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
Back then, our neighbors always seemed so envious of my dad's aquarium. Hence, I assumed his tank was one of the best. I used to brag about it to friends. I even invited them over so they could admire it.For the longest time, "the aquarium at Luna's" would always be mentioned whenever they spoke to their parents.However, after seeing the tank today, I came to the realization that there were too many things that I had yet to come across in this world. I didn't think such a grand aquarium existed. In front of the massive tank, my height of five foot five seemed relatively small. I looked up to admire a violet-colored fish. Its dress-like tail shimmered with its every movement and looked extremely beautiful. I could never get tired of watching beautiful things. I was incredibly entranced by the sight before someone let out a stifled laugh. Then, they patted my shoulder and asked, "What are you staring at?"I turned around and saw Helen. Matthew stood behind her, donning a full bl
I had turned on live location sharing. If he wanted to meet me, he'd be able to find me. I placed myself in a location where he could easily spot me. Once he did, his bright eyes would lock onto mine, and he'd flash me a delighted smile.What I needed to do was just to stay put and wait for a miracle to happen.I had a nagging feeling that he would appear. It was my birthday, and we had a promise—he said he wouldn't miss a single one of them.I didn't know how long I sat waiting. My eyes were dry and tired from staring at the door. The sky grew dark, and Colin still hadn't shown up.I felt upset and disappointed. I remembered his promise like it was yesterday, but it seemed like he was breaking it this year.I took out my phone. My parents had each sent me a message wishing me a happy birthday. Zara and Queenie did the same. I even received a lengthy message from Winston, but I ignored it.Hannah sent me an angry emoji before following up with a "Happy birthday". Then, she remind
The bigwigs started to take me seriously after hearing Professor King's praise and the Tudor style's undeniable impact. They each praised me for my accomplishments at such a young age. It was astonishing for them—how the young generation was surpassing the older one.Of course, I didn't take their praise at face value. Every word they said was influenced by the professor's standing. Professor King asked me to show respect to the seniors present by toasting each of them individually. I wasn't feeling particularly happy and didn't feel like drinking. But I couldn't disobey the professor, so I picked up my glass and gave a toast to each person. The opportunity to toast these bigwigs might seem small. But I actually understood that it wasn't an opportunity anyone could have. If not for Professor King, it would likely take me ten years to earn such an honor.He was doing everything he could to pave the way for me. It was a favor that no one could ask for, and I was immensely grateful
I knew that the person who arranged all of this had to be him. Could it be that the person I waited so long for at the club had actually been here, waiting for my return all along?Walking along the narrow path, tears that I had been holding back for so long finally streamed down my face. The emotions I had been suppressing for so long suddenly burst forth uncontrollably at that moment. All the unspoken longing, the unexpressed love, and the sorrow of not being able to embrace transformed into tears, flowing freely.I desperately wanted him to appear before me. I wanted him to be standing amidst the flowers and smiling at me. His eyes would sparkle, and his gaze would fall warmly upon me. He would be looking at me with tears in his eyes.I would rush and throw myself into his arms without hesitation. I could imagine hugging his slim waist, feeling the contours of his abs, and basking in his passionate love.As I walked further into the room, I saw a life-sized portrait of myself