15I hadn't seen Josiah in a while.Everything I'd learned about him was hearsay, just like in old times.The practice exam questions on the table suddenly increased, and there was lesser time for me to look up from my work. A countdown to the college entrance exam had appeared in the upper right corner of the blackboard out of the blue, and the rounds of examinations were like an endless baptism.I was going through the list of top scorers in the monthly exam that the school released when Josiah's name popped up.He was brilliant.I also heard that Tianna always went looking for him. Caleb told me on Messenger that he saw Josiah walking with Tianna one day. As I feared it was true, I never dared to look for him.Neither did he come looking for me.Time flew by. There weren't any summer holidays in Grade 11, while the first examination in Grade 12 determined the class I went to.From then onwards, the class we were assigned to would be determined by the results.In an instant
Author: Xiao Yu E 1Harvey Dunn was my stepfather's son. He hated me very much.Whenever he interacted with me, he spoke sarcastically. He never said anything nice to me.He always looked at me with ridicule and disdain as if I was the dirtiest creature in the world.The more he acted like that, the more I tried to disgust him. I followed him around every day, calling him by his nickname, Harv, in a sweet and intimate manner.The roaring darkness within his eyes would intensify visibly. Still, I swallowed light-heartedly and continued approaching him eagerly like a puppy.I did not believe a social butterfly like me could not handle Harvey.Finally, after my constant efforts to change him, his attitude improved slightly.When we were alone, his expression seemed quite gentle. His clear eyes and the smile that hung on his lips made it difficult for one to take their eyes off of him.I thought I could coexist with him peacefully until I read the diary he had left on the table.
4The school was indeed a land for gossip. In just a few days, all the girls in the school knew that Harvey was, as I had told them, my neighbor.Suddenly, I became popular. Every day, I was stopped by different girls, asking for my help to deliver love letters.Yvonne wanted to make up for the immense humiliation that the unsigned love letter had caused me, and we became inseparable since.After the evening class ended, I was in a rush to go home, but Yvonne refused to let me go.I grabbed her by the shoulder impatiently. "If you have something to say, tell me now. I have to go home.""Evelyn, I have an autographed photograph of Calum Scott with me. Since it's your birthday today, I want to give it to you."I accepted the gift happily. Only then did I realize a love letter was attached to the autographed photograph.I was speechless. The misunderstanding had just happened a few days ago. I couldn't believe she was attempting to give Harvey a love letter again.I pressed the v
6When I woke up, I found myself lying in the hospital with a thick cast on my right leg and my head wrapped in gauze. Harvey was leaning against the hospital bed to rest with a frown.I subconsciously moved, grimaced in pain in the next second, and hissed.Harvey's eyelids twitched. When he opened his eyes, his eyes were bloodshot. "Evelyn."He took a deep breath, crouched down in front of the bed, and carefully stretched out his hand to hold my back. "Do you feel uncomfortable?""I feel uncomfortable everywhere." I couldn't help but feel wronged.His voice was trembling. "I'm sorry."It was the first time I saw self-blame on Harvey's face.Seeing him like that made me feel uncomfortable. While I was at a loss, the ward door was pushed open.It was my mother.I looked at her eagerly. The pain intensified when I saw her.She looked at me with a gloomy face, full of grievances. "Evelyn, what do you want me to say? How could you get a concussion and fracture by riding a bicycl
8Harvey took care of me in the hospital day and night for a week.After the kiss, there was always an unspeakable awkwardness between us.Fortunately, I was about to be discharged from the hospital and no longer needed to face him alone.On the day of discharge, Calvin also came.When I saw Calvin, I decisively left Harvey behind and limped toward Calvin with one foot. Calvin raised his gaze and smiled faintly. "Don't move. I'll come over.""Sure!"I couldn't help but feel guilty. I wished Calvin could come to me quickly, as I did not want to stay alone with Harvey anymore.Just then, Harvey suddenly grabbed me by the back of my collar. As he accidentally scratched my neck with his fingertip, I took a deep breath and did not dare to move."Don't you try to run again." His breath fluttered against my ear as he lowered his head and spoke. It felt a little ticklish.I swallowed hard before looking up at Harvey and meeting his deep eyes.At the same time, Calvin also stretche
10I was raised by my mother, Yelena, alone at a very young age. Thus, I might look carefree on the surface, but my inner side was very sensitive.I rested my cheeks on my hands and looked out of the window. Although I seemed to be quiet, I was at a loss.The cold wind blew onto my face. It was chilling to the bone.As I closed my eyes, my thoughts gradually drifted away. My mind was flooded with countless scenes, switching between Calvin and Harvey.When I first came here, I was not used to everything there. When I cried secretly, Calvin would always notice it, as if his eyes were always on me.I had never seen a gentler person than him. He never thought I was annoying. Every time I cried, he handed me colorful candies just like magic.His eyes were always bright when he told me, "You won't feel sad if you eat something sweet."I asked him carefully, "Why are you so nice to me?"When he bent down and talked to me, he gently brushed away the hair scattered around my ears. "Bec
12Harvey and I had agreed to keep our relationship secret.To others, we were still stepsiblings who shared a bad relationship.Sometimes, I overacted and made some people speak up for Harvey."Evelyn, you've gone too far lately."Calvin patiently advised me, saying, "Harv is not a bad guy. You and Yelena's arrival made him think that Sebastian would forget his late mom. That's why he treats you badly. I grew up with him and know exactly what his character is. Although it's hard for him to accept both of you, he never really hurts you. You've bullied him to the extent that it didn't seem like him anymore."With a hint of guilt in my eyes, I did not have the confidence to explain to Calvin. It seemed that the play appeared too realistic.The bullying Calvin mentioned referred to what just happened.As dark clouds rolled in the gloomy sky, a rainstorm suddenly came. Harvey leaned against the pillar with an umbrella, waiting for me leisurely.Having a guilty conscience, I did no
13Yelena raised her hand and slapped my face with all her might. I looked at her in astonishment, and tears rolled down my cheeks.My face was burning with pain, and my head was buzzing. I couldn't help but stumble slightly. I really didn't expect Yelena to hit me.It was the first time in 18 years she hit me.No matter what I did before, she never hit me.Even if it was five years ago, when Yelena divorced my father, and I ran away from home in anger. When she came to the police station in the neighboring city to pick me up three days later, she was so exasperated that she couldn't help crying. I had prepared myself to be punished, but she asked me if I was hungry.Although the current Yelena was not so gentle, she was reluctant to hit me."Mom." I grabbed her sleeve weakly and said in a broken voice, "I like him."Her eyes were red as if she was enduring great pain.Suddenly, she slapped herself in the face and said, "I was wrong. It was my fault."The sight scared me so m