Chapter 6
Before I could react, my dad plopped the pink helmet that Eugene handed over onto my head. He fumbled with it for a while, struggling to fasten the bottom strap.
Eugene couldn’t take it anymore and
stepped in, saying, “Uncle Henry, let me do it.”
My dad scratched his head and quickly stepped back, leaving me to face Eugene. As he came closer, I noticed that the neighbor kid I used to know was now a head taller than me, with a serious. expression on his face. He tilted his head, his fist hovering just a breath away from my chin, and I couldn’t help but admire his delicate skin and the refreshing mint scent that wafted toward me.
Once we were on the motorcycle, I hugged Eugene’s waist, and the firm touch made. my cheeks flush. The wind whipped past. us, but thankfully, the helmet muffled the
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rush of sound, allowing me a moment of tranquility amidst the thrill.
When we arrived at our destination, I was taken aback. What was once an unfinished building had transformed into a grand theater, bustling with activity. “When did this place become like this?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Eugene took the helmet from me and smiled.
He seemed to love laughing, his smile constant since we met. “Two years ago, I asked my sister for money to buy this place and rebuilt the Starry Sky Cinema,” he said, his enthusiasm palpable.
“At that time, I was full of energy,
convinced I could make a fortune. Who knew that the only people who would come here, aside from a few friends, were just the kids from school?”
His smile was infectious, and I found myself grinning back, “Then why don’t
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you sell it?”
Eugene shook his head resolutely. “No, I enjoy the feeling of being here.
I paused, momentarily puzzled, glancing around at the environment. I couldn’t quite understand what there was to enjoy. But as we walked in, I noticed a barbecue grill set up on the open grass, the smoky aroma wafting through the air.
Eloise and a group of young people were busy preparing for a little gathering. Some were skewering barbecue ingredients, others were hauling in beer, and a few were stringing up colorful lights to decorate the area.
In the midst of all the hustle, Eloise glanced over at me, a smirk forming on his lips as he activated his “toxic” charm.
“Hey, look who‘ s back! Our dear Olive! Didn’t you snag a rich husband in Beverly Hills? Why didn’t you bring him along?”
I glanced at her round belly, choosing
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silence.
Eugene shot his sister a warning look, frowning. “Eloise.”
Eloise rolled her eyes, “I know, I know! Can’t I just have a little fun?”
Eugene turned to me, a helpless expression on his face. “We have two options for watching movies here. One is like a regular theater where you can binge–watch inside all day. The other is to wait until evening for a nostalgic experience. Which one do you prefer?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he jumped in before I could. “I personally recommend the evening option. You haven’t been home in a while, and some
things are best experienced at night.”
Not too concerned about the specifics, I nodded. “Then let’s do it at night.”
“Great!”
After we agreed, he asked me to explore
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the area while he went into the theater to
grab something.
As soon as he left, Eloise made a face at his retreating figure, clearly unimpressed.
She pulled me down to sit beside her, eyeing me curiously. “Why have your turned into a mute after not seeing you for a few years?”
I choked back a laugh and gritted my teeth.
“I was just trying to avoid making your angry.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Have you ever won an argument since we were kids?”
I couldn’t help but sneer. From childhood to adulthood, we had been rivals, each refusing to back down. Yet, deep down, we both knew we were always scoring silent victories over one another.
Eugene emerged with a tent, calling for help. Seeing this, I made my way over, eager to see how I could pitch in. Unlike his sister, Eugene was welcoming. He
Chapter 6
patiently explained the setup process as we worked together.
At lunchtime, everyone gathered to eat takeout. I discreetly counted and realized there were over twenty people.
Time flew by in the flurry of activity. As the colorful lights on the tree flickered to life, I looked around and noticed that night had fallen.
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