Previously on: Tresa(F) & Lloyd(M) are exchange students living in a host family's house. For details, please refer to 31. <Full moon night 1> and 32.<Full moon night 2>.
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Time: A night in winter //Place: A house in E city
The sky was filled with rows of twinkling stars. Tresa had220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdcRQcZ7f6
just gotten off the plane, taken a train and bus for another hour, and was220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4gjbs4gyM
wrapped in layers of thick clothing. Yet, the starry sky didn’t captivate her.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mPhLByPmr
Exhausted, she dragged two heavy suitcases and a backpack, struggling to220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6Y6izTWFW
breathe as she made her way from the gate to the house’s front door.
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A month ago, with the long winter break approaching, all her220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JAYkmua5G
housemates had planned to return to their hometowns, and the landlord decided220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9ULpOpZFw
to take his family on a vacation. He had repeatedly instructed everyone to lock220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aJDkKyMbn
all windows and turn off the devices before leaving. After the last housemate220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9y15w1Ok7
left, the landlord and his family went off joyfully on their trip.
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Standing in front of the door, Tresa caught her breath and220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4kEEyXLMb
reached into her backpack to find her keys, but after searching for a while,220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei3hxGC2gc
she couldn’t find them! Panic began to set in. The landlord and her housemates220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF2nqRLUbw
were all gone, and there was no one inside to help her. She was completely alone220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50t35owtRb
and helpless—was she going to be locked out? Just as she was debating whether220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV5kDXTwPU
to break in and pay for the damages later, the door suddenly opened from the220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBBc8wYHIW
inside! Startled, she stepped back, but then recognized her housemate, Lloyd.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5C26gSkGY
Relieved, she was also puzzled—no one was supposed to be home. Why was he still220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZrm3zlQkj
inside?
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"Welcome back! Come on in, it’s freezing outside,"220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK8SAE4gZG
Lloyd said with a smile. Just as she was about to ask him why he was still220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLm0YtCQgd
there, she noticed that Lloyd was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist,220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk8KwSbB7k
his upper body completely bare. Shocked, she nearly screamed, but Lloyd seemed220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzN2HcltSi
unfazed, remaining calm as he helped carry her suitcases inside. Swallowing her220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtOEsbf2vG
questions, she awkwardly suggested, "It's really cold—maybe you should put220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vCbS3m3BS
on some clothes first." Only then did Lloyd realize he had just come out220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrFAWqLub0
of the shower. Still calm, he carried her suitcases upstairs, promising to get220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQwGQunODN
dressed afterward.
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After Lloyd left her suitcases outside her room and she220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBxGXVP3HO
thanked him, he returned to his room and closed the door. Behind it, he covered220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJLGF8OuSj
his face, cringing at the embarrassing situation. "That was so220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bi80pZ2cH
awkward!" he thought. Little did he know, inside her own room, Tresa’s220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtHbzm9kIl
face had also turned red as she silently marvelled, "He has abs!"
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Once they both calmed down, Tresa began unpacking while Lloyd220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxpTvs4aSf
got dressed and went downstairs to prepare dinner. Knowing they were the only220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGmOsGmyoS
two in the house, Lloyd knocked on Tresa’s door and asked, "I’m making220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFvpPLuZJW
noodles. Would you like some?" Without warning, she opened the door and220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7TkwFrCjx
handed him a large bag of snacks with a smile. "I’ve got a ton of snacks.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vUS8wpeqq
Let’s have them together after the noodles!" she said, then quickly shut220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJPZnIo1es
the door before he could respond.
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Lloyd blinked in confusion. Did that mean he was supposed to220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwLEViR3w1
cook for her too? Shrugging, he decided to make an extra portion anyway—he220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Qxoz6PP40
figured he could eat it if she didn’t. He took the large bag of snacks she had220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDyH5Byq2b
given him and placed it on the dining table before heading to the kitchen. When220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TxKPYsaYr
the noodles were ready, Tresa came downstairs with a disappointed expression.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAfQsxDjSY
"I wanted to help, but I guess I was too late!" she said. Lloyd waved220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gqPXWlb9M
it off casually, "No worries, it’s just noodles. Let’s eat."
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As they sat down to eat, Tresa only took a few bites before220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2skmljmzu
she put down her utensils, dug through the snack bag, and pulled out a variety220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGPAJIzxJO
of instant snacks—dried eggs, mini sausages, and other unfamiliar foods.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsS9V58rnV
Curious, Lloyd watched as she went to the kitchen to grab scissors, came back,220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk7CeVXlgC
and started cutting open the packages, sprinkling the snacks into her noodles220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMkuVgpMOH
and mixing them. She took a bite, her face lighting up with satisfaction.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl41uoAib3W
Noticing Lloyd staring at her, she pushed the bowl toward him, offering him a220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMGN5PSikF
taste. Hesitant, Lloyd pointed at her bowl. She nodded, encouraging him to try.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnjaKmJN79
After confirming a few times, Lloyd finally took a bite. To his surprise, he220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5hoLhb0bx
said, "It actually tastes pretty good like this!"
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Smiling, Tresa handed him some of the same snacks, along220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixxO19IDeI
with the scissors. "Want to make yours the same?" she asked. Without220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJNrKa38xL
hesitation, Lloyd took them, mixed the snacks into his own bowl, and after a220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIapEwX7LZ
bite, nodded in approval. "This is really good!"
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As they ate, Tresa suddenly remembered something.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Go2mXYRRH
"Weren’t you supposed to go home for the break? I thought I’d be the first220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyhhn9tWfg
one back. Good thing you were here to let me in."
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Lloyd shrugged. "Yeah, I just got back. Nothing special220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKAHHFz35f
at home."
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"Really? Don’t you miss your family?" she asked,220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPP1FochPq
recalling a night when he had silently cried while gazing at the moon. Lloyd220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8auoe8IhYs
paused for a moment, then softly said, "…My grandma passed away last year.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ186qIUNKbG
After that, I haven’t had any family left."
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Tresa was stunned by his words. She lowered her voice and220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx6vvFt8dy
said, "I’m so sorry to hear that."
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Lloyd shook his head gently. "It’s okay. I just went220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWznvIsWWd3
back to visit her grave."
There was a brief, sombre silence. Looking for a way to lighten the mood, Tresa glanced out the window and noticed a change in the
scenery. She exclaimed excitedly, "Hey, it’s snowing outside! Let’s go220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnks7R5vgbU
check it out!" She grabbed her coat and pulled Lloyd outside. Together,220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLwbhHXNpJ
they looked up at the night sky, watching as the snowflakes fell like countless220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIdEVOLU6q
tiny diamonds under the light of the full moon—beautiful and serene.
End
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