String to my heart ♪ Mark Lee

♪ 64

Swim, swim
Water falling off your skin
Swim, swim
I could spend a lifetime watching you
Swim, swim
This is how it all begins
Swim, swim
I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive

♪

"I would murder you if It's some sort of a prank-"

Hannah's words lingered in the air, half defensive and half embarrassed.

Hannah and Mark looked at each other in utter shock, not expecting each other here at least.

Amelia cleared her throat,
"Where are you both lost?"

Hannah looked at her friends then at others,
"I genuinely thought you guys kidnapped me."

Courtney shrugged,
"Why would we kidnap you? If anything, we would've considered kidnapping Mark."

That broke the tension between everyone in the room, even Mark let out a quiet chuckle half nervous.

Hannah's parents carried a proud, mischievous smile like they had something to say about it.

"We wanted that this moment should be memorable before you both leave, so we planned all this." Her mom caressed Hannah's hair.

"Your mom gave the idea and we let them take over to execute it." Her dad nodded towards the group and continued, "We just supervised the whole thing and brought Mark here without any suspicion."

Hannah's mom looked at her, softer this time.
"How do you feel...?"

Hannah glanced at Mark first then at the setup and each and every one of them.
"It feels like I came back to something which didn't forget me."

Courtney hugged Hannah which Hannah returned, a soft but genuine smile plastered on her face.

Lunch soon after unfolded, not because Mark and Hannah were really hungry but because the others were too tired after all the organisation.

The dishes were served by Theo and his staff before Theo sat down himself.

"The whole meal credits goes to Theo." Mason said it out loud and Mark thanked Theo while he shrugged it out that it's no big deal while Bailey cheered and clapped which others joined making Theo smile at their silly nature.

Theo cleared his throat and started,
"I'll just give a short introduction to the dishes for Mark as you might've not seen these classics of Australia."

Mark nodded and listened intently to the dishes names and when Theo ended it, Mark said.
"Wow... I only know meat pie out of all this."

That erupted a chuckle throughout the table.

"Welcome to Australia." Parker said cheerfully.

"Thank you for the food."

A quiet hush settled over the table as prayers were whispered and the moment it was done, the calm gave way to a burst of delighted reactions throughout the table.

"I hope you all like it." Theo said as he looked over their reactions before taking his first bite.

"Like it? I absolutely love it!" Bailey exclaimed, the flavours doing something to her.

Theo smiled at their responses and his eyes gravitated to Mark who immediately understood.
"It's really good, like for my first impression on an Australian cuisine." Mark nodded as he took another bite.

Hannah added after Mark,
"It reminds me of home, especially that I was brought up here."

"You should open a bigger restaurant, it's so good." Parker added, devouring the food as if he saw it for the first time.