"Sera, are you ready yet?"
Tiffany planned to take Seraphina and Little Bean to the biggest shopping complex in the city. It was quite a distance from Lyra Bay, taking roughly an hour round-trip by car.
"Not yet, I still need to pack a few things."
Seraphina was busily organizing the diaper bag for Little Bean.
Sitting comfortably in his stroller, Little Bean tilted his head, watching her stuff a mountain of items inside.
Diapers, wet wipes, milk bottles, spare clothes, snack containers, a small blanket...
Little Bean couldn't resist a mental jab. "Mommy, are you packing a diaper bag or a doomsday survival kit? We're just going to the mall, not the wilderness."
Seraphina replied without looking up, "What if you wet yourself?"
Little Bean huffed. "According to my scientific calculations, I can hold out for at least three hours."
Seraphina paused, shooting him a deadpan look. "You said the exact same thing last time, and then you peed in the car."
Little Bean's thoughts stumbled. "That... that was an accident. The car hit a bump."
With a serene smile, Seraphina shoved two extra diapers into the bag.
Little Bean was indignant. "Those extra diapers represent a severe lack of trust in me."
Finally, Seraphina zipped the bag shut.
Tiffany stared at the bulging tote, her eye twitching slightly. "Sera, are you absolutely sure we're just going shopping and not moving across the country?"
Little Bean raised a tiny fist in silent agreement. "Exactly! That's what I just said!"
Ignoring both of them, Seraphina grabbed the bag. "Everything in here is essential."
"Why would I pack things we don't need?"
Tiffany simply shrugged. "Fair enough."
Tiffany took the wheel. The traffic was miraculously clear today, and they arrived at the mall in just over twenty minutes.
She dragged them straight to a cafe, having already placed a mobile order.
Tiffany shoved Seraphina toward the entrance. "If you weren't my best friend, I'd smack you right now."
"Excuse me?"
"You have the perfect figure and a gorgeous face. And you have the nerve to ask 'what if it looks terrible'? Is that even scientifically possible?!"
Seraphina averted her eyes, feeling a rush of embarrassment. "Stop exaggerating."
Tiffany pressed on. "You'd look absolutely stunning even wearing a potato sack!"
Little Bean chimed in telepathically. "Mommy, I think that dress looks like noodles. I love noodles, so I love this dress."
Seraphina was speechless.
Her son was an absolute glutton. Everything he looked at magically morphed into food!
With Tiffany relentlessly pushing her, Seraphina half-willingly stepped into the boutique's fitting room.
Just as she was about to pull the curtain shut, she turned back to Tiffany with a serious look.

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