Helanie:
"His mom is so clingy," Jenny whispered in my ear as we took a break in the woods.
"We were upset with Kaye because his mom didn’t give him enough appreciation. And now everyone is judging her for sticking too close to his side," I argued, raising my brow at her.
I was happy for Kaye. I guess he wanted his mother to recognize his worth and value all these years. Now that he was finally getting it, I didn’t want anyone to judge them.
"I guess you’re right. It’s just that I don’t believe people can change overnight," Jenny pouted, but then a bright smile spread across her lips as she pointed at a pink flower--the same one we had been searching for all this time.
One hour in, we realized that finding this flower was nothing like what Emmet had asked us to do before. The herb he had chosen earlier was easy to find, but this flower was different. So far, everyone’s bag was empty. Now, however, Jenny had finally found one.
She walked over to the flower, plucked it from the stem, and turned to me, extending her hand to offer it.
"You’re our leader and class monitor--you should have it," she said with a warm smile.
I shook my head instantly.
"Jenny, I can’t accept your help all the time. You found it, so you should keep it," I replied firmly, trying to make her understand that she needed to do her best for her records as well.
It wasn’t easy to get admission to this academy, and I wasn’t okay with her giving up praise just for me.
"Now, let’s keep looking. Make sure everyone on our team gets the flower so they can experience its effects too," I announced, glancing sideways at Lady Darcy and Kaye, who were nearby.
I noticed how Darcy had been engaging with him. It was true that Kaye seemed happy, but it was also true that he was supposed to be with his students. Instead, he was spending a lot of time with his mother.
When one of the students asked him a question, Lady Darcy immediately stepped forward, shielding her son and answering on his behalf. The proud look on Kaye’s face made it clear he was happy his mother was taking an interest in his interactions. But it just rubbed everyone the wrong way.
After a few more hours, we had all found flowers. I was a bit distracted, still thinking about the previous night and how Kaye had accepted me. I was so captivated by his charm and comfort that I forgot how our acceptance might affect my mother’s happiness.
In that sense, I was proving her fears right. She worried I’d ruin her relationship, and I had.
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