Chapter 71: Next Time
The car rolled deeper into the forest.
Skylar, however, had no intention of staying quiet about it. He continued to explain—
"Dad, Aunty, look... that tree looks like a dinosaur, right? I think I saw a rabbit. Or a very fast rock. But probably a rabbit."
Sienna smiled, glancing between father and son.
Skylar had fully committed to his role as a tour guide, with a bright voice, questionable facts, and unshakable confidence.
Zachary kept his eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. But there it was, that small, almost unnoticeable smile that appeared every time Skylar got excited.
Eventually, the car slowed and came to a stop in a wide meadow, the kind that seemed designed to stun people into silence.
Before anyone could say a word, Skylar was already pointing.
"Daddy, we will picnic under that tree..." he declared, halfway out the door, his backpack bouncing behind him.
"Yes, we will," Zachary replied, then he looked at Sienna. "Come on. Let’s see if his planning skills match his enthusiasm."
Sienna stifled a laugh as she stepped out, but immediately paused, taking in their surroundings. "Wow! This place... unfairly pretty."
"You are right, I try not to take credit for the scenery, but it’s tempting."
She smiled and followed him toward the large oak tree, where Skylar had already begun unpacking his stuff with urgency.
They worked together, setting everything up more quickly—boxes of sushi rolls, fresh fruit, and berries. Sienna poured coffee for herself and Zachary and set a smoothie on the table for Skylar.
Meanwhile, Skylar wandered nearby, crouching and standing, taking pictures like a very serious documentarian.
When Sienna finished, she glanced up and found Zachary already seated on the bench, watching his son in the distance.
"Done," she said, "Should we call him?"
She moved to sit across from him, but his voice stopped her.
"Sienna... sit here." He nodded toward the empty space beside him, his tone casual, but his gaze not quite as casual.
She hesitated for just a second. However, her feet had already made the decision for her.
"Okay..." She sat beside him, close enough that when his hand shifted slightly, it grazed hers. Her heartbeat started to beat faster than usual.
"Sky," Zachary called, completely unaffected, "Eat your breakfast first. Only do your nature documentary with your stomach full."
"Yes, daddy. I’m coming!" Skylar shouted, snapping one last photo before jogging back.
Soon, Skylar plopped down across from them, cheerful and hungry.
Sienna gently pushed the box of sushi toward him. "Sky, try this."
He took a bite, and his face lit up instantly.
"Whoa. Thank you, Aunty Sienna! This is really good." He chewed happily. "I had something like this in Tokyo with Dad last year. Right, Dad?"
Zachary nodded, taking a bite of his own. "Mm. This is better."
Sienna narrowed her eyes at Zachary. "Huh, that sounds suspiciously like flattery."
"I’m a very honest man," he replied.
She smiled at his answer, then returned her attention to Skylar. "I’m glad you like it. All right, eat slowly. No need to worry. We still have many..."
Skylar nods.
When Sienna looked back at Zachary, something warm settled in her chest.
’Okay, calm down, girl,’ she told herself. ’It’s just breakfast, not a life-or-death decision.’
Sienna was lost in her own thoughts. But that moment didn’t last long, as Skylar broke the silence. "Dad, I’m going to hunt insects," he announced, already on his feet.
Sienna blinked.
"...I’m sorry, you’re going to what?"
Zachary didn’t even look up. "Take pictures of them."
"Ah..." She let out a breath, relieved because earlier she had thought he would kill them.
Sienna and Zachary stayed at the table, sipping their coffee and watching Skylar.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
But minutes later, the image of the helicopter returns again, torturing her mind.
She turns to see him. "Zach..."
"Hmm... what’s wrong?"
"Can we use the car to return to the capital?"
There was a brief pause as their eyes locked on each other.
Zachary simply stared at her for a moment, his gaze calm but slightly curious.
It took a few more seconds before he asked, "...You don’t like helicopters?"
Sienna hesitated before giving a small, honest smile. "I like being alive."
He nods slightly. "That’s a reasonable preference."
She exhaled, relieved he didn’t dismiss her concern.
"So... is that a yes?" She asked.
"Well, it’s a long drive. It takes about three hours to reach the capital."
Sienna was stunned. Even if Zachary agreed to take the car, she found herself unable to relax. The number echoed in her mind.
’Three hours? Three full hours on the road...’
She instantly feels terrible imagining Zachary driving for them all just because she was afraid to ride in a helicopter.
’Girl, you just need to sit with your scary thoughts for a few minutes,’ she reassured herself warmly. ’Soon, you’ll be home... and he doesn’t need to be a tired driver either.’
The logic was simple, but she was still hesitating.
"So," Zachary’s voice interrupted her thoughts. "Do you still want to take a car...?"
"No," Sienna shook her head. "Better we use a helicopter. I will try to enjoy it this time..." Her tone was light, almost playful, as if she had made a bold, confident decision.
Unfortunately, her face didn’t fully agree. And Zachary noticed it. He stared at her for a second longer than usual.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Sienna forced a small smile.
"Yes. It’s fine..." she answered, then added a little too quickly, "but next time, if we come here again, I’d better drive a car—"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
’Girl, seriously? You wish to join them next time?’ She sighs. ’This is probably your only chance. Don’t expect there to be a next time.’
Hurriedly, she glanced away from him, pretending to focus on the meadow again, watching Skylar.
"Alright," he said. "I will remember that."
She clenched her hands in her lap, unsure whether she should feel relieved, happy, or embarrassed.
...
Skylar returned from his "insect hunting" with a wide smile and a camera full of photos he was eager to show. He sits between them excitedly, pointing at each picture as if presenting priceless treasures.
"Wow, the picture is pretty good, Sky..." Sienna was taken aback to see the picture.
"Thank you, Aunty," he said proudly. "And this one is good too. Oh, this one almost moved."
"...Almost?" Sienna asked, leaning slightly closer to check a butterfly.
"Yes," he said seriously. "But I was faster."
She smiles and keeps looking at the picture he takes. "Sky, you are only six, but the photos you’ve shot are very good... You have real talent in photography."
"I know...I’m that good," Skylar said proudly as he put his camera back in his backpack.
Zachary can’t help but smile as he looks at Skylar and Sienna. He lets them interact for a moment.
However, not long after, Zachary’s cell phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He took out, and his expression shifted abruptly from gentle to dark as he read the new text.
"Sky, Sienna, we need to head back now!" he said, standing up.