Unpretty Me

Epilogue: The Froth of Happily Ever After

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Life doesn't suddenly become perfect just because you fall in love. Nope. It becomes messier—but in the best way possible. That's exactly what Luke and Isla discover as they navigate their new, hilariously imperfect romance, blending quirks, insecurities, and a whole lot of coffee.

A week after Isla and Luke made their relationship official, Marina the mermaid doll found herself with the best seat in the house. She now occupied a place of honor on a shelf above the bar counter, perched majestically next to a small chalkboard sign that read: "Official Mascot – Marina, Guardian of Caffeine."**

Vincy, of course, took full credit for Marina's new celebrity status. "I always knew she had star power," he said with a satisfied smirk one morning, adjusting Marina's plastic tail so it dangled artfully over the edge of the shelf.

The customers loved it. Some of them even brought little trinkets and accessories for Marina—a tiny pair of sunglasses, a mini scarf for winter, and one mysterious patron left a small foam latte in her plastic hand.

Luke found himself weirdly proud of the doll's rise to fame. "You know your café's thriving when your mascot gets more tips than your employees," he teased Isla, who rolled her eyes in mock exasperation.

Despite Luke's solemn vow to always get Isla's name right, he couldn't resist the occasional slip-up. It had become their inside joke, a playful reminder of the chaos that brought them together.

One morning, Luke sauntered up to the counter, wearing the grin that Isla found annoyingly charming.

"Hey, Irene," he said, leaning dramatically over the counter.

Without missing a beat, Isla whipped a kitchen towel at his face. "That's strike one, Fluke."

Vincy, sipping his caramel latte from the corner, nearly choked from laughing. "One more, and she'll make you scrub the espresso machine."

Luke held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Isla. My favorite barista. My goddess of caffeine and puns. Happy?"

Isla gave him a mock-serious look. "Barely. But you're getting warmer."

Luke and Isla's relationship wasn't about grand gestures or sweeping romance. It was about the little things.

It was Isla sending Luke the ugliest memes at midnight, just because she knew it would make him laugh.

It was Luke waiting until the café was empty to pull Isla into a quick dance behind the counter, even if the only music was the hum of the refrigerator.

It was Isla waking up to find Marina posed in strange positions around the café—Luke's doing, of course. One day, Marina was moonwalking. The next, she was playing air guitar with a stir stick. "Art," Luke would say solemnly when Isla caught him.

And it was Luke bringing Isla coffee—a latte with extra whipped cream and heart-shaped foam art—after a long day, because, as he'd remind her, "Even the coffee queen needs to be caffeinated."

One of the best parts of their relationship—aside from the constant stream of sarcasm—was the way Isla slowly began to let go of her insecurities. It didn't happen overnight, and it definitely wasn't because of some grand epiphany.

It happened the way most things do—little by little.

There were still days when she looked in the mirror and winced at her reflection, feeling like a barista version of a gremlin. But then Luke would walk in, wrap his arms around her, kiss the top of her curly head, and say something stupid like, "I love the way your hair looks like a tangled nest of caffeine dreams." And somehow, those words would be enough.

One day, while Isla was working behind the counter and Luke was chatting with customers, Vincy walked into the café with a mysterious grin plastered across his face.

"Guess what, peasants?" Vincy announced dramatically, slamming his hands on the counter. "I've found love, too!"

The entire café erupted into gasps and mock applause. Bea clutched her chest, pretending to faint into Marco's arms. Luke raised his eyebrows. "Who's the poor soul?"

Vincy grinned, winking. "He's a hot Pilates instructor named Anton. And yes, he's as fabulous as you'd imagine."

Isla gave him a playful side-eye. "Hotter than Luke?"

Vincy snorted. "Sweetie, a can of soda left out in the sun is hotter than Luke."

Luke gasped, hand on his heart. "I've been betrayed!"

One quiet evening, after the café had closed, Isla and Luke sat together at one of the outdoor tables, watching the waves in the distance. The night was cool, the air filled with the scent of coffee and saltwater.

Luke turned to Isla with a thoughtful expression. "So... I've been thinking."

Isla raised an eyebrow. "That's never a good sign."

Luke chuckled. "I think it's time we make things official."

Isla blinked, her heart doing a weird little flip. "Official? Like... Facebook official?"

Luke shook his head, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. "More like... lifetime-official."

Isla stared at the box, her brain short-circuiting. "Is that—are you—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Luke opened the box to reveal... a tiny gold key.

"For your own set of keys to the café," Luke said with a grin. "We're basically married to this place, so I figured it was only fair."

Isla burst into laughter, punching him lightly on the shoulder. "You idiot! I thought you were proposing!"

Luke laughed, pulling her close. "Someday, maybe. But for now, I just want to make sure you always have a way back here."

Their love story wasn't perfect. It had missed connections, awkward elevator rides, mop-haired meltdowns, and a runaway mermaid doll. But it was theirs, and that made it beautiful.

Because, in the end, love isn't about grand gestures or flawless timing. It's about the people who stick around through the awkward moments, the teasing, the spilled coffee, and the karaoke duets that go horribly off-key.

And as Isla snuggled closer to Luke that night, she realized something important: love isn't just for sirens or supermodels. It's for everyone—including mop-haired baristas with under-construction nose bridges.

Luke kissed the top of her head, whispering, "Mop hair, don't care."

And for the first time in her life, Isla believed it. 

The End.