Chapter 1 Made Up My Mind
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“Mom, I’ve made up my mind this time. I’m going to study at a
university abroad,” Kenneth Caldwell said, his voice deep and his face a blank slate as he held the phone tightly.
If I’d known things would end up like this with them, I should’ve gone abroad back in my freshman year.
“Great! Son, you’ve finally seen the light! Overseas, your grandma can look after you. She can even set you up with some projects so
you can get your hands dirty. There’ll be way more opportunities there than in Houston. Once we wrap up this project in Dallas, we’ll come over to be with you!” his mother exclaimed, her voice
brimming with excitement over the phone.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she reminded
him, “Oh, before you leave, make sure you go say bye to your
godmother and Eleanor, okay?”
“Sure thing,” Kenneth replied with a bitter smile.
“I’ve booked your flight for the 8th of next month. You’ve got
fifteen days left. So, get everything sorted out, alright?”
After hanging up, Kenneth plopped down onto the small sofa at
the foot of his bedroom. He absentmindedly scrolled through his phone, lost in his own thoughts.
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There was a new post from Lucas Thompson on social media.
It read: [The sneakers I’ve been drooling over! Any guesses on
which fairy got them for me?]
The sneakers in the post were the very ones Kenneth had had his
eye on but hadn’t managed to buy yet.
He kept scrolling, his expression unchanged. But then, he came
across the exchange between Eleanor Blackwood and Victoria
Harrington in the comments section.
Victoria commented: [Here’s your fairy! I just bought them on a whim! But I have to say, I was snatching them up like crazy, and my hands are still killing me!]
Eleanor said: [No wonder you were burning the midnight oil last night.]
Victoria shot back: [Why’d you have to let the cat out of the bag!]
Lucas chimed in: [Thanks, my fairy! Let me give your hands a little blow to soothe them…]
The three of them were bantering back and forth, and their tight–knit relationship was as clear as day.
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Kenneth couldn’t contain himself any longer and directly replied to Victoria on the post: [Didn’t you promise to get these sneakers for
me?]
He’d already transferred the money for the sneakers and also some cash as a thank–you for the meal.
But instead, she’d given the sneakers to someone else.
After sending the message, he waited for a few minutes,
refreshing the social media page several times, but there was no
response.
However, a few voice messages soon appeared in his private chat
with Victoria.
When he played them, he was greeted by her enraged voice.
“Lucas wanted these sneakers! He didn’t come right out and say it, but he was practically salivating over them. How could I not give them to him? You’ve got a whole collection of designer sneakers. Meanwhile, he’s never even worn a pair from a big–name brand. He’s always picking up those nameless shoes from the flea market. What’s the big deal about me giving him at
pair?
“And you had to ask about it on social media! Can you delete that comment? How embarrassing! It’s just a pair of shoes. Why can’t
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you just let him have them? Why are you being so petty!”
Her successive accusations broke Kenneth’s heart.
This wasn’t the first time she’d promised him something and then given it to Lucas instead.
Kenneth had had a weak heart since childhood, so his parents sent him to Houston for recuperation. The air was good there, and the medical resources were top–notch. His godmother, Harriet Blackwood, had a house in Houston, so he was arranged to live
there.
He attended high school there and met Eleanor, his godmother’s daughter, and Victoria, Eleanor’s younger friend who was two years their junior.
The three of them hit it off right away and were inseparable throughout high school. They even promised to apply to the same university in Houston. At that time, Kenneth’s mother wanted him
to go abroad, but he refused for the sake of his friends.
When he was a junior at the University of Houston, he met Lucas
at the scene of a subsidy distribution.
Lucas came from a poor family. He was late for the distribution because of his part–time job and ended up getting nothing. He was sitting dejectedly at the door.
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Chapter 1 Made Up My Mind
Kenneth was a member of the student union responsible for
distribution.
Feeling sorry for Lucas, he took Lucas out for a meal. From that moment on, the two struck up a friendship. Not only did Kenneth often lend Lucas a hand, but he also introduced him to Eleanor
and Victoria.
As time went by, the dynamics among them gradually shifted.
The items Kenneth bought for Eleanor and Victoria ended up in
Lucas‘ possession.
The gifts they’d promised Kenneth also all went to Lucas. It was as if they’d forgotten all about the friend they’d known since childhood. All they could see was Lucas, the poor, hapless soul
who seemed to need their pity.
This wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened. Kenneth had spent his money on a pair of shoes, only to find them on Lucas‘ feet. These kinds of incidents had occurred time and time again. At first, Kenneth would voice his discontent, but as the disappointments piled up, he gradually grew silent. Eventually, he
reached a state of complete indifference.
That was when he decided it was time to leave.
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“Hey, Kenneth, getting some water?” Lucas‘ voice suddenly echoed from behind. He’d slipped back in without Kenneth
noticing. Spotting Kenneth at the water dispenser, he strolled
over.
“Hey, I’m truly sorry. I kinda snatched those shoes Victoria got for you. I just blurted out that I’d never worn that brand before, and
she thought she ought to do something for me.
“Here, let me give you a hand with that water. Don’t be mad at me, will you?” Lucas rattled off his apology smoothly, just as he’d done numerous times prior.
First, he positioned himself on the moral high ground, then
feigned concern as he reached out to grab the cup from
Kenneth’s hand.
“No, thanks.” Kenneth frowned. The cup held the tonic prescribed
by a doctor his family had found. It had to be brewed with water at
precisely the right temperature.
But Lucas was tenacious. He held onto the cup tightly and wouldn’t let go.
“Come on, just let me help… Are you mad at me, Kenneth?”
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Kenneth was fed up with his phony act. He let out a cold laugh. “If
you know I’m mad, pay me back for the shoes. You think pouring.
a glass of water can make up for a pair of pricey shoes? You’re not
worth that much.”
Lucas was caught off guard. The next instant, there was a sharp cracking sound as the cup shattered between their hands.
Both of their hands were cut, leaving streaks of blood, and the
brown tonic spilled all over the floor.
Just then, Victoria walked through the door.
“Good heavens!” She took in the entire scene.
Seeing Lucas quickly stepping back, she immediately pointed the
finger at Kenneth. She let out a shriek, “Kenneth, what are you
doing! Lucas, you’re bleeding! Quick, let me help you stop the
bleeding!”
Without a second thought, she carelessly tossed the luxury
handbag Kenneth had given her onto the floor and rushed off to
find some gauze.
Eleanor, always looking serene in her white dress, had followed Victoria in and was completely in the dark about what had
transpired.
Chapter 1 Made Up My Mind
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“Eleanor! Kenneth’s at it again! He flew off the handle and cut Lucas‘ hand! It’s just a pair of shoes. Why does he have such a short fuse?” Victoria ranted on, her voice brimming with indignation.
She was dressed in a red T–shirt and shorts. Her fiery personality was a perfect match for her outfit. Right then, she was absolutely seething.
“Kenneth, you… Oh, forget it.” Eleanor gave Kenneth a
disappointed look before turning her attention to Lucas. “Is it al glass cut? You should head to the school infirmary. We can’t just slap a band–aid on it. There might be glass shards in the wound.”
Even her normally gentle voice carried a tinge of worry.
Hearing this, Victoria got even more worked up. “Kenneth! Look at the mess you’ve made! I’ll reimburse you for the shoes, alright? Lucas has next to nothing. He doesn’t even know jack about designer brands. What’s the big deal with me buying him a pair of shoes? Can’t you be a real man and stop being such a tightwad!”
With those words, she immediately looped her arm through Lucas‘ and steered him towards the door, as if he’d injured his leg instead of his hand. “It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt. We’ll head to the infirmary right away…”
Before long, the place fell silent once more.
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Kenneth had attempted to explain what had happened several
times, but he never managed to get a word in edgewise. Now, gazing down at his palm, smeared with a mix of blood and the tonic, he forced a wry smile.
It hadn’t always been like this.
Back when he had heart issues and needed to take his
medication, they would bring his thermos to school for him. One time, when someone called him a wimp, Eleanor, the usually
well–behaved girl, had gone into battle for him like a raging lion,
scaring even the teacher.
Kenneth had been deeply moved by that incident and had treated
them with unwavering loyalty ever since.
He’d stood in the pouring rain for hours to buy the things they
desired. Even when he was scraping by on his meager living expenses, he’d shelled out five or six times the face value to get them concert tickets. And when some hooligans had harassed
Eleanor, he’d chased them off with a stick, and the scars on his body were a lasting reminder of that day.
But those days were long gone.
All their kindness had now shifted to Lucas.
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But it didn’t matter anymore.
17, 16 min!
Kenneth wordlessly washed his wounded hand under the tap, pressing a tissue against the cut to stem the bleeding. Then he
brewed another cup of the tonic.
Why should I still care about all this when I’m leaving soon?
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