Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

Chapter 119: Chapter 73 Childhood Memories_3

Your journey continues at mvl

"You go up the side staircase on this side, and when you get to the third floor, turn left; that's where it is. Your junior high classmates are in the suite on the second floor to the right. If you don't go downstairs in between, you should not run into them,"

"Okay," the girl nodded and then proceeded up the stairs.

The stairway, carpeted and with handrails of still-glossy mahogany, and the corridors illuminated by chandeliers hanging down, all entered the girl's sensitive perception. The various voices from the rooms nearby also faintly reached her ears.

With each step she climbed, the shifting perspective made the memories in Hexia's mind roll back, scene after childhood scene coming into view.

"Hexia Tilan, that is my name."

In the warm afternoon, standing in the classroom bathed in slanting sunshine, a little girl in a blue and white dress began to speak timidly.

Outside the window, the mother and the teacher were looking at the little girl on the platform, cheering her on, then watched as she continued to introduce herself.

After class, several children of the same age crowded around her.

"Hey, is your name Hexia, and Tilan is your surname?"

"Grey hair, wow, that's really rare. Can I touch it?"

"Hello, my name is Roke; I'm the class president. If you need anything, you can come to me," a little boy confidently patted his chest.

The little girl surrounded by everyone was terribly nervous, but still slowly began to speak. She shook her head first.

"My name is Hexia and Tilan is also my name. My hair is natural, uh, even though it's not the same as my mum's, but Mum says it looks pretty good too," the little girl said, her voice somewhat stubborn as if she was trying hard to raise her voice lest it shrink to the weak buzzing she usually spoke in.

Because her mother had encouraged her the day before and had said so many things, Hexia did not want to disappoint or upset her mother; she wanted to be strong, and that was her thought at the time.

Several months later, the classmates in her class gradually became familiar with Hexia.

"Wow, was that your sister who came to pick you up yesterday? She's so beautiful."

"Yes, that's my sister; she's really awesome." When talking about herself, she might be very quiet and lacks confidence, but when it comes to her sister, the little girl is always very happy and proud.

"I'm so envious..." the other children surrounded Hexia.

Two years passed, and everyone had grown up a bit.

"Tilan, do you want some candy? My mum bought me a big box yesterday, and I'll give you some too," Yilin said, holding a small but exquisite box filled with colorful candies.

"Yilin always favors Hexia; she brings her a share whenever she has something nice," the surrounding classmates said, slightly jealous.

"Thank you," Hexia, whose face still had a bit of baby fat from her younger days, accepted the box of candies.

After school, she found the classmate who had spoken before and opened the box in her hands.

"Here."

In her small palm were four candies of different colors. Although the children did not know the specific brand, they vaguely knew that such candy was not cheap; it was the rare and expensive T4 grade.

"For me?" the classmate looked at the cylindrical box in Hexia's hands. Although delicate, it wasn't big, and in total it contained only about twenty candies.

"Hmm, here you go," Hexia said, her black eyes wide with a kind of pure sincerity.

"Well..." Taking the candy, the child unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth, a rare sweetness and full-bodied feeling spreading from the tip of her tongue.

"Not bad, I'll stop saying mean things about you then," the child mumbled through the candy, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Under the evening sky that mimicked the real one, Hexia continued to share her remaining candies, giving him five more before finally following her father home.

The next day, Hexia brought a return gift made by her mother – a dessert with an Eastern style.

"Is this for me, Tilan? Thank you," Yilin received it happily, and the two went hand in hand to swing on the swings.

Time flowed slowly, and everyone grew another year older.

"How do you solve this problem, Tilan?" The younger Cindy stood troubled beside the girl, not wanting to ask the teacher since there were already several children crowded around her.

"Let me tell you," Hexia said confidently, picking up a pen and starting to write for her good friend.

Outside the window, children were playing with a ball, chasing each other, or sitting under the shade of trees flipping through new picture books bought by the school.

"Why isn't Tilan here yet? She wouldn't have forgotten about our agreed-upon Friday afternoon, would she? It's our rare activity time," Yilin clutched her picture book and looked around before trotting back to the classroom. There, she saw the girl discussing a problem with Cindy in a corner.

"As expected, she's been caught up by them again." Yilin walked over, leaned on the opposite side of their desk, and waited in boredom.

It was Hexia's birthday during the fifth grade.

"This is the cake we made for Tilan~"

Several boys, their faces smeared with cream and holding candles, cheered loudly. Across from them, Hexia, surrounded by several girls, walked out shyly and stood in front of the cake filled with candles.

"Thank you, everyone." Her cheeks flushed red as she bowed in thanks, her first time celebrating her birthday at school.

Since her sister had gone to high school and gradually displayed extraordinary talent, their parents' attention had shifted toward Temisia. At home, Hexia had been feeling increasingly neglected, hearing and seeing adults talk about her sister constantly, with some influential people even visiting from time to time. She had no choice but to hide in her bedroom.

Knowing that Hexia was unhappy recently, her close friends invited her to celebrate her birthday at school. Today, after school, nobody left, all choosing to stay with her.

"What wish did you make, Tilan?" they asked her after she closed her eyes, prayed, and blew out the candles.

"I hope we will always be good friends."

The memory paused at that moment; the young Hexia, Cindy, Yilin, Roke, Mackey, and other familiar companions held hands around that big cake, uttering their simple and flawless wishes of the time.

Had time really gone by so unnoticed? Hexia slowly awoke from her recollections. Those faces from the memories, she hadn't seen them in years.

Ever since her sister passed away, there had been drastic changes at home, and she had moved away from her old residence, distancing herself from those former classmates and friends. Later, out of self-consciousness and not wanting to be seen in such a destitute and impoverished state, she had deliberately avoided them.

Three years had passed, and many things had changed; nothing was as it had been.

She arrived at the closed door of the suite, grasped the handle, and slowly pulled it open.

"I'm back."