Painted in Fate

Extra Chapter 13

The plane touched down smoothly, and Babe glanced out of the window, watching as the familiar city skyline came into view. A wave of both relief and excitement washed over him. While the trip had been an unforgettable experience, there was something comforting about coming home.

Billy, sitting beside him, leaned over to press a quick kiss to Babe's temple. "Home sweet home, Tofu."

Babe smiled, turning to look at him. "Yeah. It feels good to be back."

As they exited the airport and got into a cab, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange. Babe leaned back in his seat, resting his head on Billy's shoulder, content in the quiet moment as the city streets passed by outside the window.

When they finally reached their apartment, Babe felt a rush of warmth as they stepped through the door. The space was filled with memories they had made together—their artwork hung on the walls, small tokens from their trips scattered throughout, each one a reminder of the life they had built side by side.

Billy set their suitcases down and wrapped his arms around Babe from behind, resting his chin on Babe's shoulder. "You happy to be back?"

Babe tilted his head to the side, smiling. "Yeah. There's no place like home."

They spent the evening unpacking, falling back into their usual routine with a sense of ease. Once everything was put away, Billy suggested ordering takeout, and soon enough, they were curled up on the couch together, sharing a pizza and watching a movie.

Babe glanced over at Billy, watching the soft light from the TV flicker across his face. His heart swelled with love and gratitude for everything they had been through—how far they had come.

Later that night, after the movie had ended and the pizza was long gone, Babe found himself lying in bed beside Billy, his mind wandering back to the quiet moments they had shared during their trip. It felt surreal, in a way, to think about how different their lives had been not too long ago—how they had faced challenges and heartbreak, and yet, here they were, stronger than ever.

"Hey, Mumu," Babe whispered, turning to face Billy in the dim light of their bedroom.

Billy opened his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, Tofu?"

Babe hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "I've been thinking about everything... you know, all that we've been through. And I just... I'm really glad we're here. Together."

Billy's eyes softened, and he reached out, brushing his thumb gently across Babe's cheek. "Me too. We've been through a lot, but it's made us stronger. And I wouldn't change a thing."

Babe smiled, leaning into Billy's touch. "Yeah. I wouldn't either."

For a moment, they lay there in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared past no longer feeling heavy but instead grounding them in the present.

Billy pulled Babe closer, his voice a low murmur. "You know, there were times when I wasn't sure we'd ever get here. But every moment with you has been worth it. You're worth it."

Babe's heart fluttered, his chest tightening with emotion. He reached up to cup Billy's face, his voice steady but filled with love. "I love you, Mumu. Always."

Billy's smile widened, and he leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Babe's lips. "I love you too, Tofu. Always."

As they lay together in the quiet of their home, their limbs intertwined, there was no need for words. The weight of the past had been lifted, and all that was left was the future they would continue to build—together.

Suddenly, Babe lifted his head, his eyes narrowing as if he had noticed something. He glanced at Billy, then back out toward the space around them.

"Do you... feel like we're being watched?" Babe asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

Billy blinked, then chuckled softly. "Maybe we are," he said with a smirk. "You never know."

Babe raised an eyebrow, but there was a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, if anyone's out there watching, they better know they can catch more of the MumuTofu story..."

Billy grinned, finishing Babe's sentence with a cheeky smile. "...on IdolFactory's official YouTube. 'The Sign' is just the beginning, and you don't want to miss out."

They both turned and looked directly at the invisible "audience," their expressions filled with affection and mischief.

"Thanks for watching," Babe said with a wink.

"And don't forget to check out the rest," Billy added, giving a little wave.

They shared a small laugh between themselves before settling back into the comfort of their home, their future ahead of them brighter than ever.