Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

I checked my calendar and realized that Zack's birthday was in three days.

It wouldn't be appropriate to bring up this matter on his birthday. I didn't want to dampen his celebration. So, I decided to deliver the gift early to ensure I wouldn't have to go on his actual birthday. However, before I could take action, Conrad came to find me.

I hadn't seen him since we left the amusement park, and I almost didn't recognize him at first glance.

"Have I changed so much that you can't recognize me?" Conrad joked.

Seeing him like this reminded me of Brandon, and I smiled faintly. "If your mom saw you like this, she would definitely be worried."

"No, she said I look more manly now," Conrad said, trying to make me laugh again.

I pressed my lips together. "Indeed, you do look more masculine."

Conrad touched his face. "I think so too."

Despite his efforts to lighten the mood, I still didn't know how to respond after he spoke.

visit Zack, I asked him, "How have

you a lot." Conrad's

used to go to the Gildon estate every day after work, and they saw me daily. But since I moved out, I hadn't visited

visit them today," I said and paused for a moment. "I need to

in confusion. I understood what he wanted to know, and I saw no reason to hide it from him. "Chris has been aggressively undermining

look surprised. It was clear

the next moment, he said, "I've already told my Dad about this, and he's adamantly against

here today as a messenger for my

help but smile. "If you fail your mission today,

assigned Conrad

It was the first time I saw Zack hit someone, and he did it so

at the time. He didn't cry or explain himself. But when he saw me, I noticed the embarrassed flush on his

have hidden away to spare him

making fun of me?" Conrad smiled, perhaps recalling the

I started to deny and

interrupted, "But I'm not here to persuade you today,