The café was small, warm, and far away from hospitals, guns, and fear.

Soft music played.

Fairy lights glowed.

For once—no guards in sight.

Kavira sat between Divyanka and Karl, Aaron across from them, pretending not to smile too much.

“Okay,” Divyanka said, holding up two tiny keyrings.

“Tell me these aren’t the cutest things ever.”

They were simple—

two small stars, identical.

Kavira’s eyes lit up.

She grabbed Divyanka’s hand and jumped up suddenly, pulling her with her.

They both laughed—really laughed—for the first time in weeks.

Karl and Aaron exchanged a look.

Karl cleared his throat.

“Apparently,” he said dryly, “we did something right.”

Aaron smirked.

“Rare moment. Let’s document it.”

Kavira clutched the keyring to her chest, bouncing on her toes.

She took a breath.

Her throat burned slightly.

Karl noticed instantly.

“Kavira,” he said softly, “don’t force—”

She shook her head.

She tried again, slow this time.

“I’m…”

A pause.

Her voice cracked.

Karl’s hand slid into hers.

“It’s okay,” he murmured.

She swallowed.

Her lips trembled.

“I’m… ha—”

Her eyes filled.

“ha…ppy…”

The word came out broken.

But it came out.

Silence fell.

Divyanka froze.

Aaron’s eyes widened.

Karl stopped breathing.

Kavira blinked in shock—then smiled through tears.

“I’m ha…happy,” she repeated, clearer this time.

Divyanka let out a strangled sob and hugged her tightly.

“You spoke,” Divyanka cried.

“You actually spoke!”

Aaron smiled softly, pride in his eyes.

“That’s progress,” he said gently.

“Real progress.”

Karl stood up abruptly, cupped Kavira’s face carefully like she might disappear.

“You don’t ever have to say anything again,” he whispered.

“That one word just saved my whole life.”

Kavira leaned her forehead against his.

Tears slipped down.

But this time—

They were happy tears.

Mauritius — Where Love Met Insecurity~

A few months later

Kavira could speak now.

Her voice wasn’t fragile anymore—

just softer, careful, like it had learned pain.

Aaron had warned them both, serious and firm.

“No stress. No fear triggers,” he had said.

“Her heart and lungs are still vulnerable. Protect her peace.”

Arshia was back too—laughing, healed, whole.

And when she hugged Kavira, they spoke like nothing had ever broken between them.

Some friendships survive fire.

Mauritius — Casanova Mansion~

June heat wrapped the island.

The room smelled of sea breeze and salt.

Kavira sat cross-legged on the bed, plate in her hands, eyes glued to My Love From the Star.

Comfort food. Comfort drama.

Karl walked in quietly.

He sat in front of her and gently reached for her feet, sliding off her socks.

Kavira flinched and pulled back instinctively.

“Hey,” Karl said softly.

“What happened?”

She forced a smile.

“Nothing.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“You wear socks in winter—I get that.”

“But it’s June. Mauritius.”

“And you’ve worn them for four days straight.”

He tilted his head.

“Remove them.”

She hesitated.

Her fingers tightened around the plate.

“I’m fine like this,” she said quickly.

Karl didn’t push.

Instead, he sat back against the headboard.

“Kavira,” he said calmly,

“talk to me.”

She swallowed.

“There’s… a mark,” she admitted quietly.

“On my left foot.”

Karl waited.

“A burn,” she continued, voice low.

“From tea. The skin looks… bad.”

She didn’t look at him.

“I know you’ll feel disgusted,” she whispered.

“So please… let it be.”

The room went silent.

Karl stared at her—then stood up.

Her heart skipped.

He knelt again, slower this time, gentler.

He took her ankle carefully, like it was something sacred.

“May I?” he asked.

She nodded hesitantly.

He slid the sock off.

The scar was visible—uneven, darker, sensitive.

Karl didn’t flinch.

Didn’t look away.

Didn’t breathe differently.

He bent forward and pressed a soft kiss just below the scar.

Kavira gasped.

Karl looked up at her, eyes steady.

“Disgusted?” he said quietly.

“This foot carried you through hell.”

He brushed his thumb over the mark, feather-light.

“This scar didn’t make you less beautiful,” he continued.

“It makes you real.”

Her eyes blurred.

“You never have to hide from me,” he said.

“Not your scars. Not your fear. Not anything.”

She broke down then, leaning into him.

Karl wrapped her in his arms, holding her close.

Outside, the ocean roared.

Inside—

She finally believed she was safe.