Elise watched his departing figure as her eyes revealed a shade of inexplicable sensation, which she covered up perfectly as no one noticed it. After dinner, Elise and her grandparents took a stroll around the yard. Aware that she was obviously distraught, the senile couple peered at each other. Laura then quizzed, “Ellie, you don’t wanna go home yet, do you?” Elise pursed her lips when she was so easily seen through. Yet, she remained wordless.
Laura suggestively eyed Robin, who then stretched his back and hastily claimed, “It’s getting cold. I should go get my coat.” Finished, he went into the house. Right when he reached upstairs, he coincidentally bumped into Alexander. “Care for a game of chess, Mr. Robin?” Robin was visibly delighted at the invitation. “Sure! It’s been a while since my last game.” And so, he headed to the games room under Alexander’s lead.
Meanwhile in the yard, Laura was goading her granddaughter into a heart-to-heart. “Now, Ellie, be honest with me. What’s troubling that mind of yours?” After glancing at her, Elise embraced her grandmother’s arm. “Can I stay a little longer for now, Grandma?” Laura smilingly looked at her. “It’s that Griffith boy, isn’t it?” Although Elise never intended to hide it from her grandmother, she was certainly astounded by her keen observation. “I may be feeling something, Grandma.”
A sentence so simple, yet was able to convey all in her heart. Laura was overjoyed to hear that, but she showed not even a tinge of her ecstasy. “Oh, dear Ellie, are you sure? That it’s not just a heat of the moment?” Elise took a deep breath. “That’s the thing, Grandma. I’m not even certain whether it’s real or simply infatuation, which is why I wish to stay a bit longer to make sense of my feelings. Aren’t you all always worried about my love life?
This time, I wish to take things into my own hands.” Elise was always an opinionated girl, and Laura knew that very well. Thereupon, Laura held Elise’s hand. “I trust you, Ellie. But I do have to warn you that often in love, it’s the girl that’s always blinded. Therefore, when you get anxious about it, I hope you’ll be able to stand your ground and not lose sight of everything. Don’t drown yourself and blindly allow yourself to be vulnerable.”
that, Laura whispered something else in Elise’s ear, to which the latter flickered her eyes before staring at her grandmother and sternly nodded her head. Comforted, Laura stated, “My baby Ellie has turned into a full-grown woman. Sure, you’ll make your
indistinguishable. It had been a while since Robin last played someone on par with him and he couldn’t
You, however, are still so young yet you’re already putting me on edge. What a prodigy!” “You flatter me, Mr. Robin.”
living with us since. I still remember the first time I saw her after her parents were gone. She was all devastated and not even a trace of energy was left in her, like a spiritless body that purposelessly existed. She didn’t
was so petite. It wasn’t until I carried her that she started crying her heart out in my arms. Instantly, my heart was crushed and I couldn’t help but wonder why God would punish the little girl so mercilessly. And that was when I swore to protect her and provide
to reassure Robin. He nodded his head and agreed. “Yes. She has never let us worry about her. She was always independent in her studies and in life overall, though a few headaches is only inevitable. However, her grandmother and I are almost at the end of our chapters.
eventually leave.” As those words were laid out, Robin’s message became pretty much apparent. On the other hand, Alexander, who was hesitating on his chess move, seemed to have calmed down also. “It’s your turn, Mr. Robin…” Alexander reminded Robin. Seeing how the young man had no response
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