Many people who admired Aveline didn’t dare approach her, especially considering Orion’s formidable family background.
However, there was one exception-Kieran. He had been attached to Aveline since they were children. You could say he liked her, but he never seemed to mind Orion’s presence. Then again, you could say he didn’t like her, but he stuck to her side everywhere she went-except, of course, the girls’ restroom.
Aveline ignored Kieran and, with her backpack slung over her shoulder, headed for the door.
“Orion.” She gave him a gentle smile, a rare softness breaking through her otherwise cold demeanor, a warmth reserved only for him.
“Orion! We meet again. Wow, you’ve grown taller. How do you grow so fast? You’re already half a head taller than me,” Kieran greeted him enthusiastically the moment he saw him.
Orion, however, found Kieran exasperating. He had warned Kieran more than once to stay away from Aveline, but Kieran never took him seriously.
“Why should I stay away from Aveline? We’re friends,” Kieran would say without hesitation.
He had never confessed any romantic feelings for Aveline, and back then, when they were younger, Orion hadn’t thought much about it. As long as Kieran’s attachment was purely platonic, and since Aveline’s cold personality meant she didn’t have many friends, Orion had reluctantly tolerated Kieran’s presence.
“Orion, what are you eating? Can you give me the recipe? I’ll have my chef make it for me so I can grow taller faster,” Kieran chirped.
“Let’s go home,” Orion said, his gaze fixed solely on Aveline, ignoring Kieran entirely.
“Orion, you’re ignoring me again!” Kieran protested dramatically.
Neither Aveline nor Orion seemed bothered by his antics. The three of them formed an odd yet strangely harmonious group, with Kieran often talking to himself while the other two paid him little attention. Somehow, he never ran out of things to say-a skill in its own right.
With Orion’s status as Aveline’s boyfriend and the daughter of the Barnet family protecting her, the year passed uneventfully.
Orion achieved the highest score in the nation, earning offers from universities across the country.
It should have been a moment of celebration, but both Aveline and Orion were far from happy-because it meant Orion had to leave.
“Aveline, how about I repeat the year and stay?” Orion said, holding her tightly.
“No, you’ve already repeated a grade for me once. Doing it again would be a waste of time. I don’t want to be the reason you hold yourself back,” Aveline said, her voice trembling as she sniffled.
Despite her reluctance, she didn’t want Orion to sacrifice his future for her.
“Silly girl, all I want is to walk you to and from school every day.”
“Orion, you’re grown up now. You’re an adult. You shouldn’t confine yourself to school. In five years, I’ll be an adult too. I’ll finish high school, and no matter where you are then, I’ll catch up to you. I know you’ve always dreamed of Cambridge. Go, and don’t worry about me.”
Orion had never openly spoken about his dream, but Aveline knew him well enough to understand his ambitions.
“Clothville has good universities too. At least if I stay here, I can see you often. On weekends, we could-”
Before he could finish, Aveline pressed her finger against his lips.
“Orion, I’ve grown up. I’m not the little bird who always needed your protection anymore. Birds grow up and need to fly on their own. Like I said before, I don’t want to be the thing that holds you back.” A soft smile curved her lips.
In the past year, Aveline had grown from 160 to 165 centimeters. She wasn’t the same girl she had been a year ago.
“Aveline really has grown up. But I can’t bear to leave you.”
“I can’t bear to see you go either, Orion. But I want to be your motivation, not your burden. I want you to live for yourself, to chase your dreams without being tied down because of me.”
Orion’s heart raced. He had his own ambitions: to become someone as accomplished as Uncle Barnet and his father.
“Aveline, I’ll come back to visit during holidays.”
“Orion, promise me one thing, will you?”
“I’ll promise you ten thousand things if you ask.”
“You’re not allowed to fall for anyone else.”
Aveline had grown used to having Orion by her side. If he went to university abroad, it would mean enduring a long-distance relationship.
Orion chuckled at her serious expression. “I claimed you as my bride before you were even born. Why would I worry about anyone else taking my little Aveline away?”
“When you graduate, let’s get engaged, okay?” Aveline said, her cheeks flushing red.
Orion’s resolve to work hard only deepened. Though his family was wealthy, he wanted to build a life for Aveline with his own hands.
“Aveline, wait for me. I’ll give you a home.”
“I believe in you, Orion.”
In the end, Orion chose to attend Cambridge University and flew to England.
Aveline saw him off at the airport. Although it was her encouragement that had led to his decision, she felt an ache in her heart as he left the city.
“Aveline, don’t be sad. Four years will pass quickly. Knowing Orion, he might even finish his studies in less time,” her mother, Aurora, reassured her.
“I know, Mom. It’s just… my heart feels heavy.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
As Aveline watched the plane disappear into the sky, she thought to herself, Orion, you waited for me for so long. This time, it’s my turn to catch up to you.
There was only one way to finish school faster: skipping grades.
Aveline had already made up her mind. She would push herself to be better, to be worthy of standing beside Orion.
“Let’s go home, Mom.”
“Alright,” Aurora replied, glancing at Aveline’s determined figure with a pang of maternal sorrow.