Avril liked the idea.
After that day, it was lunchtime.
Avril walked toward Lukas.
"Hey, Lukas, let's eat together!"
Lukas was surprised to see her.
But he still felt awkward after what had happened the previous day.
"But I'm eating with my sister."
"Sister?"
"Yeah, Elliene."
Avril looked at Elliene and gave her an unpleasant glance.
Elliene noticed it.
Elliene felt confused. She didn't understand why Avril had looked at her that way.
"Then can I join you?" Avril asked with a sweet smile.
"Uhh…"
Lukas hesitated. He couldn't decide whether to accept or not.
He was a people pleaser, and he thought Avril might feel hurt again because of him.
"Uhh, Elliene, do you mind if Avril joins us?"
Elliene was unsure. She had a feeling Avril might not be good company.
"Sure, I don't mind," Elliene replied vaguely.
The three of them sat at the table. Avril sat beside Lukas, facing Elliene.
"Oh, Sister, what's our next subject?"
"Oh, it's Chemistry."
"Oh, the one where we need a partner?"
"Yeah. Want to be my partner?"
"Absolutely! Hehe, I'll depend on you for everything."
"Hey, don't depend on me too much. Help me too, you idiot."
"I'm just joking. It's settled then—I'll be your partner, Sister!"
Avril felt awkward listening to their conversation.
"Oh, Lukas, if you don't mind me asking… why do you call Elliene your sister?"
"Yeah, I'm curious too," Elliene added.
Lukas felt awkward about the sudden personal question.
FLASHBACK
Lukas and his family were on their way to the beach.
Lukas was only eight years old at the time.
"Hey, Dad, what is the beach like?" he asked.
It was Lukas's first time going there.
"The beach is a strange place," his father said. "The ground there is unlike anything else. It's soft, warm, and dry, like hot powder. With every step you take, your feet slowly sink into it.
And beside that dry, warm sand, is water—a vast ocean. Deep, wet, and sometimes cold if you stay in it for too long."
Lukas listened carefully, his eyes filled with curiosity.
He couldn't understand how two complete opposites could exist together.