Chapter 89: Accepted Sincerely

It had been almost a week since I started dating Kevan. Slowly, all my attitude and behavior returned to normal. There was no more nervousness or awkwardness hanging over us when we spent time together. I even began to dare to tease Kevan, occasionally landing a light peck on his cheek from behind while wrapping my arms around his neck as he was seriously watching television.

Of course, I still often felt flustered every time Kevan looked at me with that deep gaze. His sweet smiles and strings of romantic words always managed to make me blush. However, at least I no longer looked as nervous and awkward as I was at the beginning of our relationship.

I felt that my life had become far more colorful since Kevan’s presence. He was always willing to make time for me whenever I needed him. That affection also flowed from both of his parents. They seemed to have already considered me their own child, especially Mr. Aditya. He was very open and laughed easily when he was with me. According to Mrs. Viona, her husband was actually the type of man who was hard to get close to new people, let alone greet them first at an initial meeting like he had done with me that day.

I was truly grateful to be able to know Kevan and both of his parents. Honestly, this was the first time I had ever felt this comfortable and this close to my boyfriend’s family.

Past experiences had been very different. Instead of receiving warmth, they often looked at me with condescending stares. Let alone joking or chatting familiarly, just seeing me was enough for them to turn away with disgusted expressions, as if my presence were a plague that had to be avoided at all costs.

Indeed, there were some people who asked simple small-talk questions about my name, school, and even my academic achievements. I always answered all those questions with full confidence. However, when the conversation began to enter my family background, their judgment radar immediately lit up. Warning lights seemed to flash red in their chests, signaling an emergency. Without thinking twice, insults and humiliations would soon pour out of their mouths to judge me.

“So your family background is like that? What a pity, even though your grades are good,” sentences like that often reached my ears, wrapped in nauseating fake sympathy.

But please, never feel sorry for me. I wouldn’t be Frel if I couldn’t stand up to treatment like that. I always had the courage to respond to their harsh behavior, throwing back various pieces of advice from my grandparents that proved effective in silencing their arrogance.

“Wealth may be able to buy table manners, but it cannot buy sincerity of heart,” I said calmly at the time, staring straight into their eyes until they were left speechless.

Perhaps some people would sneer and consider me a young girl who was too early to know love. However, it needs to be emphasized that feelings of affection that grow in the heart are not something I can control.

During junior high school, attraction to the opposite sex is something very natural. Biologically, this is part of the prepubescent phase, a transitional period before entering full adolescence.

Alright, back to the topic.

The point is, I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to know Kevan and his parents who sincerely care for me. Like this morning, on a Sunday that was still very early, they surprised me by coming to my house.

They invited me to exercise together at the city park.

Even though at first I felt reluctant to wake up this early, my drowsiness instantly vanished when I found out that Kevan, Mr. Aditya, and Mrs. Viona were already waiting for me in the living room.

“Come on, dear, the morning air is very good for your lungs,” Mrs. Viona invited gently when she saw me appear with eyes that were still half closed.

I immediately ran to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth as quickly as possible. I didn’t think about taking a shower, because I knew my body would be sweating again after exercising later.

We arrived at the city park at around six in the morning. The four of us got out of the car and immediately did some light warm-ups under the fresh morning air. Meanwhile, Edi, Mr. Aditya’s personal driver, parked the vehicle in an area near the park while waiting for our activities to finish.

“One, two, three. Frel, stretch your arms wider!” Mr. Aditya instructed enthusiastically, like a professional physical trainer. I just tried to follow his movements, even though he caught me yawning several times.

The jogging track in this park had a route length of about five hundred meters. If someone managed to circle this track four times, it meant they had covered a distance of two kilometers

After finishing the warm-up, we started jogging while occasionally joking around. However, when we entered the second lap, Mr. Aditya, Mrs. Viona, and Kevan began to increase their running speed until I was left far behind. Even when they had already started the third lap, I was still struggling to finish my second lap.

“Come on, Frel, just a little more! Don’t lose to Mom!” Mrs. Viona shouted from afar, waving energetically while I was already starting to gasp for breath.

I tried to run as hard as I could to catch up with them, but I realized that my small steps would never be able to match their wide and seemingly tireless strides. I even began to suspect that the three of them had a hidden talent as marathon runners. Truly a tough family.

“Are you humans or machines?” I muttered inwardly while holding my waist, which was starting to feel stiff.

In the end, I gave up. I didn’t want to force my abilities beyond my limits. Besides, I rarely ever ran for exercise, except during physical education classes at school.

It felt as if my joints were about to come apart from my body. I suddenly stopped, bent forward, and let both of my arms dangle limply in the air. Sweat poured down from my forehead. A few moments later, I stood upright again while trying to regulate my rapid breathing.

Suddenly, Kevan came and stopped at my right side. “Tired?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m very tired,” I replied while wiping the sweat flooding my face. “Why do you all run so fast? I feel like a snail chasing a rabbit.”

Kevan laughed, his voice blending with the lively atmosphere of the park. “Sorry, my dad tends to get carried away once he starts running.”

“Oh my God, it feels like my heart is about to jump out,” I complained again.

“If that’s the case, don’t force yourself. Let’s just sit over there,” Kevan said while pointing at two empty benches not far from where we were.

I nodded in agreement and accepted his outstretched hand. As soon as I sat down, I was surprised when Kevan lifted both of my legs and carefully placed them on top of the bench.

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