Chapter 406 You Were My Joy 5
Soon, Willow entered high school, attending the same school as Danielle. She had worked diligently throughout her three years of middle school, so it was no surprise that she got into a top high school. After starting high school and living on campus, she had less time to go home. Fortunately, Danielle was there to look out for her, showing her around the campus from the very first day and taking her to eat the delicious food in the cafeteria.
High school boys seemed to grow taller all of a sudden. Even in a top high school where two-thirds of the students were buried in their books, there was still a third who would secretly hold hands. High school boys were much bolder than middle school boys. Not long after the school year started, Willow received some friendly gestures from a male classmate. However, whenever someone bought her breakfast or asked her to eat together, she would smile and say she had already eaten or wave the breakfast she had bought herself, completely oblivious to their intentions. She unknowingly turned down many boys.
In her sophomore year, Danielle was a senior and didn't have much time to hang out with her. Danielle's goal was to get into the advertising design program at A University, so she was working hard.
In her sophomore year, Willow received her first formal confession. A boy who usually sat near her, who was quite sunny and handsome and often discussed by other girls, asked her to meet him on the school playground after evening self-study.
Willow remembered standing under the lights on the playground, their shadows stretching long. The boy, with slightly flushed cheeks, suddenly said to her, "I like you."
Willow was stunned. Mitchell's face suddenly appeared in her mind as if she had an epiphany. Looking at her classmate in front of her, she couldn't help but compare him to Mitchell. He wasn't as tall as Mitchell, didn't have better grades, and wasn't as good-looking. In short, he couldn't compare to Mitchell.
Throughout her high school years, many boys passed her notes, but she couldn't help comparing each one to Mitchell, and none of them measured up. The monotonous studying, endless homework, and constant exams, along with the nagging of teachers and parents, filled her days.
But in Willow's heart, a seed of "crush" seemed to have quietly taken root. When the girls in her class gathered to discuss which boy was the most handsome, she would smile and stay silent, thinking to herself that none of them were as good-looking as Mitchell.
In her senior year, when Danielle successfully got into the advertising design program at A University, Willow silently set her sights on the architecture program at A University. She wanted to go to the same school and the same program as Mitchell, to walk the path he had walked. Perhaps due to the pressure, she unexpectedly dropped from the top ten in her grade to the fifties in her first exam. Her math and physics scores were particularly poor. She was extremely upset, thinking she wouldn't get into A University. She didn't go home the week the results were announced, telling Patricia and Lloyd that she needed to study at school. So when Danielle called to ask why she wasn't home, she broke down, crying uncontrollably on the phone. Danielle kept comforting her, and she didn't even remember how the call ended.
That night, she sat alone in her dorm room, hugging her knees and crying. At ten o'clock, she suddenly received a call from Mitchell.
"Where are you?" Mitchell's anxious voice came through as soon as the call connected.
"Me? I'm at school," Willow replied, her face still streaked with tears and her voice hoarse from crying.
"Can you come out? I'm at your school gate," Mitchell asked.
Willow was stunned, wondering why Mitchell was here. Mitchell had already graduated two years ago when she was a senior, and she hadn't seen him for a long time. After graduation, he didn't go abroad but went straight to work at the company he had co-founded with Matthew and the others. The company grew quickly, and they were all very busy.
Willow snapped out of her daze and quickly responded, "Yes. I'll be right down."
She threw on a jacket and ran downstairs towards the school gate. Although she lived on campus, she could go home on weekends. As she approached the gate, she saw a silver-gray car parked by the roadside. Mitchell, in a white shirt and black trousers, was leaning against the car with a large bag in his hand.
She told the security guard that she was going home, but he was hesitant to let her out so late. As they were talking, Mitchell walked over. After understanding the situation, he said he was her brother coming to pick her up. He even suggested calling her parents if the guard didn't believe him. The guard did call Patricia, who confirmed it was Mitchell, and told him to let Willow stay with Danielle for the night. Patricia and Lloyd were on a business trip together because they thought Willow had school matters to attend to.
The large bag Mitchell was holding was filled with food he had bought for her, which she took back to her dorm and put in her locker. Willow grabbed her backpack and got into Mitchell's car.
On the way back, Willow sat quietly in the passenger seat. After a while, she asked, "Mitchell, why did you come?"
Mitchell, having graduated two years ago, looked more mature, and his suit and shirt made him even more attractive. He kept his eyes on the road, driving seriously.
In a deep, pleasant voice, he said, "Danielle called me."
It was clear that he knew about Willow's poor performance in the exam and her crying.
Willow's face turned red with embarrassment. She didn't say anything more and quietly took out her phone to message Danielle.
Willow: [Danielle, why did you call Mitchell?]
Danielle seemed to have her phone in hand and replied immediately: [Where are you now?]
Willow: [In Mitchell's car.]
Danielle knew Willow was a bit afraid of Mitchell when it came to academics, so she hurried to explain: [It's not my fault. When you called me, my brother happened to be home and overheard. And you were crying so much, I was really worried, so I told him everything. He put down his jacket, grabbed his car keys, and left immediately.]
Danielle: [So, are you coming to my place?]
Willow: [Yes, my parents aren't home tonight, so I'll be staying with you.]
Danielle was excited to hear that Willow would be staying with her: [Really? That's great! Where are you now? Have you had dinner? Let's go out for a late-night snack.]
Willow: [We will arrive in about ten more minutes.]
She sneaked a glance at Mitchell, who was driving, and thought to herself that she didn't know how late they would be studying tonight and a late-night snack seemed unlikely.
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