Painted in Fate

Extra Chapter 3:

The gentle hum of a cozy café surrounded them as Babe and Billy sat across from each other, nursing warm mugs of coffee. The atmosphere was relaxed, with the soft clinking of dishes and the low murmur of conversations filling the air. Babe was flipping through a magazine on fashion trends, his eyebrows slightly raised as he analyzed the pages with interest.

Billy, on the other hand, was watching him with an amused smile. "You're really serious about this, huh?"

Babe looked up, his eyes sparkling. "Of course I am. Fashion is an art, Mumu. You should know that by now."

Billy chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You and your fashion. Sometimes I think you love it more than you love me."

Babe smirked, closing the magazine and leaning forward. "Maybe I do."

Billy raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eye. "Is that so? Guess I'll have to work harder to keep up."

Babe laughed, shaking his head. "You've got nothing to worry about, Mumu. You're already ahead of the game."

The café was their new favorite spot, a hidden gem they'd stumbled upon in the city. It was the perfect place for quiet moments like this, where they could talk about anything and everything without the weight of the past hovering over them.

Babe stretched his legs under the table, accidentally brushing his foot against Billy's. He froze for a moment before shooting him a playful glance. "You're in my space, Mumu."

Billy grinned, not moving an inch. "Am I?"

"You know you are."

"And yet you haven't moved," Billy pointed out, his grin widening.

Babe rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. "You're impossible."

"You love it," Billy said confidently, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I do," Babe admitted, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "I really do."

They spent the next hour chatting about everything from their plans for the upcoming weekend to the latest movies they wanted to watch. It was easy, effortless—exactly how Babe had always imagined life with Billy would be.

At one point, Babe glanced out the window, watching as people passed by in the street. "Hey, Mumu," he said suddenly, his voice soft. "Do you ever think about how different things could have been?"

Billy looked at him, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Babe shrugged, turning back to him. "I don't know. Like, if things had gone differently in the past. If we hadn't found each other again in this life."

Billy's gaze softened, and he reached across the table to take Babe's hand. "I try not to think about it too much, Tofu. What matters is that we're here now."

Babe smiled, squeezing Billy's hand gently. "You're right. I'm just glad we made it."

Billy leaned in slightly, his voice low. "And I'm never letting you go again."

Babe laughed softly, shaking his head. "You're so dramatic."

"I mean it," Billy said, his tone serious despite the playful banter. "You're stuck with me now, Tofu."

Babe's heart swelled with affection as he looked into Billy's eyes. "Good. Because I wouldn't want it any other way."

Later that evening, they returned to their apartment, the city lights twinkling in the distance as they settled in for a quiet night. Babe had his sketchpad open on his lap, idly doodling while Billy scrolled through his phone beside him on the couch.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Babe spoke up. "Hey, Mumu."

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever think about what it would've been like if we'd met under normal circumstances? You know, without all the reincarnation stuff."

Billy glanced over at him, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly? I think we would've found each other anyway. Maybe not in the same way, but I believe we were meant to be together, Tofu. No matter what."

Babe smiled softly, his heart warm with the certainty in Billy's voice. "You really think so?"

"I know so," Billy replied, his gaze steady. "We're meant for each other, Tofu. Reincarnations, fate, all that—it's just part of our story. But even without it, I think we'd have found our way to each other."

Babe chuckled, shaking his head. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

Billy smirked, leaning in to kiss him gently. "Only when it comes to you."

They fell into a comfortable silence again, their hands intertwined as they sat side by side. The weight of the past no longer lingered between them—it was simply part of their journey, a chapter that had been closed. Now, all that mattered was the present and the future they were building together.

Babe leaned his head on Billy's shoulder, closing his eyes with a contented sigh. "We've come a long way, haven't we?"

Billy smiled, pressing a soft kiss to Babe's hair. "Yeah, we have. And we've got a lot more to look forward to."