Beldon University.
The last class of the morning has ended, and Holly is the first to rush out of the classroom, zipping back to the dorm on her scooter.
By the ti she finishes changing clothes, her two roommates, Joy Sherman and Tina Keane, co back.
"Oh, has our Dearest Holly turned into a different person?" Joy circles around her.
"Just now you were dressed for the ’8 AM class look,’ and now, you’ve transford into a refined goddess in a blink of an eye! Rushing out of class so fast, turns out it’s because the beauty has a date!"
She giggles as she reaches out and lightly pokes Holly below her lacquered lips.
Holly’s cheeks instantly flush, and she steps back half a step, raising her voice involuntarily, "It’s not a date! What date! Who told you I’m going on a date?"
Joy, who looks soft and cute, is actually a little genius, although she hasn’t been in a relationship herself, she’s read all sorts of love theory books and loves to gather gossip.
She clearly doesn’t believe Holly, so she pulls over Tina, who’s drinking water, "Tina, co and take a look, give us your assessnt."
Tina is the typical elegant beauty, tall and with a cool deanor. She raises an eyebrow and examines Holly from top to bottom.
Holly is wearing a cream lace spaghetti strap long dress, with a waistline design that perfectly accentuates her figure.
With Beldon’s weather being unpredictable in May, she has thrown on a pink off-shoulder overlay outside, matching shoes in the sa color sche, paired with visible light makeup.
Joy fans the air in front of her nose exaggeratedly, "Do you sll sothing?"
Holly instinctively sniffs twice, puzzled, "What sll?"
"What else could it be?"
Joy mischievously laughs, "Of course, it’s the scent——of——love——stink——!"
Holly almost jumps in embarrassnt, "Really, it’s not like that! It’s my brother, he just got back from Brelond last night, and asked out for lunch."
"Oh my~~"
Joy’s tone draws long, "It’s your brother again, huh?"
"Let think, is it that brother who, every year at the start of school, no matter how busy, will fly back from Brelond specially? Is it that brother who appears punctually on your birthday every year, never missing a gift? Or is it that brother who always finds an excuse to fly back during holidays to accompany you for als and shopping?"
Holly is stunned by Joy’s series of statents.
Turns out, without realizing, Blake Sinclair has traveled back and forth between Brelond and Beldon so many tis for her.
Those familiar concerns suddenly feel heavy when pointed out by her roommate.
"Holly, your brother is quite extraordinary, you know."
Joy bumps her shoulder ambiguously, lowering her voice, "Unlike my own brother, who absolutely doesn’t care that much. This frequency, this persistence, tsk tsk..."
"But... but he’s not my biological brother!" Holly hurriedly defends, heart racing inexplicably.
"We just t as kids at Port Kallow, and it was sothing we agreed on a long ti ago."
Her voice grows smaller, tinged with a guilty conscience she can’t quite convince herself.
"Not being your real brother makes it even more dangerous!"
Joy wears a "seen-it-all" expression, "As the saying goes, guard against fire, theft, and brothers, Holly, be careful not to fall unknowingly soday."
The until-now quiet Tina casually interjects, dealing a precise blow: "She’s already fallen."
Holly instantly flares up, "I have not! He really is just like a brother to . And he always treats like a sister too!"
She attempts to use a firm tone to convince her roommates, as well as herself, of her chaotic heart.
Joy adjusts her black-frad glasses, her eyes gleaming, "Dearest Holly, co on, let’s analyze this logically."
"Think carefully, what kind of normal brother would fly across countries year-round just to have a al or celebrate a holiday with you?
And each ti, doesn’t forget to bring absurdly expensive snacks for everyone in the dormitory? Such thoughtful and extravagant actions, generally, who does that?"
She answers herself, voice resounding: "A boyfriend!"
Before Holly can refute, she continues her attack.
"Moreover, who would, separated by half the globe, unwaveringly video call every two or three days, be fully aware of your class schedule, social life, even what you ate today? Even rembering your nstrual cycle more precisely than you do,"
"A boyfriend!"
Joy claps her hands again.
"And the most crucial point!"
She points at Holly’s flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, "Look at yourself! When you go to et this brother, when aren’t you dressed like a little cupcake?
When have you returned from eting him without a smile on your face, your eyebrows dancing? Who gets gloomy days before he leaves each ti?"
Joy clasps her hands; the three dorm mates chant in unison, clearly uttering those three words:
"A boyfriend!"
Holly is utterly dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning.
She unconsciously clenches her dress, fingertips whitening, her mind blank, only those three words buzzing in her ears.
Joy presses on relentlessly: "Ask yourself, every ti you know he’s coming back, do you start anticipating days in advance?"
Holly nods blankly.
"When you see him, does the air around you feel sweet?"
She nods again.
"Admit it, right here, you’ve already fallen." Joy pokes Holly’s left chest.
Holly is poked lightly; all her pretenses seemingly pierce through.
Could it be, that everything they’ve said is true?
Has she unknowingly started liking the person who played with her since childhood, the one she calls "Yarrow"?
Has she fallen for Blake Sinclair?
But he’s her brother!
Though not related by blood, all these years they’ve called each other siblings.
If he knew about her improper feelings, how would he react?
Would he be disgusted, distance himself from her?
Thinking of Blake Sinclair’s possibly shocked, disappointed, or even disgusted gaze fills Holly with inexplicable fear.
Just then, her phone rings; it’s Blake Sinclair calling.
Holly’s mind is a ss, but her hand presses the answer button.
"Holly, I’m at Westergate, are you coming down?" Blake Sinclair’s voice cos through.
Holly opens her mouth, but no sound escapes; her hand holding the phone trembles slightly.
Next to her, Joy sees Holly’s weak state and, exasperated, snatches the phone and presses the speaker, "Holly is in the bathroom, just wait a mont."
On the other end, Blake Sinclair hesitates briefly, then speaks again, sounding noticeably distant and polite: "Okay, then please let her know I’m waiting at Westergate, thanks."
The call ends, and the dorm returns to silence.
Joy hands the phone back to Holly, "Did you hear? ’Please,’ ’thank you,’ being overly polite.
What does it indicate? That he’s hiding sothing! Trust , seize the mont when it’s right! even if he’s your brother, not being related by blood ans it’s even better; isn’t turning a brother into a husband just delightful?"
Holly, seeing the stunning brightness in Joy’s eyes, finds her confused heart injected with a bit of courage.
Joy gives her shoulder a spirited pat, "During lunch today, find a chance to test him! Based on my theoretical experience, I think he’s ninety-nine percent interested in you! Get him!"
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