Aurora paused for a moment before answering, âIâm fine. Just take care of yourself and try to balance your life and studies.â
Rickey pressed on, âDid you really miss me?â
Aurora hesitated, biting her lip before replying, âI did.â
âIâm not talking about the kind between friends.â
Aurora understood what he was getting at and quickly cut him off. âLetâs stop here.â
âAurora, have you ever had feelings for me?â
âI said stop it, Rickey!â Aurora clenched her fist, as if holding sand, feeling it slip away quietly, piece by piece.
Silence hung on the line for a few seconds before Rickeyâs laughter broke through. âI was just teasing you. Look how scared you got.â
Aurora was no longer the naive girl she once was.
It mattered little whether Rickeyâs remarks were in jest or not; what truly mattered was the possibility of reclaiming their old rapport.
âRickey, youâve always been my best friend. Back in elementary school, when the others turned their backs on me, you were the one beacon in that storm. For that, my gratitude knows no bounds.â
With a heavy heart, Aurora continued, âIâve grown accustomed to our bond over the years. Teasing or not, letâs leave such jokes in the past, shall we?â
On the other end, Rickeyâs smile was a mask hiding his turmoil. He wanted to retort, but in the end, he could only say, âOkay.â
âGreat,â Aurora glanced at her watch. Dunn would arrive any moment now. âIâve got another engagement, so I need to head out.â
Rickeyâs heart sank, though he masked his disappointment well. âSure, go ahead.â
Your imagination starts at g Ɐ ln Ï Î½ð ðsâ¤conn As he was about to hang up, Mollyâs voice rang out clear and bright. âAurora, why havenât you gone out to meet your boyfriend yet?â Her words were like a bell to Rickey.
Aurora quickly ended the call. âDonât call him that, Molly. Iâm leaving now.â
âBye! Hope you two have a romantic evening!â
Lucas descended the stairs just in time to catch Mollyâs brazen remark, his brow knitting in disapproval.
Facing his stern look, Mollyâs smile vanished instantly. âWhy the glare? My sisterâs heart has been captivated, and itâs not a recent development!â
âIâm aware,â Lucas replied.
âWell, good that you are!â With a huff, Molly retreated to her room.
Lucas scratched his head in confusion. Molly was becoming an enigma day by day.
The honk of a car horn announced Dunnâs arrival. Aurora bid Lucas a quick goodbye and stepped outside.
Dunn had booked the whole restaurant just for the two of them. In celebration of Auroraâs college acceptance, Dunn had also arranged for a bouquet of flowers, which the staff presented to her upon their arrival.
âThank you,â she said.
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