The mall was bustling with its usual weekend crowd—shoppers weaving through stores, the distant hum of chatter, and the occasional laughter echoing under the bright fluorescent lights. I leaned against a railing on the upper floor, observing the scene below with mild amusement. That’s when I noticed them: a teenage boy and girl, locked in a heated argument near the fountain.
The boy—Leo, as I’d soon learn—was scowling, his hands balled into fists. "You’re such a brat!" he snapped, shoving a shopping bag toward the girl, Lia, who promptly smacked it away.
"Oh, like you’re any better?" Lia shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You started this!"
Their friends, Emily and Ryan, hovered nervously, trying to wedge themselves between the two. "Guys, come on, this isn’t worth it," Emily pleaded, her hands raised in a placating gesture. Ryan nodded, gripping Leo’s shoulder. "Chill out, man. It's nothing."
Ryan continue, his tone calm but firm. "Come on, man, let’s just walk away."
Emily, gently tugged Lia’s arm. "Lia, deep breaths. Ignore him, okay?"
But the bickering continued, escalating into a full-blown spectacle. Shoppers glanced over, some rolling their eyes, others whispering behind their hands. It was annoying. Childish, even.
I sighed. "If they were going to act like children, they might as well be children."
With a snap of my fingers, reality bent to my will.
Leo and Lia’s angry shouts abruptly shifted into high-pitched whines as their forms shrank, their clothes melting into toddler-sized versions. In an instant, the two stood there, wide-eyed and tiny—no older than five, their previous fury now replaced with the petulant pouting of preschoolers.
Meanwhile, Emily and Ryan straightened, their features maturing into the refined lines of adulthood. Ryan’s lanky frame filled out into the broad shoulders of a man in his late twenties, his casual hoodie replaced with a crisp button-down. Emily’s youthful glow settled into the poised elegance of a woman who’d seen a few more years, her hair now neatly styled, her posture confident.
Leo and Lia, The twins—because that’s what they were now—immediately started tugging at each other’s sleeves, their argument devolving into, "Stop it!" "No, you stop!"
Ryan blinked, then chuckled, rubbing his temple. "Alright, you two, that’s enough." His voice carried the effortless authority of a parent. He scooped Leo up under one arm while Emily hoisted Lia onto her hip.
"Honestly, you’d think they’d have outgrown this phase by now," Emily mused, bouncing Lia lightly. The little girl huffed but didn’t resist, her tiny arms crossing in a sulk.
Ryan shot his wife a wry grin. "Yeah, well, I’m just sorry you’ve had to deal with them all day while I was at the office." He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her temple. "You’re a saint."
Emily laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, please. They’re monsters, but they’re our monsters." She nudged him playfully. "Besides, you’re the one working overtime to keep us in fancy shoes. Maybe I should reward you tonight."
Ryan’s grin turned downright mischievous. "Is that a promise?"
"Mmhmm. If you’re good."
The twins, momentarily distracted from their squabble, made exaggerated gagging noises. "Ew, no mushy stuff!" Leo groaned, covering his eyes.
Emily tickled his side, eliciting a squeal. "Too bad, kiddo. You’re stuck with us."
As the newly minted family continued their shopping, the twins’ bickering faded into the background—just harmless sibling spats, easily soothed by a firm word or a distraction. Ryan slung an arm around Emily’s shoulders, pulling her close as they walked, the weight of parenthood settling comfortably onto their shoulders.
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