MasukAlice Walker“Sister?” I blurted out spontaneously.Jensen turned around and gave me a wink. I understood his signal. Together with the twins, we took a few steps back from him.“Please don’t cause any trouble and leave us alone. If you insist, we’ll call the police,” Jensen said. I didn’t expect him to be so articulate. But that wasn’t what moved me. It was his courage and attitude that amazed me.An unexpected reaction occurred. A group of five teenagers, all tall and well-built, laughed loudly. If I guessed correctly, they were high school students. Probably tenth or eleventh graders.Two of them had acne-covered faces and were slightly overweight. The other three were quite handsome and had athletic bodies like basketball players. However, I didn’t like the look in their eyes. It was a look that wanted to strip me naked. They licked their lips as if they thought I was food they wanted to taste. But I knew what they meant. I had seen eyes like theirs when my mom was hugging two men
Alice WalkerThat morning, when Ms. Hannah and I met at the villa entrance, I greeted her with an icy stare and attitude. I realized I had made a mistake. But I was only trying to protect myself and my family.I had indeed been rude and hurt her feelings. But I didn’t know her true intentions in pursuing a relationship with my dad. No one knows what’s in another person’s heart. I could only wait and watch her behavior. Grandma would surely tell me the truth.After that unpleasant greeting, I went into my bedroom and lay down. My head hurt, and sadness crept back into my heart. Why did my parents have to divorce? Why was my family different from other families?When I was little, I thought I had a perfect and happy life. I had everything that other people didn’t have. Grandma, Dad, and Mom spoiled me, especially since I was an only child and the heir to the Walkers Company. Of course, everything I needed and wanted was fulfilled.However, Grandma and Dad were quite strict and disciplin
HannahSince we had bought premium tickets at the carnival entrance, we could go straight onto the Ferris wheel. All the cabins were full, and the reason for our mischievous idea was that I noticed each cabin was very enclosed, like a small room that provided complete privacy for each passenger.Before entering the cabin, Chris bought two large Cokes, a large cup of popcorn, and French fries. After entering the cabin, we sat close to each other, leaning back in our seats without talking, just staring at the night sky decorated with many stars.“The sky is so beautiful,” I said.“Do you like this vacation?” Chris asked.“Yes. I’ve never been on vacation to a villa, soaked in a hot spring, or gone to a carnival, tried all the rides, and bought lots of food. Because my mother had little money, we prioritized the important things first. Vacations, carnivals, and snacks were just secondary needs that didn’t have to be fulfilled. To be honest, my childhood wasn’t very pleasant. I rarely tra
Hannah“Sorry to hear that. I didn’t know you had a tough childhood,” Alice said. Her tone was empathetic.“Thank you. Because my mom worked two jobs, I was to cook, while my big brother was to clean the house and put the laundry in the washing machine. I saw my mom when the sun had already set. She would come home, take a shower, eat, say hello to us briefly, kiss us on the forehead, and then go to bed. The next morning, I would prepare breakfast. That routine continued until we grew up and could support ourselves.”“What happened next?” she asked curiously.“Once our family’s financial situation stabilized, my mom only took one job. My big brother moved to Sunnyville to study and work. Luckily, he got a scholarship. I studied at Riverford and still live with my mom. Besides studying, I also worked part-time at a fast-food restaurant every afternoon until evening, five days a week. I used the weekends to sleep in, read books, and go out with my best friend, April. I didn’t expect tha
Hannah“Hello, Alice. We already know each other from the church choir,” I said, extending my hand to shake Alice's hand.“Yes. And we meet again in your office, Dad. I thought Dad's girlfriend was another Hannah. I didn't think Dad's girlfriend was Ms. Hannah Ford, my choir mate at church. How surprising,” Alice replied.Alice shook my hand without a smile. Her gaze and expression were cold, as cold as ice. “Hello, Ms. Hannah.” After saying those words, she hurried into the villa without greeting anyone else.I turned and saw Chris's expression, which was a mixture of annoyance and guilt. He hugged me from the side and whispered, “I promise I'll fix this. You know, teenagers can be a little difficult to manage. But I'll talk to her.”“Okay.”"Don't be sad, please. I don't want our vacation to be awkward. Alice is basically a good girl. She's been different since she saw Lisa's affair happen in front of her. Since then, she's been a little withdrawn. Because I'm busy, only my mother h
Hannah“Yes, please,” I replied as I stood up.Chris entered the room and closed the door. I approached him, and we hugged.That morning, his face looked much more handsome. His blue eyes looked brighter. “I missed you so much,” he said.Still hugging each other. “Me too. But we were only apart for a few hours.”He kissed my forehead. “I don’t think I can be apart from you. So, I think we should live together or get married sooner. What do you think?”“You’re not joking, right? I haven’t even met Alice and your mother yet.”“Ah, yes. After they approve of our relationship, would you live with me while we wait to be ready to get married?” he asked with a serious expression.“I need time to think. Besides, I have to ask Jensen’s opinion. I’m sorry, I’m having trouble deciding. It would be better if everyone agreed. Is that okay?”Chris nodded and smiled sweetly. “Give me a kiss.”Without waiting for my answer, his lips landed perfectly on mine. On that chilly morning, we suddenly laid o







