CHAPTER 50……………
Lilliana began a lengthy speech about the importance of the welcoming party. The longer she spoke, the more drained Anitaâs face became.
âMore than anything. If this goes well, I might be able to join the student council.â
âYou mean youâre not a member yet?â
Anitaâs gaze naturally drifted to the list in Lillianaâs hand.
âWell. Itâs just a formality. They want to see what I can do before they officially accept me into the council. But really, do you think I could possibly fail?â
âIsnât it possible you might fail?â
Anitaâs offhand remark seemed to ignite Lillianaâs fury. Veins bulged on the hand holding her pen, and her pink-polished fingers tapped the list irritably.
âIn that case, theyâll have to pay the price for letting go of someone as perfect a party planner as me.â
The pen in Lillianaâs grip looked ready to snap at any moment, but her face was still adorned with a cheerful smile.
âAnyway. Iâll take it that youâre attending, Anita.â
She scribbled something on the roster, then turned and vanished into the crowd of students.
Only after Lilliana had disappeared did Anita remember what she had forgotten.
Anita had no desire to attend any welcoming party or gathering. She had the strong feeling it would only lead to trouble.
She should have said she didnât want to go. But Lillianaâs sheer force of will had left her no chance to speak.
Anita looked again in the direction Lilliana had gone. She had already moved so fast that she was far away.
Knowing she couldnât possibly catch up, Anita simply gave up. Iâll just tell her next time.
Out of habit, Anita started back toward the dormitory, but then realized she hadnât gotten her bag back from Lutger. She hadnât remembered it was the last class of the day when he carried it off, and hadnât thought much of it at the time.
Exams were coming up, and there were plenty of assignments still to finish.
After a moment of hesitation, Anita headed for the library. She had spent the whole day walking on an unsteady ankle, but by now she had gotten somewhat used to it, and her pace was quicker than before. Stairs, however, were still a trial.
When Anita arrived at the library, she scanned the shelves lined with specialized texts. Spotting the books used in her classes, she took a stack and sat down at an empty seat.
After staring down at the densely written pages for some time, her neck began to ache. Raising her head, she spotted a familiar figure and let out a surprised âOh.â
âSenior?â
When had he arrived? Anita hadnât even noticed, but there was Edmund, seated across from her.
There was no trace left of the drunkard she had seen the day before. Under the library lights, his silver-rimmed glasses gleamed, and his neat black vest made him the very image of a model student.
âShh. You have to be quiet in the library.â
He winked mischievously. Embarrassed at having spoken out loud in the library, Anita clapped her hand over her mouth.
Edmund smiled at her as if to say it was fine, then returned his focus to the book he had been reading. But Anita still had something she needed to tell him.
She wrote on the corner of a slip of paper she had gotten from the librarian. Tearing it off, she slid it across to Edmund.
Iâm sorry about that time.
He glanced at the note, then scribbled something in the remaining space.
?
Does he not remember? Anita thought a moment, then tore a larger piece of paper.
I practically passed out asleep, didnât I? It must have been a bother. Why didnât you just leave me on the street?
Of course, she hadnât meant the last part seriously. Who would want to wake up on the roadside looking like a shabby vagrant?
What?
Reading the note he sent back, Anita looked up at Edmundâs face. The brusque, almost dismissive word had made her wonder if he was angry, but when she actually saw him, he only looked genuinely puzzled.
You donât remember?
Youâre the one who doesnât.
Whatâs that supposed to mean? Scratching her cheek, Anita began writing the next note.
