CHAPTER 16

Nevertheless, they welcomed him back with open arms, eager to see what the future held for this mysterious traveler.

Gone were the days of his skinny frame, for he had transformed into the football team captain.

As he strode into the room, all eyes turned to him. He was a towering figure with broad shoulders and rippling muscles that seemed to strain against the fabric of his shirt.

His thick and silky jet-black hair fell in waves around his chiseled jawline. And his eyes - oh, his eyes! - were a deep, dark brown that seemed to hold a world of secrets within them.

As a child, he bid farewell to his homeland in Asia and embarked on a journey to a new place with his family.

Little did he know that fate had something in store for him. As destiny would have it, he ended up settling across the road from me. In an unexpected turn of events, a new companion entered my life.

As I walked down the dimly lit street, a deep voice called out my name, "Lily." My heart skipped a beat as I turned around to see who it was.

The shadows obscured the figure, but I could feel his presence looming over me. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next.

I let out a hesitant sigh as I gazed at Olivia, who was grinning from ear to ear. As I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned around with a smile.

"Hi," I said, meeting the gaze of the person behind me. Blake's face lit up with a broad smile as he greeted the person in front of him with a cheerful "Hey." After returning from his trip, he hadn't spoken to her. But tonight was different.

He mustered to ask her if she wanted to come to his game. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes shining with hope as he posed the question.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. She didn't want to disappoint him when he seemed so content.

With a deep breath, she made her decision and forced a smile. "Okay," I replied, my lips curving into a gentle smile.

"Great," she replied with a smile.

"I'll see you then." With that, she hung up the phone and sighed, contented.

She couldn't wait to see him again. With a sly grin on his face, he turned on his heel and made his way back to his group of friends in the bustling hallway.

The thunderous applause filled the room as Blake's face lit up with a wide grin, making him look like a fool.