Mashauva blushed as Bruno stretched out his last few words. She had only become an adult for a few hours. How could she handle such a tone?!

Shy, she withdrew her hand and shifted her gaze away, not even having the courage to reply to him.

Only then did he realize what he had done. He drove off, seamlessly concealing the odd emotions. "Where do you want to go today?"

It was an everyday inquiry, just like how it was since they were a child. Whatever they did, he would ask her for her opinions, and Mashauva, never one to argue, had many ideas. She would always tell him where she wanted to go or what she wanted to eat unless her mind was a mess.

Like her current predicament, Bruno had just touched her hand, then he asked her that, right then. The poor girl couldn't stand such coquetry, and her heart raced while her mind was all over the place. She couldn't think straight at all and just said, "Anywhere is fine."

Bruno glanced at her from the corner of his eyes but didn't ask any more questions. After all, the poor girl cried her heart out in his arms earlier, and he even went to get his car as quick as he could, worried that she would start feeling upset again if she stayed by herself for too long.

As he expected, Mashauva was looking up, swallowing back her tears when he returned.

It was truly a heart-wrenching sight.

However, he didn't want to expose her either. He switched off the engine and waited until she had composed herself before driving to her. Hence, Bruno didn't insist on having her tell him a destination but chatted with her as he drove, lest her imaginations run wild in the silence. "Why didn't you ask what I got you for your coming-of-age?"

Hearing that, Mashauva snapped back to reality. "Your gift? Ah, I almost forgot. But today is my birthday too. Does that mean you got me two gifts?" Never had there been a year he had never given her a gift, so she assumed he would prepare a birthday gift, as well as one for her coming-of-age. "Two?" Bruno wore a half-smile on his face. "Well, aren't you a greedy one? Are they not on the same day?"

"So what if it is? I may celebrate my birthday every year, but I'll only ever be eighteen once! Did you

really not prepare two gifts for me?"

Bruno neither admitted or denied but said in a halfteasing tone, "I thought since they're one and the same, one present would be enough, saving me the hassle to get you another one." Hearing that, Mashauva pouted, "You cheapskate!"

Bruno burst into laughter at that, deep and melodious.

Mashauva snorted softly. "Alright, I was just messing with you. You're right, they're one and the same. Everyone only got me one gift. I'll treat them all as my birthday gift."

With that, a thought suddenly came to her. "By the way, why didn't Freddy come today?"

She felt somewhat surprised and regretful. After all, she was close to him too. He had even vowed to attend when she invited him.

Hearing Freddy's name, the smile in Bruno's eyes dimmed as he said indifferently, "He has other matters to attend to and asked me to pass his gift to you."

Mashauva said, "Other matters? What is he so busy with that he couldn't even attend my coming-of-age ceremony? It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. What a shame." It was a pity, but it was fate.

"At least you're here."

Mashauva felt rather poignant as she spoke. Fortunately, Bruno was there.

Hearing that, he paused for a split second before he chuckled under his breath. "Why does it sound like I'm worthless in your eyes? At least?"

"That's not what I meant."

The two of them rambled non-stop the entire journey. Bruno would say one thing, and Mashauva would reply with ten others.

However, each time Mashauva went silent, Bruno would speak again.

It became quiet for a while until the car arrived outside the amusement park.

When Mashauva saw the amusement park, she was a little taken aback because it was the one she came to with Bruno last time and had left her a little scarred.

She sat alone in the Ferris wheel and

rode it muddle-headedly that day looking from up top at how perfectly matched Bruno and Rosalie were standing next to each other.

Even when she left quietly, he didn't even notice immediately.

Recalling the event, Mashauva could no longer muster a smile no matter how tough she was.

"C'mon, let's go in and have some fun."

Bruno did not utter a single word about what happened last time, casually unfastening his seatbelt as he spoke.

They were already there, and

Mashauva had no reason to reject him. Besides, she was the one who said anything would do. With that, she silently unfastened her seatbelt and got off the car as well.

"Hold up."

Before they entered, Bruno opened the trunk and said to her, "Come and take a look at your coming-of-age gifts."

And Mashauva got excited at that, trotting to him. Surprised by the several gift boxes, she asked, "Why are there so many?" "These two are from my roommates. You've met them before."

Mashauva remembered them. They were there when she went to his school the last time. "They still remembered me?"

It was such a long time ago, and they had only met once. Feeling somewhat self-conscious, she had never thought they would get her a coming-of-age present. "How can I thank them?" Mashauva asked, biting her lower lip lightly.

"That won't be necessary. They got you a gift because they thought that you were pretty. No need to bother."

Mashauva looked at Bruno, her expression

complicated. Was that so?

They thought she was pretty?

On the other hand, Bruno's expression remained the same as before. "Go on, open them. Which one do you want to open first?"

Mashauva thought for a moment and said, "Freddy's first."

Since he didn't attend her ceremony, she should open his first.

Bruno's movements halted at that and frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Mashauva nodded, not noticing the change in his expression at all. She even asked, "Which one is Freddy's, and which one is yours?" "The blue one is his and the purple one is mine."

"Oh, okay."

Then, Bruno watched as her gaze flashed across the purple box, landing on the blue one; her face filled with anticipation.

As he was still for a while, she turned to look at him. "Bruno?"

Only then did he move. She was waiting expectantly for him to open Freddy's gift fj"}", but when be reached over, he opened the purple box instead.

She was left confused.

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