Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

When they finally left, it felt like ages had passed.

Leo held Anya's hand as they walked away, glancing at the identical dolls. "Why do I feel like they're twins?" he mused.

Anya just smiled, saying nothing.

Leo parked the car by the side of the road and took Anya for a stroll. "Stop sulking with those dolls. There's a toy shop ahead. Let's get some partners for these 'twins." Anya's eyes lit up. "Chad, you're really going to get them partners?"

In the past, a typical boyfriend would never join her in such a childish endeavor. But today, something was different-Chad seemed to have had a revelation.

At the toy shop, Anya wandered around, her love for fluffy toys evident since childhood. It didn't take long for her to pick out two favorites.

When she turned to find Leo, he was holding a big, smoke-grey teddy bear.

At the checkout, Leo added the big grey bear to their purchases. Anya asked, "Chad, why are you buying that?"

Leo grinned. "It's for my partner."

After paying with his phone, Leo stuffed the big grey bear into Anya's arms. "Here you go, partner. Hold it tight." Being called "partner" made Anya's face bloom with a sweet smile.

"Chad, how did you know I like big bears?"

Leo tried to play it cool. "That's a secret."

on,

you listen to me,

Anya eagerly nodded.

your dorm, I noticed the big white bear in your closet.

how?"

"Cute and soft."

Leo's arm. "Chad,

the girl a sense of security. And forget those toxic sayings in

pen has a bear cap; your winter pajamas have bear ears on the hood; even your phone case has a big white bear on it. Whenever you visit a jewelry store, you always touch the bear charms, even if

you wrapped it with a band-aid and drew a bear on it... With so many signs, how could I not know you love bears? I could tell with my eyes closed." Anya,

change in her voice, Leo turned and saw Anya's teary eyes. "Hey, don't cry! No crying allowed." He silently cursed that Molly hadn't warned him expressing his feelings might make Anya cry. If

the dolls from a claw machine to dab at Anya's tears. "I don't have tissues,

was always attentive to her, yet Anya couldn't understand why he was sometimes so

together. Anya didn't want a boyfriend who had been "pre-trained" by someone else. It was her

know how to show it. Even for something as simple as kissing, they might be overly cautious, fearing bad breath

he might tease her for fun, he was content just being by her side,

detail but rarely spoke about it. When asked, he could accurately recall her preferences. His stereotypical insensitivity, in her eyes,

in Leo's car, Anya moved to the back seat, arranging the "twins" dolls and their new

back. "Anya, why are you putting them in my

"I have the big grey bear now. These four in the back will show

Why not hang a big bouquet on the front of my car so people think I'm married?" Anya giggled.