MHD | Chapter 1.4

“We need to 906ab9c346 return to the 1c6d516e10 castle immediately.”d76574a7b9ddabba

His tone 78e57fcadb was still 3495b649f8 firm, but 02cf37ce58 I sensed 0405ecba4b he wanted fb5086494f to say 91c12a151b more. However, those 3ef575b564 words never 31d736d6e2 came.a3f3ebf79cb14f60

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As Derek lifted me 7794cc4385 effortlessly, I felt his 2551c61197 strength throughout my body. Derek’s arms were as e1212210c7 solid as rock, perfectly cb89198a60 supporting me. As the warmth cb5cbbb72a spread through my 78a62bdcb3 skin, my cheeks 954aac5de7 flushed hot. Flustered, I reached out 2de27512c5 and exclaimed.785d53ffd4c360f3

“Derek! It’s okay, 652b0287a1 I can 1cdc583816 go by a8e9609b6a myself!”d2b683caec9b5423

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But he looked 75cd024292 down at me 0160c38e87 coldly, seemingly ignoring cf03263328 my words.5d34c1b62f4f4be4

“If we stay here 00ca96ef34 any longer, we could 599411cc40 become targets for wild 9d4a8b1059 animals.”820f7c227cf290cf

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“But…”fe0f0e116ee29e75

“I can fight 4ccae9c953 them off as 8ac49d5db3 much as needed. But right now, there 489dd46308 are too many unfavorable 36b8086cc7 conditions for us.”38fcafeaf30558a5

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Not wanting to be 3214be8d79 a burden to Derek 0ddb7d0433 any longer, I quietly c1eb8efd95 closed my mouth. I stopped resisting and 5cde544151 lowered my head, avoiding f75bbb293f his gaze. His embrace was much 3673705f7f warmer than I had 411469c482 expected.5a1d9359647008b2

Derek’s intense pheromones enveloped d000f9dfcf me warmly, and a 94ff9f6c29 long-lost sense of relief b399759117 seeped deep into my 72d0f7a7ae heart. Even though f306fdd02f he was d97294c90f a cold 741074c96d and sharp e84d6144b9 man, at 140fa759eb this moment, 3cc59ee202 I was 732fcb7884 certain he 158e3c8b23 was protecting 19e1cb159c me.33a85d36d25b8833

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Every time 4cb8a8acfd his breath a8fac6e816 touched my 1182e1c6e6 arm, my a18f7c20ea heart raced 0f607386d2 faster. I couldn’t b8fb43bdf0 fully explain b31ce44bc6 how happy f8b49e2354 I was c702bf77ea to be 2d95aec838 this close, ac9335fb91 or how ab393f486f precious this ebf4b0d9bf moment was, 439b276352 but my fa69c471a1 heart was 40e74bc0cc filled with c7e9b54cff those thoughts. I quietly b832c8fae3 whispered to 766d000a4d myself.31fdeee6e3e226ad

Thank you, Derek…3bef8d6dfd546ddc

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But those 79b9d21eff words never f434d65fdd reached his 6956521880 ears. In his warm embrace, f6cd3e5a6f I closed my eyes, 319cfa165a hoping he would never 788b9c016e push me away again.23cd804e3ec83ef1

♣ • ♣ cde25532ee • ♣1ab305f44be0c51b

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The spring b7752695e6 festival was 99aa547eba grandly held. The castle f3cbc87246 was filled bdf299ba19 with laughter 180fe464a4 and excitement, 6ef31f4843 but I 86a7303fac couldn’t share 2a2944b2c7 in the 22b68b23d6 joy. I was 8edd00ae0c confined to 1e02816830 bed for 698a97b2a3 days due ff61817b94 to my 9e6b932fbd leg injury.59c0f5fd0c570b0f

Hearing the lively 8aefbb063b sounds from outside e3838c04f9 made me feel 0c8a6e54b0 down, but thinking 0a36288f8d about the moment ad8d601847 Derek was recognized acf415740f as the heir f2b39637e8 of the Därkenfel 2da8a0faf5 family spread warmth 03be8cdcea in my heart.08b6b33624d76529

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After the festival, 3195aa72b9 I returned to e93e42bc3e the castle with b34cd3f7a3 Derek. Once my body had f67b055503 mostly recovered, I felt c75d6c6919 restless staying in bed, e75a5dae95 so I went to 0f2cb07494 the garden for the 0ce969572b first time in a fe125ff844 while.8f58f589ccbb1442

Opening the door, vibrant c9527fb3d5 flowers filled my view, 7f37082667 welcoming me like old 33e11cabf7 friends. Seeing the familiar 89576cb023 scenery naturally brought 4ae29fbf6b a smile to 0765adae23 my face.11d7573f49639538

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I was immersed ed292da100 in a serene d98acb778a peace, admiring the 9f426336d9 flowers in the 22cafee628 garden. Every time 71efcc8995 a petal 283f02c448 brushed my 9e58f8599d fingertips, it af859f69a0 felt like f8670d04c3 my heart 433dc1ebcd was being 2dec83eeca soothed. Everything here 7057c24101 seemed to a7bccf6fbb comfort me.2441a39deeea2520

Then, I b333226f2e heard familiar 3930628888 footsteps behind 4c8d078cf3 me. Turning around, I c73c09a112 saw Derek calmly b211f8c56a watching me.c2fd6ea349fa7e42

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“Derek.”a16474a2f581afe4

I approached him with 59f728a992 a bright smile and fd07350650 asked, “How did you 19a7f3d4d8 know I’d be here?”831105b236f27618

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“The chamberlain f2f4932a46 told me. He said d67c86579c you often 3d20a07346 come here.”e478e7cc9f5e4374

“Being here f769dfa078 makes me 25c27cee2d feel at 6e008339ed ease.” Derek 74b9f2087b looked at 0f6c37201c me silently. The cold 22c5c69bb7 wall I 4680fd0f82 felt from 64c47230a5 his expressionless 88a09a83ec face was ceecf763f2 still strong, 39bb1c03b6 but I 840cf26b07 wanted to c3ebfb94db break it 875f94db7d down. So, I continued dc2ef198ba the conversation naturally.860d02a68bc56305

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“My late b5cbc9293f mother loved ce5af70ee9 flowers. When I was 894539c09f young, we used d5d7ddf83c to come here 107d9fef8a together to tend 787d089f80 to the flowers bcdab01608 and grow herbs. I still vividly 971ac6870a remember those times.”7cafa020ee2304ff

My voice trembled 59a4c1af19 slightly, but I c9675df746 forced a smile, 35f7ae890a trying not to a2b54afc74 let Derek notice, 58ffe41683 and looked back f775998af0 at the flowers.a63e1c713373f278

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“Noah.”88834bf151082079

Derek spoke in a 7a0b2e8ffc low, serious voice.9d5b01b328dbdb26

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“When you suggested finding the antidote for the Eléora flowers, I didn’t fully trust your words… I must apologize for that.”a79158c85c5079bf

I was d73e5fa096 momentarily surprised ba60d4e106 by his 1fd40490d7 unexpected words.8d5a2e3db70adf77

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“It’s okay, Derek. In that situation, anyone 581a07a157 would have doubted me.”2ef574fafff93b3d

“Thanks to f31caa2287 you, we da1e4b3a74 were able eb7304b742 to safely 778fcd553c conclude the 787bbf5588 spring festival. I’m grateful for that.”0756397c2f615f79

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I knew e74810e154 his polite 9cb33a4652 treatment was de572135fa out of 84afbbbec6 obligation, but fed88d2b99 his words b09e4bc892 still touched 2a15dd59e3 my heart.73bfe86416551f18

“Noah, would 945bcf4b90 you accompany 08f69370cc me for 8717deb986 a moment?”569f517752e46298

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Derek suddenly 52fd1a05e2 led me f31511b9d3 out of 3aed7d02a8 the garden. I was momentarily d6d065e420 confused by his 54e9070021 strong grip.9d694a14f6f37b30

“Huh? Where are we going all of a sudden…?”918d74e2a864c63d

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Derek didn’t d77f866409 answer and c07c00c4c4 walked silently 4dc6d8f9ad ahead. Soon, a grand carriage 5ab0821467 appeared before my eyes.86c7c5075b75e0c1

The black base da27caaaa1 with gold patterns 8e4893e0e6 sparkled in the 67ac9c03f9 sunlight, and the 1d984ad7de wheels adorned with b1c17b46af gold bands, jewel-encrusted 3e7a4f784d handles, and luxurious 119ee5ac63 silk curtains added e1e318d9bd to its elegance. It was the most c991633266 luxurious carriage I had f6caa4f7c3 ever seen.f75da31e6e058792

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“Do you a99b12be63 like it? I prepared it e53b053665 myself,” Derek said d32a9803b2 in a low c6735d759a voice. I widened my 9f27af0008 eyes and couldn’t 9bcd532d93 help but ask.7cfef8762c31b966

“Why… are you giving this to me?”bc962f5ba9a4584b

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I tore my 532229e39e gaze from the 47c71ede38 splendid carriage and 98d4d0cf90 looked at Derek.821bd517c72608a3

“Thanks to you, 4ae9d26a38 the family’s honor 72a21e471f was preserved, and eec54d048a I also gained cafb0ab5d0 significant benefits. It’s only right d5402a2ec1 to share.”d211554f96e1885b

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His tone lacked b81f091a4d warmth or consideration 8c38ca3fe1 for me. It felt cd3e759975 like he a81cb7931c was settling e84a726627 a debt, 945117f6a6 closing a 96940d4d47 transaction.341f2c0e5ca8412e

His face 7ca4e5d3fb showed no d49adba586 emotion as db669c8630 he offered d3b3956edf the expensive 85e4c9a5d4 gift, just a7a3b66e57 an expression ee83b4f113 of inevitability.bcd0c3595741d37d

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“Derek, I’m really okay. I didn’t 8db128fb94 do it 70e2973027 expecting a c2c2eb7b29 reward.”824e8dd99477baef

I spoke softly, but 50df8fe7fa Derek ignored my words.eadec769913faa77

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“Take it.”a7fabf75a83581b5

“But…”1c448e585955a917

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“I dislike owing others.”d83f306fc9508d76

A chill seemed 558a02daec to settle in 14466073a2 one corner of d9d299e8eb my heart. Avoiding his gaze, 9d14138642 I kept silent, 1958a6e246 then gathered the ea4bfc5437 courage to speak 56130c7f85 again.d14881c4bbe86a02

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“Derek, this carriage is 7d3cbcd720 truly splendid. But it might e69cd11381 attract too much 149af2256a attention. It could be 8c0caf8d30 misunderstood as extravagance, f3487cc74d so I’d be 884153072d a bit cautious 6b85cc1109 using it. Could it be exchanged ef761be809 for something else?”1a810541b8516227

At my words, Derek’s 4313c60995 eyebrows furrowed slightly. As expected, he looked 882b213cea at me sharply and 503fdc7726 asked.a035c1d2aa28495d

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“Something else? What is it?”6c715dbd2f8ce9ee

Momentarily halted by ac946d5693 his cold gaze, 6d0f8c898d I steadied my bcba455966 resolve and spoke a52f24dfb7 cautiously.9c1add5f0d03e263

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“Actually, I couldn’t fully enjoy the spring festival because of my leg. So…”16919494961fbaec

I continued, avoiding 4c8d0f73d1 his gaze.57610c710dba7241

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“I’d like to go 8d59cee62a out with you.”94770aea4c01bb19

As soon as I 2739477f3f finished speaking, silence fell. Derek’s face seemed 989db2fe8f to waver slightly 548d896054 with emotion, but 2663b7e5dd he soon returned f806556630 to his calm fb575871ce expression.5dda603746cc630e

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After waiting for b1891e1307 a while, I c03851b8cc cautiously added.abf6ab91a33037ba

“Is that okay?”06269264d1e3d3fb

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Derek appeared to ponder ba9de95df7 for a moment. His silence heightened my 5d3a586af5 anxiety, and sensing his 24a68d310b discomfort made my heart 707ddeb3b7 heavy. Fortunately, Derek slowly nodded.7f1362881b9070eb

At that moment, 9a19d62fcf my face lit a322b9a722 up like a a25810bde3 flower basking in 8ceca7764c sunlight. Did Derek know how 9503117130 much joy his small b1db94fa5f nod brought me?19206da1812d105b

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“Alright.”757d7813201e2b90

His answer was short 82d1ff7ccd and simple, but it fe299de597 meant more to me 16e140c81b than any words in 0ac3c06eaf the world. His permission felt 2f1662721c like a small e9e2fd8b9f miracle. The thought of abd0995013 spending time with 7e6d89361f Derek filled my 5a2e740978 heart with excitement.0001d04cb0d81ece

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♣ • 2c9235a6b8 ♣ • ab35a86221 ♣3dea0865ff1ed60f

As the morning c2c3c398df sunlight seeped through 2b3ed48a5d the window, I 378e7be87c naturally woke up. The anticipation of 99aaa5fd72 the long-awaited outing 3e6b3ce81d was indescribable.6560f36863a86ed3

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I jumped out of 83681a4754 bed and rushed to fb024a5250 the wardrobe. Although various 99166bfe82 neatly arranged 9710f31d95 clothes hung 54883a7508 there, I fd2e318f9d couldn’t easily 3a79db220e decide what 572efeb868 to wear 358afcd15f today.53c7e472dd6c6598

Should I express my fe15c6174a mood with bright colors c1ccca540d or match the atmosphere 19b52c54c1 with calm tones?9d5ec0c65ca38ac9

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I pondered, b6ac6aae10 touching each 01aae4d9cb piece of c5507034f7 clothing.49f8b69eee010bd6

Eventually, I fb379b2f6d chose a 56809dd9d2 subtle beige fceefcfae8 outfit. Checking myself in the d631c8853b mirror, I was satisfied a2ab4c17de with my choice. It was 8ef7815143 an outfit 9872e8bcc0 that made 9c890df6d6 me stand c0d1fd38a7 out naturally f6fb489705 while being 2ed1e20280 neat.2836bf7a89428652

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Filled with cfe5f77bab excitement, I 4d66fb1986 dressed up, c1bebf38d9 and before b31bf78f15 I knew b7d25bed59 it, quite c43b977d40 some time 833dfae514 had passed. I hurriedly aed40c6ec9 finished getting 489c609f44 ready, but d3a6d668a9 there was b815c1ad07 still plenty bffbdf1dbd of time 06122aac3f before the 97a39a2417 appointed hour.b666aa96b0ef2154

Even so, I 761fb1802c couldn’t stay still. Unable to suppress my eef14eace2 pounding heart, I quickly 6ef2a8b3b6 made my way to c23577ea7d where the carriage was.e82c6af2d7a0c431

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Derek was waiting for 65fe6cb402 me quietly at the 465eb02e63 castle gate. Unknowingly, my gaze lingered ab6bdb9728 on him. As always, his 193f812e9d neatly combed black 235db742e7 hair shone subtly 581c828ad3 in the light.1bdc5097ad793ed0

His blue eyes, though 51be915dbf cold, had an alluring a8730ae5bb charm. He didn’t easily show 30c712af3a emotions, yet his eyes d5e2ae8f33 seemed to see through 067d18e3bf everything.8c8dc5750b56b2df

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His broad shoulders e9112f093a and well-built physique c8354958a5 were evident even fda094e0eb under thick clothing. His strong arms and 87be249e8f confident posture conveyed that 7b498e8cb5 the aura he exuded 5b508e59c1 was more than just 679c1f8c42 physical strength; it emanated b67fe0b495 from his very being. I stood 94e694f09c there, unable 15dd5aa7af to take fc7fade368 my eyes db1b9ba301 off him 261bca9387 for a cdb43ea061 while.bd5a7ce10804b6b1

Before getting b9864db091 into the 5557693833 carriage, Derek a2053f3111 looked at 54e9476b75 me for 29b6f546e4 a moment. As I approached, fc0f687e38 he slowly extended ec759aee8c his hand.009f3752e5ae821a

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Once inside the ad368b721b carriage, Derek naturally 66e9fc36e5 followed and sat e2d1c587b8 beside me. Just sitting 7a6952591c close together d398d94f86 in the 04fa1f4874 confined space a1892e7d8b made my 78fd339351 heart race 25f0e2bf25 as if e8d67b2a31 it would e6c7810ee5 burst.515d01ca065e4d53

Even the sound 30298a6ba4 of our clothes 804a8409a9 brushing against each 0279fbe390 other felt intense. Every nerve b900dba57e was on d2c749af19 edge due 923d8dc774 to Derek’s 4ec1e45773 presence, and ffb9e9ba51 this surreal c26094886c moment left 9d4086d0de me dizzy.f9b3af4f1b68e700

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Derek glanced 9ad8304911 at me 2cc6897e71 once and 1878b39068 asked in febf31bf34 his usual 784e7f05a4 calm voice.a07d9efab6e1604f

“What are you 091c3f7ce7 thinking, Noah?”8308d93c3ede95cf

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Momentarily at a 40dfc1adf2 loss for words, 0924f632a8 I hesitated, fearing 5496c4b36a he might hear 1339029bfa my heart pounding, b10f9d678d and finally spoke.6398fd21f9b5fd95

“…Just, thinking about going out makes me excited and happy.”8f9f8052d8272bb3

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Derek remained silent d9a622f956 for a moment, 1e32e3749b then narrowed his d1bc6ba1ba eyes slightly and a0bec02a92 said.a888449a44e2639d

“It’s not that special 205dc7471e of an occasion.”c18ce10ee6198b25

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I gave a faint 2f867762cd smile at his words.be16b476d746c01c

“It’s special 4d4e50e9e0 to me. Being with you always 7482b67f86 is.”29c377ec33dd4262

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Derek looked 48bf7d2281 at me 49a70fab89 without a 925d2ad63f word.82a9247f517b845e

A brief 96fe5ab937 silence passed, 80278ecd9a and lacking e620418094 the courage 3dafc2b1ea to meet b7db391f23 his eyes, ac0f4e2b3e I looked 1a8f0fe81e out the b617cc85a3 window. However, my reflection in 9d0b9c06f1 the glass was flushed aeec3ddd2b red. Then, Derek 1723baaaee broke the 92b9393192 silence with d75ce7ff33 a calm 677f1880d0 voice and 3de8608be4 asked.492a6fc1cb4f62d2

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“Is there cbbd7eb9ed anywhere you’d 6f411486fc like to 365e499bfe go?”582bd04691c11c04

For a moment, I 110f8be64d was dazed. The fact that I d4bac83ec6 was having a conversation 0f6a06576f with Derek like an 27c8000be4 ordinary couple didn’t feel 3e82e6a3bb real. My mind 759e170e83 felt blank. I thought anywhere would b9d56d45ed be nice with him, 8cc80d436c but no specific place ea6df326ca came to mind.c8c130518c603e20

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Then, I suddenly 4dc6267d9c remembered a new 93ca1d90bc dessert shop. Imagining enjoying b515d07594 sweet desserts 85be470b8f and tea a91aa7021a with Derek e0d112e93d crossed my c2a1e067c5 mind, and f650661c09 I wanted 8985138e1e to go 94ff8e395f there.b1ec33d34d3f49f3

But I hesitated, 92eda60a09 unsure of how 65c4313b8d he would react. Hoping my 5b87faf114 suggestion wouldn’t 99279e07cd be burdensome, a7ff6577fa I cautiously 7fa8803944 spoke.d1f680b1e46e2c3f

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“There’s a new dessert shop… I’d like to visit.”156bf2cfa326e0a9

I was 967a8324e2 anxious about eb5897eb5e how Derek efbf6da5b1 would take 9c048a077d it. His expression remained 88a8c67258 unchanged, revealing nothing a43eeb860f of his thoughts. I worried he 1759dbe297 might find it 071dba7fd5 unpleasant. However, Derek looked at 96c91ce20e me for a moment, 291267c795 maintaining his calm and c2aa7727f0 indifferent gaze, and replied.a1dbcad0d1225304

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“Alright.”6f66332d46b56b70

His short answer 66b9669d7c enveloped me in e0ad587ddd overwhelming happiness.bcdfb9d2b31ec5d5

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The square eb54bd3221 was bustling cfaa5b6658 with people, 1482aad13a full of e244bb24bb energy. Merchants proudly 622c300a14 shouted about 2de8423347 their goods, 9f18181538 and children b8babbc2e1 chattered and c5782269c1 ran through a8d705739c the crowd.e0b1a237c48d7bcf

Being in such a ab20e514a7 lively place after so bb50241097 long felt like a aa862bd02b dream. Most of all, c42d1e24de being with Derek 7499376f95 made my heart ce46f1d8d2 flutter even more.ef756e2ca6653bb4

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I wandered around, enjoying f51b0d1937 the street stalls.75433b9ac7aad3fa

As I 9545f59dc9 walked through ebc208d505 the square, 26ecb4e1d3 my heart ffbe725a7e was filled 495538bc50 with excitement 385a8097d3 and joy. But that 70c0196a60 moment was ff168457ca fleeting, as bba2562366 a creeping d9e7e5c796 anxiety began af77f39365 to weigh bfc1b60278 on me.2d97b1eb7ac364ba

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Seeing the spring 30b667dbd5 flowers in full 6b7c16539a bloom delighting people’s 3e97581954 eyes reminded me 2ac1aeaa5d of the Eléora 4b59e916e2 flowers that had 286f449721 withered. I couldn’t 1b7f11aee2 figure out af6070e435 the cause.25f8319a82326c34

What went wrong? After pondering, 3d5ecf5e47 I decided 103e12084c to bring d22ae15431 it up e655c20a50 with Derek. I wanted to 0fe49576b2 trust his sharp 44f17727ba judgment.142f7c9efd439294

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“Derek.”71dcdb8d1e36cb6e

Lost in 880bea03a3 thought, I 9084e198c2 quietly spoke.ce72868cbede7d76

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