After we arrived at the simple park, Liana ran onto the green grass and rolled over it with indescribable joy. Her laughter echoed between the garden's flowers and the warm rays of the sun. She looked innocent and happy, as if she had discovered a brand-new world bursting with life.
I approached and sat beside her on the grass, then asked with a smile:
"So, what game would you like to play today, Liana?"
She raised her head to the sky, then looked at me with sparkling eyes and said with excitement:
"Let's play hide and seek!"
I smiled and asked:
"Alright, who will count and who will hide?"
With even more enthusiasm, she replied:
"I'll count, and you hide!"
I nodded in agreement:
"Alright then, I'll go hide and you count."
Liana began to close her eyes and cover her face with her hands as she cheerfully counted:
"One, two, three... all the way to ten!"
Meanwhile, I searched for the perfect hiding spot—a place so good that no one could ever find me no matter how long they searched. I found an old tree with a slightly broken trunk, gathered some small wooden pieces, and carefully placed them over the opening. It was a nearly hidden spot, but it had a small gap that allowed me to see outside without being seen.
It was a perfect hiding place!
After Liana excitedly finished counting, she started looking for me with sparkling eyes full of anticipation and joy. I sat silently in my hiding place, watching her cautiously, feeling the delight of childhood slowly seep back into my heart. She walked between the trees, peeking behind every corner carefully, trying to find my secret spot.
Minutes passed. Liana kept searching tirelessly for nearly ten minutes without coming close to where I was. Her gaze wandered through the park as I followed her every move, enjoying this game of hide and seek as if it were my first time playing it.
Suddenly, I saw her sit on an old wooden bench. Her expression showed signs of fatigue—or perhaps temporary surrender. I wondered: Had she really given up? Or did she just want to take a break?
But just seconds later, something strange and shocking happened before my eyes. Suddenly, multiple versions of Liana began to appear one after another until four copies surrounded the original. The scene looked as if it came from another world, and these copies started talking to the real Liana, as if they were in some kind of secret meeting.
I started sweating and whispered in disbelief: "Wait a minute... isn't this cheating?!"
It was clear that Liana was instructing her copies on something, and after a few moments, they began to disperse and disappear gradually. I realized then that she had tasked them with finding me.
That ability I saw was amazing and stunning—completely different from my simple talents like fresh breathing or basic movement speed. I felt like I was facing something much greater than I had imagined.
About half an hour of continuous searching passed, and finally, Liana appeared.
When she stood in front of me—or rather, in front of my hiding spot—she looked at me with mischievous, triumphant eyes. I didn't know whether she was the real Liana or one of her copies, but something about her stance made me smile instinctively.
I stepped out of my hiding place, clapping lightly, then said with a grin:
"Congratulations, you found me."
She laughed joyfully and replied:
"Hehe, yes! I beat you easily!"
Then she looked at me with eyes full of challenge and added as she placed her hands on her waist with childish confidence:
"But I have an important question... Am I the real Liana? Or one of my copies?"
I froze in place, my face drawn with hesitation and unease. I hadn't expected the question, and I wasn't ready to answer. I thought to myself:
"Won't she feel hurt if I get it wrong? How could I tell the difference?"
I started analyzing her every movement carefully: her gaze, her stance, even her breathing... searching for any clue, any sign that could tell me she was the real one.
But while I was lost in my nervous analysis, I heard the sound of light footsteps running behind me. I quickly turned around and saw three of Liana's copies running over with wide smiles, circling us like a scene from a children's play.
My heart started pounding, and I realized I couldn't escape the decision.
I looked at the girl in front of me and said hesitantly, cautiously:
"Uh... you're the real Liana."
A short silence followed. She didn't respond immediately but stared directly into my eyes. My heart sank slowly, thinking I had made a terrible mistake.
But soon, she burst into laughter and asked:
"How did you know?"
I laughed along and let out a sigh of relief. Then I raised my eyebrows playfully and said:
"It's a secret."
She seemed satisfied with my mysterious answer and chuckled softly, then signaled for the copies to vanish. She held my hand and said:
"Alright, it's your turn to count... but later! Let's eat first!"
We had a wonderful time playing among the grass and trees, racing each other and tossing balls back and forth. Then we sat in the shade and ate the food Aunt Melissa had packed for us. It was simple but delicious, filled with the nostalgic taste of old picnic days. After that, we bought ice cream from a vendor passing by the park and enjoyed it while laughing at the cold sensations on our faces.
As the orange threads of sunset appeared in the sky, we realized it was time to head back. I gathered our belongings and helped Liana carry what was left, then we left the park still laughing at a funny moment that had happened just a while ago.
When we reached the inn, Aunt Melissa was waiting at the door. The moment she saw her daughter, she opened her arms and embraced her tightly, as if she hadn't seen her in days, not just hours.
We entered afterward and had a warm, cozy dinner under the dim lights. Then I wished everyone a good night and went up to my room.
I lay on the bed, my breaths still carrying traces of laughter and joy, and then I drifted into a peaceful sleep... as if the world, for a moment, had become a kinder place.