PINK
POPSICLE

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| All this happened, more or less. |

【 JOHNNY GARGANO's POINT OF VIEW 】

"Tommaso! Catch!" Candice exclaimed and I saw Tommaso successful caught the ice pop, muttered "thanks, Candice."

Tommaso blushed at the exact moment as he started to sip it. Whatever Candice Lerae does, even taking a single breath, Tommaso always finds it cute and couldn't stop making his cheeks red.

"Here ya go, Johnny!" I heard Candice shrieked out as she threw her spare strawberry pop on me. My world stopped spinning when I stared at Candice's wide smile and her pink ice pop.

Different memories flash on my mind just in a snap. Candice LeRae, I had huge memories with her and I never forgot about that,

The first time I met her was on the day I moved to this place.

There I saw a little girl with short ash blond-haired with a wide smile on her face. She's so energetic, I thought as I've seen her running after her puppy.

Later that day, I saw her licking her pink popsicle of ice cream. I glanced at the sky as I wipe my sweat. It's a sunny day after all.

She chomps on ice cream. Are her teeth alright? Who's in the right mind would bite their ice cream? And my stomach grumbles because I wanted to eat some as well.

"Dad! Buy me ice cream!" I demanded as I tugged on my dad's shirt.

Ever since that day, I have always been with her.

【 ADAM COLE's POINT OF VIEW 】

"Alright Adam, help me get out of this," She said pointing at the wall.

What does she mean by that?

"I don't understand," I asked in confusion.

"Give me a hand is what I said."

"You're going to climb that wall and cut class?" Woah! This is surreal! Rhea Ripley's going to cut class.

"Tsk! Hurry up!" She really should check up her temper. She's the one who's asking for a favor here and yet she's shouting at me.

"What?"

"I don't have time to explain this to you here. But lend me a hand...please." She started stretching and I cupped my hand on my chin. "Does Toni know about this?"

"I didn't tell her and I have an important thing to do. Maybe I tell you if you come with me." She suggested and I don't know if she's joking around. Man, it's hard to read her.

We panicked when we heard Sir E's voice happily talking to some people. I didn't waste time as I positioned my hand, "Can you jump?"

"Yes, I think I can."

"Then let's do it."

I helped her get out of the wall, "Thanks Adam, I owe you one." She yelled outside the wall.

I gritted my teeth when I saw Sir E's coming in my direction, "No wait, I'm coming with you." I informed and started climbing the high wall.

"WHAT?" She reacted in a very loud voice.

I close my eyes and jumped at the wall. I must be crazy, I thought I'm going to break a bone from all of this.

"Uhh, you're ridiculous, reptile." She scolded as she eyed me, eyes filled with worries.

Maybe she's not really a bad person as what I imagined her to be.

"Shut your trap! I thought you're in a hurry?" I reminded her purpose as she composed herself and ran, "I almost forgot. Hurry up!"

After we ran in the corner, there's a taxi waiting. We ride on it and I tried to catch my breath.

"To the airport, mister. I'm in a hurry." Rhea managed to say.

"Ohhh young love eloping?"

Rhea and I glanced at each other and then to Mr. Driver and yelled in unison, "We're not!"

"What about it?" I started as I recovered, massaging my feet. It's been a while since I ran at that speed. I heard my loud heart thumping like crazy because I just ran.

"My dad's going back to Australia...we're not in good terms so I didn't have a chance to talk to him." She admitted, checking on her phone and searching at the schedule.

"And it's today?"

"Yes, but I still decided to attend school." She uttered as she tried to call someone but no one's picking up.

"When's his flight?"

"14:58." She replied.

"Are we going to make it in time?" I glanced at my wristwatch and it's already one o'clock.

"We will."

When we reached our destination, I pay for the cab fare as we ran inside.

"How are we going to get in? More importantly, where are we going to search?"

"We'll be fine," I reassure her because she's far from Rhea Ripley that I've known. Her arrogant personality was gone replaced by the worried and panic visible in her eyes.

I tried to ask someone where the flight to Australia area is and once he told me, I reached for Rhea's hand as we ran inside.

"Dad!" She yelled once she saw him.

"R-rhea...you...what are you doing here?" Her dad asked in confusion as Rhea enveloped him with a hug.

"I'm sorry."

There I saw Rhea crying like a baby asking her dad not to leave her. Different from the Rhea that I know who's strong. But I guess, Rhea had her own weakness.

Once they patch up things, I was surprised to see her dad approached me, "Hey young man, take care of my princess. She's my only child and doesn't ever hurt her."

I was about to deny all of it but no words came out when he hugs me.

"Whoever you are to her, you must be special to her. You know, my daughter won't open up her heart easily to someone, especially about her family. She rarely has friends, to begin with."

I was stunned as he warmly smiles at me.

"Hey dad, here's a charger." Rhea handed him the thing as she raised a brow at me.

"Listen to your mom, Rhea. I love you, my princess." Her dad reminded as he kisses the top of her head.

"Love you too, dad." She replied snickering at him.

Her dad pushed his baggage and waved at us. Rhea turned around as I waved back to his dad.

"Thank you," I heard Rhea muttered as I stole a glance at her, "Let's go?"

She knows how to thank people, too. I thought she's a cold-hearted person.

"I'm hungry," I admitted while patting my stomach. Come to think of it, I haven't finished eating lunch.

"Then, let's go grab some foods before going back?"

My impression of Rhea changed after this incident.

end of chapter forty-five

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