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 had150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEtpIXVJHO
just gotten off the plane, taken a train and bus for another hour, and was150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7oIHKeGQx
wrapped in layers of thick clothing. Yet, the starry sky didn’t captivate her.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCManfTUZgd
Exhausted, she dragged two heavy suitcases and a backpack, struggling to150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf6kTU3xKn
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 her150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbUfbBKvSB
housemates had planned to return to their hometowns, and the landlord decided150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7YgyndEgo
to take his family on a vacation. He had repeatedly instructed everyone to lock150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRiMhybvY2
all windows and turn off the devices before leaving. After the last housemate150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhlp9opV1L
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 and150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuN6bSegjs
reached into her backpack to find her keys, but after searching for a while,150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJU0gDhXvG
she couldn’t find them! Panic began to set in. The landlord and her housemates150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7knHsgCGP
were all gone, and there was no one inside to help her. She was completely alone150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwsoS78JjG
and helpless—was she going to be locked out? Just as she was debating whether150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9CJGVoCWl
to break in and pay for the damages later, the door suddenly opened from the150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3oUFwIcKW
inside! Startled, she stepped back, but then recognized her housemate, Lloyd.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWijwaIaE2q
Relieved, she was also puzzled—no one was supposed to be home. Why was he still150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXI5LTTNZ0
inside?
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"Welcome back! Come on in, it’s freezing outside,"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzM5tdL9lX
Lloyd said with a smile. Just as she was about to ask him why he was still150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbXA71jRYN
there, she noticed that Lloyd was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist,150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqYcYw58jO
his upper body completely bare. Shocked, she nearly screamed, but Lloyd seemed150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwaqCTB2of
unfazed, remaining calm as he helped carry her suitcases inside. Swallowing her150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSUO5uLSxq
questions, she awkwardly suggested, "It's really cold—maybe you should put150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1OWpKu7NK
on some clothes first." Only then did Lloyd realize he had just come out150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccoJlc0rQ1
of the shower. Still calm, he carried her suitcases upstairs, promising to get150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBg79GtLrQ
dressed afterward.
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After Lloyd left her suitcases outside her room and she150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gnu2zcXoj
thanked him, he returned to his room and closed the door. Behind it, he covered150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cNNGkefsY
his face, cringing at the embarrassing situation. "That was so150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJvBbBFBWn
awkward!" he thought. Little did he know, inside her own room, Tresa’s150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldX1e8khea
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 Lloyd150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd6zSwXFRk
got dressed and went downstairs to prepare dinner. Knowing they were the only150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNAl7iGjUr
two in the house, Lloyd knocked on Tresa’s door and asked, "I’m making150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHTNcjoim4
noodles. Would you like some?" Without warning, she opened the door and150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2h9zGhR15
handed him a large bag of snacks with a smile. "I’ve got a ton of snacks.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqjEnGB5xo
Let’s have them together after the noodles!" she said, then quickly shut150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6iFlSjG2r
the door before he could respond.
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Lloyd blinked in confusion. Did that mean he was supposed to150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7YaHHYRBb
cook for her too? Shrugging, he decided to make an extra portion anyway—he150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaltnrcxJ35
figured he could eat it if she didn’t. He took the large bag of snacks she had150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDswXNzGYJ
given him and placed it on the dining table before heading to the kitchen. When150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEpZ2kjZbN
the noodles were ready, Tresa came downstairs with a disappointed expression.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGBRuaiAk1
"I wanted to help, but I guess I was too late!" she said. Lloyd waved150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMvP0350qB
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 before150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g7MX8XqA4
she put down her utensils, dug through the snack bag, and pulled out a variety150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5CiSw1rPP
of instant snacks—dried eggs, mini sausages, and other unfamiliar foods.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLHZPccSLE
Curious, Lloyd watched as she went to the kitchen to grab scissors, came back,150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfz81ByvWU
and started cutting open the packages, sprinkling the snacks into her noodles150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTmnaUP3sv
and mixing them. She took a bite, her face lighting up with satisfaction.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUMNO5QhKB
Noticing Lloyd staring at her, she pushed the bowl toward him, offering him a150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3cOod2Ebo
taste. Hesitant, Lloyd pointed at her bowl. She nodded, encouraging him to try.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsYHEQoNXx
After confirming a few times, Lloyd finally took a bite. To his surprise, he150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJMeroRz1y
said, "It actually tastes pretty good like this!"
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Smiling, Tresa handed him some of the same snacks, along150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzNt2J6bFV
with the scissors. "Want to make yours the same?" she asked. Without150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jKokTs3IS
hesitation, Lloyd took them, mixed the snacks into his own bowl, and after a150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbwGFvF7YQ
bite, nodded in approval. "This is really good!"
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As they ate, Tresa suddenly remembered something.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMLC3QGpYM
"Weren’t you supposed to go home for the break? I thought I’d be the first150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFSmqPrCeJ
one back. Good thing you were here to let me in."
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Lloyd shrugged. "Yeah, I just got back. Nothing special150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliTWR6OErl
at home."
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"Really? Don’t you miss your family?" she asked,150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QHPMzkTvM
recalling a night when he had silently cried while gazing at the moon. Lloyd150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF0DD6I7QO
paused for a moment, then softly said, "…My grandma passed away last year.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQz6bQjaLt
After that, I haven’t had any family left."
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Tresa was stunned by his words. She lowered her voice and150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMfPMYiXWy
said, "I’m so sorry to hear that."
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Lloyd shook his head gently. "It’s okay. I just went150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQLlX28CEO
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 go150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnLkSufs3v
check it out!" She grabbed her coat and pulled Lloyd outside. Together,150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO1zwJheI3
they looked up at the night sky, watching as the snowflakes fell like countless150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceBtiCz8SK
tiny diamonds under the light of the full moon—beautiful and serene.
End
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