A few momentster, Gus received Curtis’ reply with only a few words.


    “Debbie is right. Just stay there.”


    Gus was angry at his cold response. He wondered why his brother always sided with Debbie.


    He was sure that Curtis loved Colleen, so there shouldn’t have been any untoward rtionship


    between Curtis and Debbie. ‘When I return home, I need to ask my father if they mistook me and


    Debbie when we were born.


    Could it be possible that Debbie is their biological daughter and I’m the wrong one?’


    There were several times when Gus felt like Debbie was Curtis’ real younger sister and he himself was


    the one who had been adopted to protect Debbie.


    Avoiding Gus, Debbie found a quiet corner and sat down, looking nkly into the distance. She was


    immersed in deep thoughts. ‘What’s Carlos doing right now? I’ve been away for a few days. Has he


    been missing me?”


    Since she was on a trip far away from the city, Debbie had left her diamond ring behind.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “Debbie.


    Her train of thoughts was interrupted by a voice again and she snapped back into reality.


    Debbie turned to look at the person and gave him a friendly smile.


    “Hi,


    Gregory.” Gregory had helped her several times in the past few days and she felt the need to be polite


    to him though she did want to stay alone and allow herself to indulge in Carlos’ memories.


    Gregory sat down next to Debbie.


    “Why are you sitting here alone? Are you feeling cold?” he asked in a concerned tone


    “No, I’m okay.”


    She thought about her quarrel with Carlos a few days ago, so she wasn’t in the mood to talk much.


    Gregory was a man of few words, so he didn’t know what to say next either. Awkward silence filled the


    air


    He unwittingly stole nces at Debbie, who had Loneliness written all over her face. Finally, he broke


    the silence and asked, “Debbie, you look upset. What happened?”


    “Oh…Um… It’s nothing, really.” Not knowing how to exin what had happened, Debbie gave him an


    embarrassed smile and then suggested quickly, “Let’s go and find the others!” Being alone with


    someone who had nothing inmon with her made Debbie feel ufortable.


    Gregory stood still, watching his favorite girl walk away from him. He had a lot of questions for her, but


    they were all stuck in his throat.


    He wanted to ask her about her rtionship with Carlos. But he knew that he wasn’t in a position to ask


    such a private question. Left with no choice, he hurried to catch up with her to find their other


    schoolmates.


    On their way, they bumped into Gail, who wasining to another girl about how dirty the vige


    was. She was telling the girl that she was afraid of catching some infectious disease.


    Debbie had been hearing Gail’s constantint ever since the day they had arrived at Southon


    Vige. Every time she felt Like rambling, she wouldin to the same girl. But in front of others,


    she would pretend to be tender and sweet.


    And once again, Debbie got to witness Gail’s instant change in character. A boy approached Gail and


    called her name while she was talking to the other girl. She instantly stopped wearing her Long face.


    Forcing a tender smile, she turned around and said, “Hello, Tim. What’s up?”