Since that beautiful day, their meetings beneath the towering tree had become more frequent, as if fate itself had woven an invisible thread that kept pulling them together. The tree, with its ancient, gnarled roots and a canopy that danced with the whispers of the wind, became their sacred haven. Its enchanting fragrance lingered in the air, a soothing presence that seemed to embrace them like an old friend.

Jack sat against the rough bark, his arms crossed over his chest, while Selena leaned close, tracing patterns in the dirt with her fingers. The sky above was painted in hues of gold and lavender, the sun slowly retreating behind the mountains, casting a warm glow over them.

A soft sigh escaped Selena’s lips before she turned her gaze toward him. Her eyes, deep and filled with a fragile kind of hope, reflected the dimming sunlight. "Jack, I have a question for you."

He tilted his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "What is it, Selena?"

She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her words carefully. "Do you think we will become good friends in the future… or will we drift apart?" Her voice held a quiet vulnerability, a fear she hadn't dared to voice before.

Jack’s expression softened, and he studied her with an intensity that made her heart pound. "Why are you asking that?"

"Because you are the only man who can make me happy in my moments of sadness," she admitted, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened to me if we hadn't met… despite all the burdens I carry."

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was filled with meaning, with unspoken emotions that neither of them fully understood yet. Jack reached out, brushing a leaf off her shoulder before looking out at the horizon.

"Fate has already dictated it," he said with certainty. "So why should we think about other things?"

Selena stared at him, her heart aching at how effortlessly he dismissed the idea of distance between them. Maybe he was right. Maybe she was worrying too much about a future that had yet to unfold.

A soft breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, mingling with the familiar, grounding fragrance of the tree that had become their silent witness. Their bond, though fragile, was growing stronger with each meeting. With every conversation, every glance, and every shared silence, something deeper formed between them—something that neither time nor fate could easily erase.