CHAPTER EIGHT
SOMETHING HAS CHANGED
The next morning, Mia woke up earlier than usual.
She opened her eyes and immediately remembered where she was.
The honeymoon.
She groaned and pulled the blanket over her face.
"This is a disaster."
A quiet laugh came from the other side of the room.
Mia froze.
She slowly lowered the blanket.
Nathan was already awake.
And he was staring at her.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"Then why are you looking at me?"
Nathan shrugged.
"I was wondering how someone can complain even before getting out of bed."
Mia rolled her eyes.
"I wasn't complaining."
"You literally said this is a disaster."
"Because it is."
Nathan smiled.
"Good morning to you too, wife."
Mia's eyes widened.
"Stop calling me that."
"Why?"
"Because..."
She paused.
She didn't actually know why.
Nathan noticed her hesitation.
"Because?"
Mia looked away.
"Just stop."
Nathan chuckled.
She got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom.
As she passed him, their shoulders accidentally brushed.
It was nothing.
Just a tiny touch.
But both of them stopped.
Mia looked at him.
Nathan looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Something about the way they were looking at each other felt different.
Mia quickly looked away.
"I need to get ready."
Nathan nodded.
"Okay."
She disappeared into the bathroom.
Nathan remained standing there.
He couldn't explain why that small moment had affected him.
She was still Mia.
His best friend.
The same stubborn girl he had known since childhood.
So why did everything suddenly feel different?
---
Later that morning, they went downstairs for breakfast.
Mia was already annoyed.
Nathan had chosen their table.
And apparently, he had chosen the chair directly beside his.
She stopped.
"Why can't I sit over there?"
Nathan looked at the empty chair across from him.
"Because we're having breakfast together."
"We can have breakfast together from across the table."
"You complained yesterday that I wasn't listening to you."
"I was talking about something important."
"And now I'm giving you my full attention."
Mia narrowed her eyes.
"You're impossible."
Nathan smiled.
"You missed me."
"I absolutely did not."
"You did."
"I didn't."
Nathan leaned slightly closer.
"Then why are you smiling?"
Mia immediately stopped smiling.
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"No, I wasn't."
Nathan laughed.
Mia tried to hide her own smile.
Their waiter arrived, and they ordered breakfast.
Everything was fine until Mia reached for the glass on the table at the same time Nathan did.
Their fingers touched.
Again.
Mia quickly pulled her hand back.
Nathan looked at her.
She looked at him.
Neither said anything.
The silence between them suddenly felt louder than their arguments.
Nathan slowly picked up the glass and handed it to her.
"Here."
Mia took it.
"Thanks."
Their eyes met again.
This time, neither looked away immediately.
There was something there.
Something neither of them wanted to name.
Mia finally broke eye contact.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Nathan smiled.
"Maybe because you're staring at me too."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Mia sighed.
"You really enjoy annoying me."
"Maybe."
---
That afternoon, they decided to go sightseeing.
For once, there was no argument.
They walked side by side, talking about their childhood.
Nathan reminded Mia about the time she had fallen into a small pond while trying to scare him.
Mia immediately protested.
"I didn't fall! You pushed me!"
"I barely touched you."
"You pushed me!"
"You were chasing me with a stick!"
"Because you stole my favorite ribbon!"
Nathan laughed.
"You still remember that?"
"Of course I remember."
They both laughed.
For a moment, it felt like they were children again.
Then Mia stumbled slightly on the uneven path.
Nathan immediately caught her by the waist.
She froze.
Nathan froze too.
They were suddenly standing very close.
His hand remained around her waist for a second longer than necessary.
Mia looked up at him.
Nathan looked down at her.
Neither of them moved.
The laughter disappeared.
The air between them changed.
Mia's heart began beating faster.
Nathan slowly helped her regain her balance.
"Are you okay?"
Mia nodded.
"Yes."
Neither moved away immediately.
Then Mia stepped back.
"I'm fine."
Nathan nodded.
"Good."
They continued walking.
But neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Something had changed.
They both knew it.
Neither wanted to admit it.
And somehow, that made the rest of the honeymoon even more complicated.