Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

69

The roar of the crowd in New Zealand was deafening. Hanni stood on stage, her heart racing as the audience sang along to every word. She moved effortlessly, her voice carrying across the sea of fans, each one shouting her name. The concert had been flawless, and as the final notes rang out, the crowd erupted into applause, leaving Hanni smiling wide, her heart full.

"Thank you, New Zealand!" she shouted, throwing her arms into the air. "I love you all so much!"

Backstage, her team congratulated her, but Hanni's thoughts were already racing ahead, imagining her next destination—home. Australia. The excitement of seeing her family, getting to spend time with her parents, her sister, and the dogs, made her giddy with anticipation. It had been months since she'd been back, and her heart was ready for a dose of family warmth.

The flight to Melbourne was smooth, and when Hanni finally stepped off the plane, she couldn't suppress her grin. She made her way through the bustling airport, her eyes scanning the crowd for the familiar faces that would make her feel grounded.

And then she saw them—her mom, dad, and sister, waving a sign that read, "Welcome Home!"

"Hanni!" Jasmine yelled, her voice carrying over the crowd. Milly and Molly, the family dogs, barked excitedly, their tails wagging like crazy.

Hanni's eyes lit up as she rushed forward, her arms open wide. "I missed you guys so much!" she called out, throwing herself into her mom's arms first, then her dad's.

"We missed you too, honey," her mom said, pulling Hanni into a tight hug. "Look at you, even more beautiful than last time!"

"Mom," Hanni groaned, her cheeks turning pink.

Her dad chuckled as he gave her a pat on the back. "She's right. You're glowing, sweetheart."

Hanni rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile spreading across her face. "I missed you guys."

Jasmine handed Hanni the leashes for Milly and Molly, and the dogs immediately jumped on her, wagging their tails furiously as they showered her with affection.

"Okay, okay, I missed you too," Hanni laughed, crouching down to pet them. "I swear you two get bigger every time I see you."

The ride home was filled with stories and updates. Jasmine shared funny anecdotes about the dogs and their latest antics, and her dad told Hanni all about the latest neighborhood drama. By the time they pulled into the driveway, Hanni felt a sense of peace she hadn't realized she'd been missing.

Dinner was a noisy, joyful chaos—the kind of gathering Hanni had missed more than she realized. Her dad had insisted on recounting stories from her childhood, and Jasmine chimed in with exaggerated embellishments that had everyone laughing until their stomachs hurt.

"Remember when you tried to build that treehouse?" Jasmine teased, poking her fork in Hanni's direction.

Hanni groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Oh my god, stop! I thought we agreed never to bring that up again!"

Her dad laughed so hard he nearly dropped his chopsticks. "You were so determined, sweetheart. And then—what was it? Two steps on the ladder, and it collapsed?"

"I was eight!" Hanni protested, but she couldn't stop laughing either.

Her mom shook her head with a fond smile as she placed another plate of spring rolls on the table. "Leave her alone. She was creative, at least. And I'd rather have a daughter with big ideas than none at all."

Milly and Molly circled the table, tails wagging as they picked up on the happy energy. Jasmine slipped them little pieces of food when she thought no one was looking, but her mom's sharp eyes caught her every time.