Bella laughed.
It echoed through the empty convenience store, bouncing off the shelves and the humming refrigerators. It wasn't quiet or polite—it was loud, breathless, the kind of laugh that made it impossible to stop once it started.
Everyone stared.
Nyx slowly lowered her phone. "Why," she said carefully, "is Bella laughing like she just won the lottery."
Garruk was still standing stiff near the counter, his mind clearly frozen several seconds behind reality. "Bella…?" His voice was low, cautious, like he was approaching a dangerous monster.
Bella leaned against the wall in the corner, one hand on her stomach, the other covering her mouth as she tried—and failed—to calm down. "I— I can't— your faces—"
Vario's eyes narrowed. "Bella."
That only made it worse.
She burst out laughing again, sliding down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry. I swear. I just— I've never seen you all look so terrified."
Nyx blinked. "Terrified?"
"You told us you were pregnant," Nyx snapped. "During night shift. With dramatic lighting."
Garruk rubbed his temples. "I thought my life had skipped ten chapters."
Bella finally inhaled deeply and pushed herself back up, still smiling. "Okay. Okay. Time out." She raised both hands. "I'm not pregnant."
The store went dead silent.
The refrigerators hummed.
A chip bag crinkled somewhere.
"…WHAT?" Nyx shouted.
Garruk took a step back. "You— you said—"
"I lied," Bella said, proud and unapologetic.
Vario stared at her like she had just unlocked a forbidden class. "You planned this?"
Bella nodded. "All day."
Nyx pointed at her. "You looked me in the eye."
Bella shrugged. "Method acting."
Garruk exhaled slowly, then let out a small laugh despite himself. "I was already thinking about names."
Nyx slapped the counter. "I almost called Feria."
Vario shook his head, half laughing, half offended. "That was evil."
Bella grinned wider. "You people prank each other constantly. I figured it was time I joined the culture."
There was a pause.
Then Garruk laughed, deep and relieved. "Okay. I admit it. That was… impressive."
Nyx groaned and sank into a chair. "I hate that I respect it."
Vario crossed his arms. "I'm both proud and deeply afraid."
Bella leaned against the counter, arms crossed, satisfied. "First prank. Successful."
She glanced around at them—at the chaos, the exhaustion, the ridiculousness of it all—and smiled softer this time.
"For the record," she added, "this was way harder than managing the store."
Nyx muttered, "Never do that again."
Bella just laughed.
And for once, the night shift felt complete.