Chapter 31
With the curiosity of a child, Lily widened her innocent eyes at every unfamiliar sight. She asked Nathan to explain things along the way.
One time, it was a lighter shaped like a car key. Another, strange certificates selling for two dollars each, with titles like “Beauty Certificate“, “Handsome Certificate“, “Top Student
Certificate“, and even a “Brain–Dead Certificate”
When they reached the church entrance, Lily stopped at a stall selling heart–shaped locks. Nearly a hundred locks were on display at the wooden table.
“Nathan, what are these locks for? You can even engrave names on them,” she asked.
“These are called ‘Friendship Locks.‘ Engraving names on them symbolizes unbreakable friendship and a bond stronger than titanium.”
“Really?” Lily’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Just then, Oscar said, “Nate, I’m dying of thirst. Can we grab some water before we go pray?”
Nathan nodded. “You get the water, and I’ll buy some candles.”
With their tasks assigned, Nathan told Lily to wait there and not wander off.
A few minutes later, when Nathan and Oscar returned with their purchases, they noticed something strange. The stall selling the locks had disappeared, along with all the locks and the
vendor.
Surprised, Nathan turned to Lily. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and after a brief pause, she shook her head. “I have no idea what happened,” she mumbled.
Nathan didn’t dwell on it and shrugged it off.
The three of them continued up the stone steps and entered the church. The path from the entrance to the main hall at the mountain’s summit was quite a walk, with statues of angels: lining the way.
By the time they left, it was already late afternoon, but students were still arriving in a steady
stream.
“Let’s head down,” Nathan said, waving them forward.
“Nate, look!” Oscar suddenly pointed at the olive tree near the church entrance, where the heart–shaped locks were hanging.
Nathan walked over to take a closer look and froze.
Hundreds of locks, grouped in pairs, dangled from the branches, each engraved with the names “Aeris” and “Frank“.
Chapter 31
Nathan pieced it together quickly and turned to Lily. “Wait… Did you buy all those locks earlier?”
Lily’s face was now a deep shade of red, glowing in the soft light of the setting sun, making her look more radiant than ever. She nodded, her eyes filled with hope. “Nathan… does this mean we’ll be best friends forever?”
Nathan could only smile and give her the most serious answer he could. “Yes, we’ll be best friends forever.‘
For so long, he had thought of Lily as a princess, born with everything she could ever want. But in reality, this princess had only him.
On the fifth of June, Nathan spent the morning familiarizing himself with the exam hall. In the afternoon, he completed a math and a science practice test to keep his skills sharp.
By the sixth, he didn’t touch his books at all. He spent the morning playing video the afternoon listening to music, staying calm and relaxed.
games and
For the past two days, his parents had taken time off from work. They did everything they could to cook his favorite meals, speaking to him gently and kindly. Nicholas, who had smoked all his life, hadn’t touched a single cigarette in those days, holding back for Nathan’s
sake.
That night, Nathan carefully checked everything he needed for the exam–his admission card, digital watch, pens, 2B pencils, and packed them neatly into his pencil case before going to bed early.
Perhaps because he had managed his stress so well, he slept soundly and dreamlessly through the night. When he woke the next morning, his mind felt sharp and clear.
Nicholas and Viola had originally planned to accompany him to the exam hall, but Nathan declined their offer, wanting to handle it on his own.
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