"You sleep like a baby. I want to devour you." Colin's husky, magnetic voice murmured in my ear. I could hear the eagerness and restraint in his tone. I could even feel the warmth of his breath on the back of my ear. The crisp scent filled my nose. It felt so real, as if he was right beside me. I reached out and hugged him with all my strength. Then, I thought to myself that this dream felt too real, more real than any before. It was too good to be true.I yearned so desperately for Colin's embrace. We didn't have to do anything; I just wanted to hold him like this. Pressing against his chest, I wanted to listen to his strong heartbeat and inhale his crisp pine scent. That would be enough.Even in the dream, I knew that I was asleep. Everything before my eyes was a beautiful dream, but it felt so real as if Colin was right next to me. It was as if all I needed to do was to open my eyes to see him.So, I tried hard to open my eyes to confirm that this dreamlike scene was real
So, where did this thing on my neck come from?I quickly felt up my neck and found a small flower on a chain. The uneven texture left me utterly shocked.Emotions surged as I nervously caressed the chain. A suspicion formed in my mind that I could hardly believe.In my dream, Colin had placed an orchid necklace around my neck. The pendant in my hand was also a tiny orchid. So, last night wasn't just a dream!I leaped out of bed. A small square box poked into my palm when I propped myself up with my right hand. I opened it and found a set of high-quality brushes with soft, hard, and pointed bristles. Beside it lay a flat, paper box containing a very old book. The pages were worn, and even the corners were frayed, revealing an ancient paint recipe without a title page.No other words were needed. It had to be that Colin was back. His gentle calls to me in my dream were real.He had come to see me, but I had slept through it like a log, mistaking our long-awaited reunion for a mer
Mom yelled at the top of her lungs, making my ears pound in pain and my head spin. When would she ever treat me as gently as she did Dad? Instead, she always shouted at me. I guessed that was just another one of my unrealistic dreams."Lulu, you usually could even hear an ant crawling, so how did you sleep through such an important moment? We couldn't even wake you by pinching you! What kind of sleep were you in?" Dad held Mom's shoulders, silently comforting her while giving me a look of utter disdain.I was just asleep. How could that be my fault? It was all because of that damn pill. Who knew one pill would knock me out like that? The instruction manual didn't say it would."I couldn't sleep, so I took Dad's sleeping pill." I sobbed, finally admitting the truth.Mom and Dad stared at me with incredulous looks for a full minute, then exchanged bewildered glances before both silently left the room. They left me on my lonesome. I was stunned. What kind of parents were they? N
My mood was the brightest it had been in two months.This good mood lasted until Uncle Austin and Aunt Melinda came to visit us for New Year's with Felix tagging along. Since the incident with Felix, our families had grown distant. We now barely greeted one another, and that was only if we happened to meet. Otherwise, we'd never initiate contact.We weren't thrilled about their visit, but we put on good expressions for Colin's sake, especially since they were all smiles and full of well-wishes. There was also another important reason we let them in. I wanted to ask about Colin. Due to Jasmine's terms, Colin and I couldn't contact each other directly, but there were no restrictions on his family visiting.To my surprise, Hannah bounced in behind Felix, cheerful and unreserved. After greeting everyone, she clung to me, calling me "Luna" in the sweetest voice."Hannah? What's going on? Are you here to make an announcement?" I whispered to her when I found a chance.Her face flush
Felix was a real piece of work, a bona fide jerk.But when he mentioned Colin, my spirits soared. I tossed aside my toy and ignored Felix's snarky remarks. Leaning in with anticipation, I asked, "So spill it. What's Colin up to?"He shot me a disdainful glare, then flopped onto the couch with an air of indifference. "Colin came back yesterday afternoon, trailed by Jasmine's goons to keep tabs on him. He had this grand plan to get them sloshed at New Year's dinner. But those two could hold their liquor like champs. They drained my dad's top-shelf booze and still begged for more. "Eventually, my old man had to slip some sleeping pills into their drinks to knock 'em out cold, giving Colin the chance to sneak out and meet you."I had a hunch Colin went through a lot of trouble for this rendezvous. "So what's the deal, then?"Felix suddenly raised his voice, startling me. "He wanted me to check if you were crying and to tell you he'd find another chance to meet you, but you have to
No matter how great a birthday celebration might be, it just couldn't hold a candle to having Colin by my side."I have some unfinished business to wrap up. Birthday or not, it's no biggie." I shrugged, feeling nonchalant."Don't count yourself out just yet. Hannah's swinging by the day after tomorrow, and you're coming with us. We'll have dinner to celebrate. Heard she's got a surprise birthday treat for you," Felix insisted.Having Hannah around would usually lift my spirits, but I wasn't feeling it this time. "Maybe later. I have too much on my plate right now," I replied, my tone flat.Felix kept at it, trying to sway me with his charm and goodwill. But I held my ground, rejecting his offer for a joint family dinner. Then came his final blow. "I'll swing by the day after tomorrow morning to pick you up with your parents. Consider it a done deal. Bye."With a click, the line went dead.Tossing the phone aside, frustration surged through me like a tidal wave. Who had the band
I said goodbye to my parents with a twinge of regret for not whipping up one last meal for them. Then, I slung my knapsack over my shoulder and set off from home once more. Nico and I agreed to meet at the college before heading to Lagado together. But upon arriving, I discovered it wasn't just us two. Professor King and the couple, Matthew and Helen, were joining us.The mix seemed peculiar, but Nico filled me in—Professor King was off to a class reunion while Matthew was showing his new wife the ropes of his family business.At first, it was just Nico and me, and I felt a bit uneasy about it. But with three more familiar faces joining our crew, I found myself breathing easier. And having Helen along for the ride meant there'd be no shortage of lively conversations to keep the journey from feeling too lonely.When we rolled into Lagado, we checked into a pre-booked five-star hotel.Nico and I had originally planned to opt for a clean and safe guesthouse to cut costs. It wasn't
As long as Colin saw the post, he would know I was here. He was sharp. He would definitely get what I was trying to say.Whether he felt anxious or worried or even if my presence here could cause him some trouble, the fact remained that I was close by. Even if we couldn't meet, we could still look up at the same blue sky and breathe in the same city's air. It was almost like being together, and that was good enough.Over dinner, Nico mentioned that the next day was Independence Day, so we were taking the day off and picking up the mineral hunt the day after.I didn't mind. Since we started the lab, Nico had put in way more effort than I had, really showing how important he was. As his junior, it was only natural for me to follow his lead.Upon hearing I had no plans, Professor King insisted I accompany him to tomorrow's gathering. I felt awkward and declined. Why should a junior like me intrude on his classmates' reunion? I'd heard such gatherings often harbored secrets, and I