, an experience that helped Mike understand the true essence of friendship. For the first time, he realized that friends meant no money, no ego, and no bullies—just happiness. However, as with all good things, time passed quickly.

As they neared the end of their time together, parting ways was painful. Mike longed to stay with Aiden, but he had promised his newfound friend that he would return soon to meet him and wouldn't leave alone.

Stella, curious to know more, asked, "So you came back for him?" She wanted to understand the depth of Mike's connection with Aiden and the events that had transpired since their initial meeting.

Mike's concern for Aiden was evident as he continued the story. "Yes, I came back to find him," he explained. "I searched everywhere the second time, but he wasn't there. I was afraid that something wrong might have happened to him."

Mike had reached out to Aiden's uncle and aunt for answers, hoping to learn about his friend's whereabouts. However, their response was less than comforting. "When I asked his uncle and aunt, they simply told me he wasn't living with them anymore and mentioned that he had been adopted by another couple, but they couldn't provide any further information about that couple."

"I had initially believed our journey had ended until that day."

But when I met him today, he told me that he met one couple when he was struggling to study with the streetlight and selling ice cream side by side. Fortunately, that couple was not just anybody; they were the owners of this hotel. They loved him, seeing his passion for his study and thought him to adopt. This changed his life as his uncle and aunt always wanted to wash their hands from him.

Hearing this story, Everyone was stunned.

The surprise continued as Robin, filled with excitement, welcomed Aiden, who had just arrived to join them for dinner. The atmosphere became one of joy and celebration as Mike and Aiden embraced, their friendship strengthened by the reunion. It was a heartwarming moment that filled the room with a sense of unity and connection.

"So, finally, you both are together! ," Aiden was happy to see both Mike and Stella together.

They both smiled at each other.

"Hey, Aiden, I have one question; if you knew he's the one who is your friend, then why did you make all the things happen? We were so scared, "Robin asked surprisingly. Even Riana agreed with that.

Aiden's smile grew as he explained, "I was just teasing him. When I first met him, I immediately recognized that he was none other than my old friend, Mike. How could I ever forget him... even though I moved to a new family, the memories of the short time I spent with Mike have always stayed with me."

"I knew you guys didn't notice, but I overheard Stella and Mike's conversation after they left the elevator. At that time, I hadn't realized you were there, Mike. I had simply overheard the conversation and decided to go to the restobar to hang out with friends. However, while I was there, I noticed that Stella was sitting with someone who was offering her drinks, and by the time I reached her, she had already accepted a drink."

"I was getting increasingly concerned and was attempting to persuade Stella to leave the place. However, things took a turn for the worse when Mike showed up and, to my surprise, he mistook me for someone else."

With a knowing smile, Aiden continued, "It was in that moment that I recognized Mike from our past. He hadn't changed; his features were the same as I remembered. So I decided to seize the opportunity to playfully interact with you guys for a while." Aiden punctuated his explanation with a wink directed at Mike, adding a touch of humor to the story.

Stella, reflecting on the situation, expressed her realization, "Yes, you're not the person who gave me the shot. I'm sorry, Aiden. It was my mistake, and it led to a fight between you both."

 "I'm sorry, Aide," Mike said, expressing his regret for the misunderstanding and the resulting conflict.

"No problem at all...that punch was necessary," Aiden replied with a wink.

Everyone laughed at the same time, thinking all this time they had only become fools.

So you are the owner of this hotel and why guide?" Robin asked excitedly.

Aiden clarified, "No, I'm not the owner. Actually, technically, my parents are the owners. I'm an archaeologist. Your school had requested our hotel to provide a guide for you, but the guide they had initially arranged fell ill. I happened to be available due to some archaeological work I was doing in the area. So, upon a special request from my parents, I stepped in as your guide for these two days."

"Awesome, man," Robin replied with enthusiasm.

After some conversation, everyone headed to their respective rooms.

After dinner, Mike and Stella found themselves standing on the balcony, gazing at the beach's serene view.

"Is all of this real, Mike?" Stella asked, her voice filled with disbelief. The rapid transformation of their lives in just two days had left her in a state of shock.

Mike turned to Stella, his gaze unwavering, and replied, "Even if it were a dream, I would want to be with you."

Stella met his eyes and confessed, "I love you, Mike, and that kiss wasn't a mistake. You've always had a special place in my heart, and I want you to stay there forever. Every time I look at you, it's like I'm seeing someone deeply cherished." They shared a loving smile and embraced in a passionate kiss, sealing their feelings for each other.

#More additional chapters are on the way. Thanks for reading.