“How’s Ren?” That was the first question Isolde asked after classes started again, which was about a month after the earthquake first struck.

Leonel sighed. “He’s fine. Not dead. Still alive.”

The worry in her eyes intensified. “That bad . . . huh?”

“I would, too, if I lost my parents without warning like that,” replied Leonel.

Isolde went quiet for a moment before saying, “Maybe a vacation is all he needed. To get his mind off everything. We have a private rest house on White island. Maybe we could all go there this winter break.”

“You want to swim this winter?”

Isolde shrugged. “It feels as hot as summer right now. Does it matter, even if it’s supposed to be winter? There’s not even a single speck of snow.”

She made sense. After all, Isolde was already wearing a loose cotton shirt, airy pants, and a portable air conditioner around her neck, yet she was still sweating a lot.

A sheen of sweat glistened on the surface of her skin, and she was also panting a little.

Was it that hot? Leonel had no idea because he felt like the weather was pretty balanced.

He then let out a chuckle despite feeling sad for Ren and for what had happened to his parents. “You’re right . . .”

He then looked over at the blazing heat and shadowed his eyes with his hand. Why wasn’t he feeling hot? “Maybe a vacation is all we need.”

Little did the pair know, while the two were talking, someone was tailing them from behind — a spy disguised as a man.

Sky was feeling elated. White Island, huh?

It was the perfect setting to rekindle a past love.

pAnDa (nov)e1​

—-

While everyone resumed school after a month when the earthquake struck, Evie was in Diamond Palace, unwilling to leave Ren by himself.

Even though she was mostly outside, doing all sorts of chores and waiting for Ren to come out from his room.

Ren was still mourning and didn’t want to go to school. He didn’t even want to go out of his room, much less face the outside world.

Ren would only grace her with his presence when it was time to eat and chat with her, and once those were over, he’d trap himself inside his room for the rest of the day.

Evie couldn’t help getting worried. She was on the edge of her feet.

In the first place, she didn’t even know how to comfort him.

Ren had done so much for her, yet now that he was struggling, she couldn’t even come up with a way to help him, making her feel guilty and disappointed at himself.

Ren still couldn’t accept his parents’ death. His eyes lacked their usual luster, and it seemed like he was only living for the sake of living.

He had lost his purpose and didn’t know how to move past his grief. Not once did he even log in to the game.

This couldn’t go on, so Evie finally asked for help. And the one she asked was Sumeri. Among all the people she knew in their group, Sumeri had the most experience with guys since she had a boyfriend before.please visit panda(-)N0ve1.co)m

At least, that was how Evie came up with her reasoning.

On a hot winter day, the two were prompt in a restaurant.

Sumeri laughed a little when Evie told her about Ren’s situation.

“In a relationship, it’s only natural to love each other and solve problems together,” she said and teased with a giggle, “Problems you wouldn’t have if you were single.”

When Sumeri realized that Evie wasn’t laughing one bit, she straightened from her chair and cleared her throat.

“Sorry. I thought to lighten the mood a bit.”

“It’s fine. At least you know how to lighten the mood.” Evie pressed her lips tight while her hands were gripping each other on her lap. “I don’t even know how to joke or say anything that would make Ren feel a little better.”

Seeing Evie, a beautiful girl on the brink of tears, Sumeri sighed and patted her head.

‘Ah . . . young, innocent love,’ Sumeri thought, unable to help herself from feeling jealous. She also yearned for that pure, unconditional love.

How unfortunate. She asked for a blessing, but God gave her Scar.

“Ren is still mourning. Give him time.”

“But . . . I’m worried that his condition will only get worse. He only goes out to eat. He couldn’t even hold a conversation with me for a minute before hurrying back into his room. He doesn’t want to go to school anymore, and he doesn’t want to log into the game. It’s just like . . .”

“. . . life became a blur of grey for him, and he lost his purposes of living,” finished Sumeri.

Evie was surprised that Sumeri knew.

Sumeri sadly smiled. “I knew that feeling. I lost my parents too. The only difference was . . . I had Nikolai with me. He gave me a new purpose in life . . . But Ren is different. He doesn’t have any siblings.”

Sumeri then stared at Evie seriously. “But he has you, right?”

“. . .” Evie looked away. She didn’t know how to tell Sumeri that she might not even stay here for long. “I-I don’t think . . .”

“All you have to do is be patient with him. Always be there for him, and take care of him. Slowly but surely, as long as you remain by his side throughout his darkest days, Ren will definitely recover.”

“. . .” Evie bit her lips and looked down at her clenched hands. “B-but what if . . . I can’t? What if . . . there comes a day that . . . I have no choice but to leave as well?”

Sumeri stared at Evie without any judgment. She was already mature enough to know that life wasn’t a bed of roses. Eternal love was for the dreamers, and she happened to be a realist.

“Then, there’s only a fast, sure way how to get him to recover.”

“Really?” Evie’s eyes shone with hope.

“If the standard for being a gentleman is not to flirt with a lady, then Ren can be said to be the epitome of one . . . and before you know it, one year would have already passed, yet your relationship hasn’t advanced from where it started.”

Evie was confused. “What do you mean?”

Sumeri’s posh red fingernails graced her lips as she grinned meaningfully. Evie felt uneasy all of a sudden, and when Sumeri leaned in and whispered in Evie’s ears, the latter’s face burst red.

The moment she heard what Sumeri said, Evie thought that asking for Sumeri’s advice was a mistake.

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