Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)

When Gabriel spotted the man, he could tell this guy wasn't your average Joe. There was something about him that screamed 'not to be messed with,' and you could see the guy getting visibly tenser. "What's up?" Gabriel asked as he approached.

Sylvia quickly briefed him on what the man wanted.

Gabriel glanced at the clothes in the man's hand and then took Sylvia's hand firmly. "Sorry, but she's busy. You'll have to find someone else!"

The man didn't dare to say anything else. He just nodded, "My apologies," and hurried off.

Sylvia couldn't help but laugh. "You really scared him off!"

Gabriel reached up and adjusted the beanie on her head. "Where'd you get this?"

"Just bought it!" Sylvia said, showing off the tassels. "Do you like it?"

Gabriel just stared at her for a moment, then offered her a box of seafood radish cakes. "Here, eat up!"

Sylvia saw there were five boxes in the bag and was surprised. "All this?"

Gabriel explained, "We might run into some folks later. This way, they won't have to stand in line!"

Sylvia grinned. "Always thinking ahead, Mr. Carnes!"

Ignoring her teasing, Gabriel tugged at the pom-pom on top of her beanie and led her forward.

Not far ahead, they ran into Charlie James, cradling Kya, both of them watching a street artist make sugar figurines.

Sylvia put the beanie she'd bought for Kya on her, making her giggle as she played with the pom-pom.

Together, they waited for the sugar figurine to be finished. Sylvia shared Gabriel's seafood radish cakes with her, munching away happily when Emily showed up with hot chocolates and lattes in hand. Sylvia traded one of the seafood radish cakes for a latte.

Once the sugar figurine was done, Kya gifted Sylvia a little cat-shaped one.

Sylvia proudly showed it to Gabriel. "Look, it even has the ears. Doesn't it resemble one?"

Gabriel chuckled. "Looks like you!"

Sylvia meowed at him playfully, making Kya burst into giggles.

Noticing a hot air balloon nearby, Kya wanted a ride. Charlie took her, leaving Sylvia and Gabriel to themselves.

Carrying her seafood radish cakes, latte, and sugar figurine, Sylvia continued on, bumping into Marina and Mr. Foster. She ended up trading another seafood radish cake for a grilled squid. FindNovel

Now, she had a little bit of everything.

They kept exploring until about 2 PM, when Sylvia asked Gabriel, "Tired? I know a great spot."

"Where?" Gabriel was curious.

Sylvia led him to a hidden gem of a bookstore she'd discovered in an alley last time.

The place was quiet, with just a handful of people chatting or reading.

As they entered, the girl tending the shop recognized Sylvia and

Sly. "Bringing your bo smile

time?"

Sylvia glanced at Gabriel and nodded with a smile. "Yes!"

this

"Make yourselves comfortable. Feel free to order some food if you're hungry," the girl said.

"Thanks," Sylvia replied, pulling Gabriel to a cozy corner by a small window overlooking a bamboo grove outside.

The afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting a warm, serene glow inside.

While searching for books, Sylvia into the shop girl again. "Is your family with you? Saw you with your mom last time, and now your boyfriend."

Sylvia paused. "My mom?"

The girl quickly added, "Maybe I was mistaken. I remember the lady chatting with you, looked a lot like you."

"Really?" Sylvia thought of Grace and joked, "Look alike? Hardly!"