Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

369 Good thing he was a madman

Zoren stared at the figure before him, his heart beating with such familiarity, bringing him back to the past twelve years.

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In the first week since he left, he would always find himself staring out the window, wondering what she was doing. He never thought he would spend years mulling over the same thing. Questions like:

"How are you?"

"Were you having tons of adventures with Chunchun, Mouse, and Tiana?"

"Did the time come when Mouse stopped munching on something?"

"And Tiana... have you found out why she's always on top of your head?"

"You're probably a junior-senior student now; how has it been?"

"The doctor said I'm doing better. Are you still there? I have a surprise once I'm back."

Those were only a few of the long list of questions he wanted to ask her in person.

Twelve years-how quickly they went by, was what he always thought. However, now that she was right here, right in front of him, those twelve years felt so long.

Time didn't go by quickly; rather, in those twelve years, time was slower-very slow. Even Zoren couldn't explain how he was able to survive all those years, holding onto a promise he wasn't even sure if it was already broken. Perhaps what people said was true.

He was a madman.

He was mad for holding onto a promise, for testing his patience, for trying to defy death all for the sake of friendship. Perhaps it was true he was mad for devoting his life, his time, his heart, and his soul for a simple, "welcome back." Hence, he wanted to know. Apart from all the questions in his head and the curiosity he carried all these years, he wanted to know one thing.

I missed you... did

night whispered in their ears, washing away all the unnecessary thoughts in their minds. His voice resonated in

she could hear

Did she miss him?

would be a lie to say I thought of you every single day because I didn't. Her voice was hushed, her eyes soft, and her smile subtle. "At fourteen, I was running errands here and there to the point I'd fall asleep on my uncle's couch. A year after that, I was involved in an incident, and I completely shut off. It took me a while to get back

trying not to

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he

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in her throat. "Two years later, my parents visited me and celebrated my birthday. I didn't think of you then, not even the slightest. Another year, I didn't have the slightest idea of what the hell I was doing, let alone think of you." "Then another year... then another one... and then another one," she added under her breath. "Did I think of you? No. Why?

the fool he

said. "And the

""You're blind." 2

and tilted his head a little. "Not completely... just headed that

her hands into tight fists. "I will

"Okay."

was glad he

would probably have sighed in relief at the end

and if he wasn't the fool he was, then all

more she thought about it, the bigger the lump in her throat became. Before she knew it, tears formed in the corners of her eyes until

reunion was filled with mixed emotions she couldn't identify. Many of them were alien emotions she had

voice faltered, making her clear her throat to complete

watching

she remarked, taking Chunchun from his arms even though her cat swatted her hand