Library

Home / My Childhood Friend Called Me Slow, So This Witch Stopped Waiting / Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Childhood Friend Called Me Slow, So This Witch Stopped Waiting: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

12 Kabanata

Chapter 1

When I was seven, Lucas Mercer was attacked by a two-headed hound.To save him, I took the bite meant for his neck. The hound bit me in the shoulder, and I passed out right there.My life was never in danger, but those huge, gaping jaws left me badly traumatized.Ever since then, I'd been hesitant and slow, always a little lost.I was scared to go anywhere near monsters, and I always felt my elemental magic simply wasn't strong enough.Aldridge Academy trained ice and fire wizards by the dozen. It wasn't the place for me.So I chose a potions academy instead.Soon, Lucas and I would be on two different continents.Just thinking about it made my eyes sting.Just as my tears were about to fall, my phone lit up.It was a text from Lucas.[We're done with the show. The graduation ball's tonight, so hurry up and get to the flying-bus stop. Don't waste time polishing your broom.]That only made me feel worse.When we were little, Lucas's family was poor. His broom was a battered secondhand t

Chapter 2

I'd been so excited about taking that photo with Lucas.I'd gotten up three hours early to do my makeup, and I'd tried on four different sets of dress robes.I'd even practiced smiling in secret, trying to find a way to look natural in the picture.But in the end, I wasn't the one who took that photo with Lucas.The picture in my hand kept playing on a loop.And there I stood outside the picture, like a hollow scarecrow.The attendant leaned over to look at the photo, then glanced at me. "Those two really do make a cute couple."A lump formed in my throat. I nodded awkwardly.Lucas sent another text.[Hurry up, Wendy. You're the last one. The whole class is here.]Clutching my phone, I climbed onto my broom and flew to the party, my chest aching.On the way, the wind dried my tears.It wasn't until I walked into the banquet hall that I realized plenty of our classmates weren't even there yet.Lucas and Emily were squeezed together in a corner, sharing a pair of earbuds as they listened

Chapter 3

Everyone was staring at Lucas.Emily was looking at him too, her eyes full of hope.Lucas didn't answer for a long moment.Anyone could see how disappointed Emily was, but she knew exactly how to change the subject. "Come on, what's with you guys? Do you really have to embarrass Wendy today of all days?"My stomach dropped.She'd just assumed that I was the one who'd be embarrassed.Lucas didn't deny it. He just said, "We're all good friends."Everyone booed."Good friends? Since when do good friends hold hands with their fingers all laced together?""Lucas, don't tell me you're trying to keep them both."Emily's smile froze for a second. "Stop giving him a hard time, you guys. He doesn't like talking about this stuff in front of people."The more she defended him, the louder everyone hooted."Ooh, jumping to his defense already?""It's not even official yet, and you're already protecting your boyfriend like that?"Emily didn't correct them.She kept telling them to lay off, but she ne

Chapter 4

Emily had already pulled him a couple of steps away when I couldn't help calling out to him."Lucas, do you still remember our promise?"He patted the velvet pouch. "Relax. Who do you think I am? The wizard with the best memory in the whole school."Emily looked annoyed. "If you two keep talking, the ball will be over. You promised me the first dance, Mr. Best Memory in the Whole School."I stayed where I was, feeling vaguely uneasy.The lights above the dance floor slowly dimmed, and the whole room whooped and cheered as Emily and Lucas danced together.Two dances came and went.They still hadn't come back.Just then, gasps went up on the other side of the dance floor."Someone's doing the starry-sky spell!""No way! Seriously? Stardust powder's super expensive. It's so bright! I can't believe he got this much!"Hopeful, I looked up and saw Lucas in the middle of the crowd, casting the spell.I couldn't wait. I ran toward him.I'd never gotten the photo he'd promised me, and I'd never

Chapter 5

Lucas's anger gave way to guilt again. He looked at me nervously."Wendy, don't get the wrong idea. We're not going there alone just to hang out."Our professor assigned us a research project. We have to go there and document how unicorns live."He rubbed his fingertips together awkwardly. "You're not in our project group. That's the only reason we didn't invite you. Next time..."Emily gave Lucas a playful swat. "Don't be silly. Wendy would faint from fright in there. That forest is crawling with monsters."Lucas added, "Well, we'll be passing through there on the way to Aldridge anyway. I'll take you to see them then."I was about to tell him I wasn't going to Aldridge.Suddenly, Emily patted her pocket and looked panicked."Wait, Lucas, the magic photo we took together is gone. We have to go find it now!"Before I could tell her it was in my bag, she grabbed Lucas and hurried off.Lucas looked back at me once.There was finally a hint of apology in his eyes.But it was too late.If

Chapter 6

Once I got to the Northlands, I didn't reach out to Lucas again.The sky over the Northlands looked like a pane of blue glass the icy wind had polished clean.After dark, herds of silver-winged deer raced beneath the stars, and fine snow covered their hoofprints in the blink of an eye.I met Lillian Moore and Alexander Hart at a magic inn in Birchwood.That day, the staircase kept changing direction on its own.I chased it three times with my suitcase in tow, but I still couldn't catch the stairs to the second floor."No rush. It comes back around every seven minutes."Lillian waited with me until the stairs settled back into place, then waved cheerfully to a young man by the front desk."Alexander, can you carry Wendy's suitcase? She's on our floor."Alexander picked up my suitcase. He didn't rush me. He simply matched my pace and climbed the stairs beside me, one step at a time.It was the first time anyone had noticed how slow I was without getting impatient.They invited me to dinn

Chapter 7

On the way down the mountain, Emily sent me a bunch of photos from the Southmist Forest.She said it was beautiful there.But she and Lucas were in every single one.In the last one, he was leaning down to pick a leaf out of her hair.Then Lucas sent me a picture of an amber pendant.[Got this for you. I'll give it to you when I'm back.]I calmly put my phone away and went back to listening to Lillian tell embarrassing stories about Alexander's childhood. I didn't give the gift another thought.After the trip, we said goodbye at the portal station in the Northlands.Alexander went to check the luggage, and Lillian leaned in close to my ear with a sly grin."He postponed the climb so we could go to Aurora City, and he had to pay a ton in cancellation fees to the guide he'd booked."For a moment, I didn't know what to say.She saw how flustered I was and quickly went on."But don't worry about it. We all had fun together, and that makes the trip worth it."Alexander returned and handed m

Chapter 8

Before the doors closed, I looked back at the platform one more time. I wasn't ready to leave.Lillian stood on her tiptoes and waved at me as if she already missed me.Alexander pointed to the paper bag on my lap, reminding me to eat the donuts. He still looked a little worried.I smiled and nodded. I didn't look away until I couldn't see them anymore.The trip was over, but for the first time, I realized that saying goodbye doesn't have to mean being left behind.Once I got home, it took me a whole week to buy everything I needed for my new school.Before I knew it, it was the day before school started.Starglow was on the continent of Thule, far across the great strait. Once I left, I probably wouldn't see my old classmates again until the long break.I reserved a long table at the restaurant on the corner and invited a few friends from class to a farewell dinner.When they heard where I was going, one of them was so surprised that she forgot to put down her spoon."Thule? Weren't y

Chapter 9

Lucas's smile froze.He shot to his feet, red to the tips of his ears, like I'd hit a nerve."Whatever."The door slammed shut behind him, as if that could cover up the fact that he'd lost his cool.I couldn't be bothered to figure out what his problem was.I went upstairs and dragged the old wooden chest out from the back of my closet.It held all the things Lucas had given me over the years.A fairy-tale book that turned its own pages. A one-eared stuffed bunny. And the stuffed owl.I used to treasure them too much to ever throw them away. Now, just looking at them made me tired.I put the pendant inside too and closed the lid, locking away the last of my feelings for him along with it. Then I gave the chest to my mother."Mom, could you take this over to Lucas's house tomorrow?"That evening, I boarded the flying carriage to Thule.My phone screen glowed softly.It was Alexander.[Are you on board yet? You can hand your luggage over to the porter puppets on board. Don't carry it up

Chapter 10

It didn't take long for Lucas to get the reaction he wanted.Wendy was just getting back to her seat as he handed the signed partner sheet to Emily.When she saw their names written side by side, she faltered and drew back the quill she'd been about to hand him, disappointment on her face.It was a tiny change.But Lucas had grown up with her. How could he miss it?Relief washed over him, along with a little secret thrill.Still, seeing how sad Wendy looked as she put away her blank sign-up sheet, he felt a little bad.So when Emily suggested they swap contact runes, he didn't agree right away. Instead, he leaned toward Wendy to see how she'd react."She wants to be able to reach me for spell practice."Wendy, what do you think? Should I say yes?"Embarrassed, she gripped her quill, and the tips of her ears slowly turned pink.Lucas waited for her to shake her head.If she'd so much as said no, he would have put his phone away.But Wendy just pressed her lips together. Looking hurt, sh

PREV

NEXT

I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App

DMCA.com Protection Status