Accidentally Married

58. Date 2.0

Zo jerked awake just as the RV came to a stop, his head snapping up from where it had lolled against the window. For a moment, he blinked, dazed, trying to gather his bearings. The hum of the engine died down, replaced by the soft chirping of birds and the faint rustle of leaves brushing against one another outside.

Nai chuckled from the driver's seat, glancing back over his shoulder. "Oh, look who's awake," he teased, amusement tugging at his lips. "I was just about to wake you up. We have arrived."

Zo straightened in his seat, rubbing his eyes. His voice came out a little groggy. "We are here already?"

"Yeah," Nai said, unbuckling his seat belt. "You slept through the whole drive. Five hours straight."

Zo's face flushed with embarrassment. "Ah... I didn't mean to," he murmured. "I was just resting my eyes for a bit, and then—"

"The seat was too comfortable?" Nai teased again, stepping toward the RV door.

Zo gave a sheepish laugh. "That, and maybe your driving was too smooth."

Nai only shook his head with a small grin as he opened the door. Cool, fresh air rushed inside, carrying the earthy scent of damp grass and pine. Nai stretched, his arms reaching above his head as he stepped down from the vehicle, rolling his shoulders. "Come on," he said. "You will want to see this."

Curious, Zo unbuckled his seat belt and followed him out. The moment his feet touched the ground, his mouth fell open.

They stood in a wide clearing surrounded by lush greenery, a place that seemed carved out of a dream. Tall trees framed the meadow on all sides, their leaves whispering in the gentle wind. A narrow stream sparkled a few meters away, sunlight scattering off its rippling surface like broken shards of glass. The air was alive — filled with birdsong, the soft murmur of flowing water, and the subtle scent of wildflowers mixed with pine.

Zo's lips parted in awe. "Oh my god," he breathed. "This place is beautiful."

Nai smiled proudly, his eyes reflecting the same tranquility as the scene before them. "Welcome to my secret heaven," he said.

Zo turned toward him, still mesmerized. "I didn't even know a place like this existed. It feels... untouched."

"It's a bit off the map," Nai admitted, his gaze sweeping the meadow as though it was an old friend. "I found it years ago. I was camping alone — just driving wherever the road took me. I got lost, actually," he said with a laugh. "But when I stumbled across this place, I knew I had to come back."

Zo's gaze softened. "You come here often?"

"Not as often as I would like," Nai said, stretching again, the motion slow and lazy. "It's about a five-hour drive from the city, so it's hard to make the trip regularly. But whenever things get too much — work, noise, people — I come here to breathe. To think."

There was something serene in the way he said it. Zo smiled faintly, taking another deep breath of the crisp air. "Thank you for bringing me here."

Nai turned to look at him. For a moment, he didn't say anything — just watched Zo's face as sunlight filtered through the leaves above, catching in his hair. Then he said softly, "You are the first person I have brought here."

Zo blinked. "Wait, really?"

Nai nodded. "Yeah. Jui and Aum have come camping with me before, but not here. This place is... different." His lips quirked in a small, shy smile. "Guess I wanted to share it with someone who would understand."

Zo's chest warmed at the admission. "I am honored," he said sincerely.

The sincerity in his tone made Nai's heart skip. He quickly looked away, his ears turning slightly pink. "Don't say cheesy things like that," he muttered, pretending to be annoyed.