"Teacher! There you are!"


    Evangeline woke up from the trance and saw Lilybe was already in front of her, catching her breath while worry painted all over her face.


    "Teacher, thank goodness, Lilybe found you!" Lilybe took deep breathes to calm herself before she zoomed to Evangeline.


    Leaning backward from the sudden appearance of Lilybe''s face up close, Evangeline could clearly see the tiny droplets of sweat on her more than oily face.


    <em>This girl should mind her appearance more––</em>


    Before Evangeline could continue with her line of thoughts, something shed in her view. It was a delicious looking pancake wrapped around in cream and choctes sprinkled with almonds. Its enticing aroma wafted in her nose, and she gulped at the smell.


    <em>A crepe?</em>


    Holding the crepe in one hand while hugging the other snacks against her enormous bosom, Lilybe said with a low sorry voice, "Teacher, how clueless of Lilybe. The reason why you got angry was that you didn''t want the lemonade, right?" She then forced the crepe towards Evangeline like a piece offering. "Lilybe got you a crepe with lots of almonds. Lilybe heard you like it."


    Reaching for the crepe, Evangeline didn''t know how to answer. Her face was nk, looking at the delicious delicacy before she stared at Lilybe.


    "Why are you doing this?" she asked.


    Lilybe cocked her head to the side, a little flower sprouting over her head. "Hm?"


    Sighing, Evangeline repeated her question, "Why are you trying so hard to befriend me? Is it because of Daniel?"


    Lilybe fluttered her eyelids, lips forming an O when she finally understood.


    "Teacher, that is one of the reasons," she confirmed. Smiling and little embarrassed, she added, "The big part is because Lilybe like you."


    Evangeline didn''t bite it. Raising an eyebrow, she sneered. "You don''t even know me and you already like me? That''s ridiculous!"


    Shuffling with one foot to another, Lilybe didn''t know how to exin her feelings. Cheeks puffing and lips pouting, she burst out, "It''s not ridiculous at all! Teacher, you''re only saying it because you don''t know how awesome you are! You''re only saying it because you don''t know how Lilybe think about you!"


    sping the foods near her heart, her looks softened as well as her tone. "To Lilybe, teacher is amazing. Lilybe wanted to be like you. Lilybe admire you the first time, and Lilybe continued to admire you the more she got to know you. Lilybe don''t know how to say it, but Lilybe want to be close to you because she really, really like you! Those are Lilybe''s honest feelings!"


    Lilybe had to pause between her speech to catch her breath since she needed extra oxygen when her feelings burst forth, causing her heart to palpitate more than usual.


    And when Evangeline still didn''t respond, she added, "Lilybe is not smart, and people say she''s very na?ve and oblivious and gullible and clumsy, and Lilybe is okay with it. Lilybe wear her heart on her sleeve, and she don''t n on changing that. That''s Lilybe. And it''s totally fine that teacher doesn''t feel the same way Lilybe do. Lilybe still wanted to be your friend!"


    There was something in the way her face showed raw emotions. It''s warm, genuine, and Evangeline didn''t have the heart to refuse her. She listened to her speech. It was sometimes fast, jamming words together, and most often than not, she would pause in between to take in breathes like a child who hadn''t develop her vocal cords.


    Instead of answering, refuting, or doing what she does best, arguing her point, Evangeline found herself looking at the crepe. Her eyes were unable to meet Lilybe''s honest feelings.


    Taking a small bite, she mumbled, "It''s sweet . . ."


    "Teacher . . ."


    A brittle voice sprung Evangeline''s eyes towards its source and found Lilybe''s face was flushed, more tender than usual. Her lips were quivering, and her eyes were rippling with water, ready to cry at any moment.


    "Teacher . . . Lilybe won''t cause you any trouble . . . so please don''t push Lilybe away . . ."


    ". . ."


    <em>Ah . . . this girl . . .</em>


    She should really mind her appearance.


    Evangeline let out a sigh of defeat. Against this girl, her pessimist nature seemed to be ineffective.


    "What are you talking about? Even if I push you away, you''ll still be going to stick around." She then walked past Lilybe, who was like an unloved dog with her ears and eyes dropping low.


    She paused and turned towards her, snorting. "Well? What are you standing there for? Let''s go and try that shooting game."


    Lilybe''s downcast face brightened as she hopped to Evangeline''s side.


    "Yes!"


    ----


    As soon as Eric and Daniel got off the cart, they searched for Evangeline and Lilybe. They didn''t have to search that far though as they spotted the two near a shooting stall.


    Rather, with all the ruckus around a specific stall, it was hard to miss. Children were surrounding the two. Evangeline was holding a rifle, with her stance and posture, Eric knew it was not her first time holding a gun.


    Cupping his mouth, he turned to the other side, a faint pinkish glow on his cheeks when something stirred at her image. There was something sexy and stimting with girls and guns.


    Lilybe, on the other hand, was busy giving out the toys Evangeline won to the happy and more than excited children while the stall clerk was crying blood.


    Eric and Daniel nced at each other before the two of them went to the girls'' side.


    "What are you two doing?" Daniel asked, even though he already knew what was going on.


    "Your Highness!" Lilybe pped her hands and chortled, "Teacher is amazing! She has remarkable shooting skills! Look at how many children she made happy!"


    The corner of Daniel''s lips twitched. He nced at Eric, and like Eric knew what he was thinking, he approached Evangeline, and thetter stopped shooting. Her face was smiling in smug and pride.


    "Eric, this game is fun. Look at how many toys I won!"


    Eric eyed the bunch of toys in the children''s arms while the little squirts all embraced their toys and red at him before they scattered away. Afraid he would confiscate them.


    Clearing his throat, he gazed at Evangeline, whose expression was asking for a pet.


    Chuckling, he tenderly patted her head. "Mm . . . you''re really good at this."


    Smiling smugly, Evangeline answered, "Of course. I''ve been practicing my shooting skills since high school to relieve some stress and for self-defense just in case."


    The smile on Eric''s face faltered while Daniel walked towards the clerk, who was on the verge of crying since all the prize was almost emptied in his stall.


    Daniel brought out a bundle of money and secretly handed it to the guy, whispering, "Sorry about mypanion. I hope this canpensate for your losses."


    The guy was so moved he shed some tears as his arm hid his crying face, stuttering in gratefulness, "T-thank you so much, your Highness!"


    Eric pulled Evangeline away from the stall just in case she wanted to tease the crying man and decided to give another go with the rifle.


    And the group ultimately strode forward on an empty spot under arge tree to n out their next ride.


    "Your Highness! Your Highness!" Lilybe chirped the moment they arrived, fidgeting in front of Daniel, hiding something behind her back.


    Daniel had already given up on reprimanding her about her image as he asked in a more thanzy tone, "What?"


    Giggling, Lilybe brought out her hands and dangled a small stuff toy in front of Daniel''s eyes. "This is for you! Lilybe won this after so many tries. The stall guy said it is a lucky charm! Isn''t it cute?!"


    Dangling in front of Daniel was a small toy about the size of a key chain. The fabric wrapping around it took the form of a little bunny. The ck thread used to saw it was visible, and buttons reced the round eyes, which were supposed to stir anyone''s heart. And the small cute mouth was reced by a letter X sewn in ck thread.


    Instead of cute, it looked scary!


    Daniel thought it was cursed!


    "Can you not give it to me," he said bluntly with a nk expression.


    "Ehhh . . . ," Lilybe''s whined. Puffing her cheeks and pouting, she insisted. "This is the first gift Lilybe gives to you, your Highness! Lilybe tried so hard to get this for you. Even Lilybe lost a thousand bucks because of it in the shooting range, Lilybe didn''t give up because she wanted to give this to your Highness no matter what!" In truth, the stall keeper took pity on her and decided to give her the bunny when she still couldn''t hit it after so many tries.


    Forcefully shoving the toy on Daniel''s hands, Lilybe turned around in bashfulness, sping her hands on her red cheeks. "Kya! Lilybe is so shy his Highness epted her gift. Lilybe is so happy!"


    "Ah . . . no . . ." Daniel didn''t know what to say. There were so manyments he wanted to say that he didn''t know which to start!


    Dejected, he decided to keep his mouth shut since it was the best counter against her. He pocketed the cursed doll in haste and breathed a respite breathe, thinking he would toss the dollter when she was not looking.


    At the side, Evangeline too handed something to Eric. It was a simple phone strap she had won in the game.


    "Thank you." Strapping it on his phone, Eric smiled. It was a half heart, enamel-coated in matte ck with a simple carving of, ''we will not part.''


    Beaming, Evangeline brought out her phone and showed Eric the other piece of the broken heart.


    "It''s a love––er . . . matching strap. It even has this cute spell when you put it together, see."


    After putting the broken piece together, Eric''s eyes narrowed. His smile froze, and cold sweat tickled the curved of his back when he read theplete carvings engraved on the straps.


    ''Till death, we will not part.''


    ". . ."


    It''s very ominous. Eric thought, though the words he said, "It''s very . . . unique." His smile was a tad bit forced.


    "I know, right?!" Evangeline''s eyes twinkled. "It''s very romantic! It''s like a spell for lover––er . . . a spell for two people to be never apart!"


    More like a cursed. Eric mused.


    <strong><em>Ahem</em></strong>


    Clearing his throat to get everyone''s attention, Daniel suggested another attraction, "Where do you want to go next? I think the drop tower is fun to try." He was hell-bent in taking his revenge from all the injustices he received from Evangeline.


    And like he thought, Evangeline''s haughty face revealed a crack.


    Smiling inwardly, Daniel didn''t let the opportunity passed and pushed for it. "The drop tower is a must-try if you''re in the amusement park. It''s a very popr attraction which can''t be miss––"


    "Daniel," Eric cut in, "how about we let the girls decide the next ride since we guys already have our turn in the rollercoaster?"


    Evangeline and Lilybe''s face brightened like the ever-shining sun while Daniel clicked his tongue and conceded.


    "Fine . . ."


    Staring at the girls, Eric asked, "Is there some attraction you girls wanted to ride?"


    Evangeline and Lilybe nced at each other before they nodded in silent understanding.


    Smiling, they answered in sync.


    "Lovers boat ride!"