Chapter 604
605 Misunderstandings and Motives
605 Misunderstandings and Motives
As soon as the teacher gave the instructions, the boys got hyped. They rolled up their sleeves and dove in with full strength, yanking out weeds with gusto.
The girls, on the other hand, didn’t have as much upper body strength, so things went more slowly for them.
But everyone was earnest and kind–hearted. After finishing their own plots, some of the guys automatically helped the girls with theirs. Everyone just wanted to finish quickly and move on to the next phase of the assessment.
“Yunice, here! Let me help you!” A tan–skinned boy with rolled–up sleeves bounced into Yunice’s assigned plot and immediately reached down to start pulling weeds.
Yunice glanced over at his own section. The roots he’d yanked out still had huge chunks of dirt clinging to them, and among them were a few wilted plantain and angelica seedlings, drooping from dehydration.
She quickly shielded her medicinal plot and declined his help. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.
The boy scratched his head awkwardly and ran off to help someone else instead.
By the end of the session, most of the students had finished clearing their plots.
Yunice was one of the slower ones.
The teacher wandered leisurely between the plots with a big enamel mug of tea in hand, not offering a single tip or pointer.
After class, Yunice went out to eat with Freya off campus.
She’d been at school for three days and had settled in well. Her classmates weren’t as gossipy or difficult as she’d expected.
Freya, on the other hand, had stayed long enough and was about to head back. Mr. Carl needed her.
Before she left, Freya asked, “Wyatt hasn’t come to see you?”
Yunice shook her head.
Freya looked surprised. “Did he at least text or call? He’s not mad you snuck away without telling him, is he?”
That wasn’t it.
Since arriving, Yunice and Wyatt had stayed in touch. In fact, they’d just spoken on the phone after class. Wyatt hadn’t mentioned coming to visit, and Yunice hadn’t asked.
Freya said, “I’ll keep an eye on him while I’m back. Let’s see what he’s up to.”
Yunice hesitated for a moment but didn’t say anything.
Meanwhile, at a Silverburgh café…
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08:52 Fri, 1 Aug
605 Misunderstandings and Motives
Elianna sat in a private booth, chin propped up, waiting impatiently.
Before long, she heard the slow tap of footsteps from the hallway.
She turned and saw Nora, propped up on crutches, making her way in one careful step at a time.
Elianna blinked in surprise and rushed over to help. “Nora, you’re standing already?”
Nora smiled. “The doctor says I’ve been progressing well with rehab. Maybe in another month I’ll be walking normally again.”
Elianna gawked. “That’s amazing! I read online that injuries like yours can take decades for some people to fully recover from!”
Nora chuckled softly. “Maybe I just have strong willpower.”
Elianna helped her into her seat.
Nora sighed. “I heard you’re living in Pavilion Hall now. How’s it going with your new wife?”
Elianna didn’t think much of the question. She’d always seen Nora as a gentle friend and didn’t suspect a thing. She’d been bottling up her feelings lately, and Nora gave her someone to talk to , so she opened up without hesitation.
“Yunice is weird. Bad temper too. Always giving my brother attitude. But he totally babies her, so I can’t say anything.”
Elianna realized too late that a flicker of sadness had passed over Nora’s face. She scrambled to smooth things over. “Nora, you’re not upset, are you? You already liked my brother’s announcement post, so I figured you were over it.”
Nora forced a smile, lips stiff. Then she asked, “Do you think Yunice and I look alike?”
Elianna thought for a moment and answered honestly. “Everyone says Wyatt likes Yunice because she looks like you. But honestly, I don’t think so. You guys only kinda resemble each other at a glance. Once you take a proper look, you can tell you’re totally different. Only someone with vision issues would mix you up. And Wyatt’s eyes are perfect, haha…”
She laughed sheepishly, but she was telling the truth.
Nora’s lips pressed into a thin line. Beneath the table, her fingers curled tightly. Then she looked up, feigning nonchalance. “Funny how Yunice isn’t out here with you. Shouldn’t she be trying to win you over? ”
Elianna said, “She’s super antisocial/Doesn’t talk to anyone. But yeah, she did try to get on my good side a while ago. Made up some story about my dad saving her life. I called her out on it though. Lately she’s been away, so the house has been kinda empty…”
“She’s not home? Where did she go?” Nora asked, trying to sound casual.
She hadn’t heard about Yunice having any new plans.
Elianna replied, “She’s got some pharmaceutical sugar daddy. He set her up with a job in South Africa. She’s out there for some kind of field research. Should be gone a month or two.”
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