Chapter 24 A Coincidental Meeting
“youčne a student, so studying is what you need to focus on. What will you do if you fail a subject and can’t graduate?” I lay on the bed, my mire perfectly lary Listen to me, okay? Alton University is a good unensity, so stop wasting your time on endless pait Time jobs.
“Focus on your education, and you’ll have a bright future ahead of you. You can repay me once your graduate and get a ph
“L” De vermed to be a little chodup
Suddenly, Helt alittle guilty. I wondered whether it was too mean of me in manipulate someone as kind and innocent as he was. He thought it was being nice, but i
Someone with Benjamin’s family background had to work harder than ever else to get into Alton University and sunstar in tekithinship with Ashley, I had in admit that I gemminely adulted somente as resilient and indeprødent as he wai
HAltun City Setting aside
“That’s the end of this subject, okay? Let me know if you ever need sooney think of it as me sponsoring you. You only need in repay me after poor en graduated and priten a job. If you really feel bad about it, work hnder so you can pay me back with interest,” Tuit
The money want nothing to one. It would
Benjamin had probably in out of options
ine feel better, and it would also help Benjamin. It was killing teen lands withoone stone
berwise, he wouldn’t still be working part–time the right before the sequester started.
Alter hanging up, I saw that fergaminhad accepted the money. He texted me, writing, “Thanks, Ma Nadler, I swear Fillerpay per brother format)
I didn’t reply to him. I thew my pline aside and went to bed.
I woke up bright and early the following day and got dessed twee an elegant white dress and applied some light makeup to make myself better. Then, I grabbed cello and had tre tale me to Altonstadversity.
I couldn’t help feeling nostalgic when I was back on campus and looking amond at the youdtitul
it it had just happened yesterday.
Elenght about my freshman phar
At the time, I’d been overjoyed at the thought of finally beling in the same untruty as lawan Wedd be narrity mates from that moment, d’es super excited.
I headed to the concert hall, following the path in my menasies waa
descending rows of seats led to the stage in the middle
einamies it wasa place every music major would prudy. The bul
There were a total of 52 alumni who’d come forthe concert, We were perfomung The Blue Danube Waltz’s
The seats had alrady been set up onstage, and we took our seats after some quick arrangements. We didn’t hearse or practice together — i
to whether we could work well with eachother.
Still, each of us had graduated from Alton University. Even after years of being out in society, we were still capable musicians. We wouldn’t have da Eig otherwise..
As the first strings of the melodyang nut, 1 sank into the enthusiasm and wanuit of the music, allowing myself to relax.
More and more students stopped to watch, and we grew more excited. We played a few more classic pieces, unly stopping at around noon.
Thunderous applause rang out, making me feel proud. I swept a gaze over the round and saw Benjamin standing there, his eyes bright as bie watched e saw the notice him, he waved shyly yet affectionately
I nodded at him with a smile and approached him after everyone dispersed. “Benjamin.”
“I didn’t know you could play the cello, Ms. Sadler You were amazing!” He didn’t hold back in his praise.
“Well, it’s what I leamed in unversity I swung the cello over my bag and walked with him while chatting. The enviament made me telike become SEVES years younger—it was as if i were back in mümvrisilydays.
“I think any woman who’s involved in music is charming. “ Bergamin’s injuries had generally faded, save for a few small bruises by the comers of his eves and He wore a T–shirt and shorts and was so youthful
Tcouldn’t help feeling pleased at his words. Had he fallen forme already?”
In the next second, he proved me wrong: “Ash is a messe major, too she’s in voice performance, though, not instrumental performance
That meant Ashley and Natalie had majored in the same Wing Was Ashley aiming to become a singer in the future
I sighed to myself. It looked like Benjamin was well and tidy in love with Ashley it’d be hard for me to steal him from her. But one own sole Ashler, my chance welcome. After all, I just wanted to feel better about myself. I was actually looking for love
“Beng!” Ashley apprated before us, also watting white dress. The youth and exuberance she exulest made her serin much more innocent and untainted than t
She didn’t suspect a thing w n she saw me with hemjamin, Dithe contrary, the pected me lupply: “What are you doing here, a sadies!
Thappened to nonintə Bergamin atter aperformance at the concert lull
someone that there was an anting performance the earlier. Were you one of the perfumes, Maler?‘stonadi was busy with m artier Leóssed the performance – Addey’s face tell. It waveeddent she was geminely disappointed.
trace of meinandernemingled with fatigue Bashed in Ashley’s eyes, and her smile became a little torced. “I put my phonse on silent mode, sa
apte 21 & Con –
“The start of the semester is always the busiest period. Should we have lunch together? I’ll treat you gives.” I simbed at them.
Ashley shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, Ms. Sadler, but I need to clean up now dormitory later. I’ll just settle for something in the cafeteria. What about you,
He would follow her wherever she went, of course. This was in spite of me lending him 20 thousand dollars last night.
He said. “I’ll join you. Ash and I will treat you to a ineal when we have the chance, Ms. Sadler”
Alright, then I get going “I didn’t force them. I nodded and tumed to leave
Lee was waiting for me. I got into the car and said, “Let’s go. ”
As the car drove down Alton University’s wide path, I couldn’t help recalling the scenes of me secretly running after Rowan every day. I kept thinking of reasons to create accidental encounters with him
Suddenly, a silver Lexus drove past me. It my eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on me, that was Rowan’s side profile I’d caught in the car.
Why was he suddenly in Alton University with a different car? The Lexus was much more low profile compared to his other cars.
The only explanation I could come up with was that he’d come to see Ashley and didn’t want to attract too much attention.
It was no wonder Ashley had looked so awkward and tired earlier. I het Rowan hadn’t stopped harassing her. Anyone would initially be uncomfortable with someone pursuing them so forcefully, let alone Ashley, who already had a boyfriend
I didn’t know whether Rowan had seen the earlier, but I supposed he wouldn’t have had the time to notice the things around him when he was so focused on Ashley.