When Gabriel spotted the man, he could tell this guy wasn't your average Joe. There was something about him that screamed 'not to be messed with,' and you could see the guy getting visibly tenser.
"What's up?" Gabriel asked as he approached.
Sylvia quickly briefed him on what the man wanted.
Gabriel glanced at the clothes in the man's hand and then took Sylvia's hand firmly. "Sorry, but she's busy. You'll have to find someone else!"
The man didn't dare to say anything else. He just nodded, "My apologies," and hurried off.
Sylvia couldn't help but laugh. "You really scared him off!"
Gabriel reached up and adjusted the beanie on her head. "Where'd you get this?"
"Just bought it!" Sylvia said, showing off the tassels. "Do you like it?"
Gabriel just stared at her for a moment, then offered her a box of seafood radish cakes. "Here, eat up!"
Sylvia saw there were five boxes in the bag and was surprised. "All this?"
Gabriel explained, "We might run into some folks later. This way, they won't have to stand in line!"
Sylvia grinned. "Always thinking ahead, Mr. Carnes!"
Ignoring her teasing, Gabriel tugged at the pom-pom on top of her beanie and led her forward.
Not far ahead, they ran into Charlie James, cradling Kya, both of them watching a street artist make sugar figurines.
Sylvia put the beanie she'd bought for Kya on her, making her giggle as she played with the pom-pom.
Together, they waited for the sugar figurine to be finished. Sylvia shared Gabriel's seafood radish cakes with her, munching away happily when Emily showed up with hot chocolates and lattes in hand.
Sylvia traded one of the seafood radish cakes for a latte.
Once the sugar figurine was done, Kya gifted Sylvia a little cat-shaped one.
As they entered, the girl tending the shop recognized Sylvia and smiled warmly. "Bringing your boyfriend this time?"
Sylvia glanced at Gabriel and nodded with a smile. "Yes!"
"Make yourselves comfortable. Feel free to order some food if you're hungry," the girl said.
"Thanks," Sylvia replied, pulling Gabriel to a cozy corner by a small window overlooking a bamboo grove outside.
The afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting a warm, serene glow inside.
While searching for books, Sylvia ran into the shop girl again. "Is your family with you? Saw you with your mom last time, and now your boyfriend."
Sylvia paused. "My mom?"
The girl quickly added, "Maybe I was mistaken. I remember the lady chatting with you, looked a lot like you."
"Really?" Sylvia thought of Grace and joked, "Look alike? Hardly!"

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
This was something that could have never come across my thoughts. That is what i love about this story - no stone unturned!! All the side characters have some story 😊...
This was worth the wait, thank you for the updates....
Waiting for updates.........
Hope to see more updates soon 😊...
Thank you so very much for the updates....
Why are the chapters from 61 so horrible to read. We cannot even make out a single line.completely and we cant even lessen the fonts to make it legible. It is such a killjoy....
2796 isn't getting sent through and most of 2795 was repeated....
The wedding was epic paying attention to the minutest details. Thank you for the updates....
What a beautiful wedding ceremony. I love how even the slightest emotion is described in these words, it's a beautiful ride which i would never want to stop....
This is so beautiful and captivating to envision. Thank you for your updates....