Chapter 980:

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Kole was no longer the thin, fragile boy he once was. Years had shaped him into a tall young man with a calm, steady presence. Carole, too, had grown — she had become a striking young woman in her own right. She earned a place at the best local university, built new friendships, and stepped into a wider world. Yet some things never changed.

Every day after returning home, she would head straight to the greenhouse, finding Kole there as though it were the most natural thing in the world. She would talk about everything — small events, lessons, laughter — her voice light and unguarded. And Kole would always be there. Quiet. Listening. Working with his hands as he kept the greenhouse alive.

One evening, Carole returned from university and, unlike usual, didn’t even stop to change her clothes. She rushed straight to the greenhouse.

Kole was crouched beside a flowerbed, carefully loosening the soil, preparing it for the flowers Carole liked most. She hurried over, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret — though excitement betrayed her. “Kole, someone confessed to me today.”

His hand paused for a fraction of a second. The rake slipped slightly and cut through a freshly planted seedling.

He tightened his grip slowly, then lifted his gaze to her. “Are you into him?”

𝗜𝘯𝗌𝘁𝗮𝘯𝘁 𝘢cc𝘦ss 𝘰ո 𝗀𝗮𝗹ո𝗈v𝘦𝗅𝘀.𝘤𝗼𝘮

Carole dropped onto the swing he had built for her, resting her chin in her hands as she swayed lightly. “I’m not sure yet. He’s Toby Willis — the heir to Willis Group and captain of our university baseball team. Everyone knows him on campus.”

She tilted her head, thinking aloud. “A lot of girls like him. He’s handsome too… I just told him I’d give him an answer tomorrow.”

Kole turned back to the soil, his movements steady again, almost mechanical. “Don’t rush. Wait until tomorrow. I’ll find out more about him — his background, his reputation. It’s better to decide with clearer eyes.”

Carole waved a hand as if brushing the idea aside. “Why make it sound like an investigation? It’s just dating, not marriage. If it feels right, it’s simple.”

Then her eyes brightened suddenly, as if a thought had struck like a spark. “I read something in a novel. It said when you meet the right person, your heartbeat changes. And when you kiss, there’s supposed to be this… electric feeling.” She nodded to herself, as if she had solved a great puzzle. “So I’ve decided. Tomorrow, I’ll let him kiss me first. If I feel that electric thing, I’ll agree to be his girlfriend.”

Kole said nothing. His back remained turned to her as he worked the soil with slightly heavier strokes than before.

Carole was used to his silence — it never felt strange anymore. She watched him for a while, the way he knelt steadily in the earth, planting seedlings one by one with care. His back was broad now, his profile sharper and more defined than she remembered. Something about that sight stirred a sudden, impulsive thought in her.

“Kole.” She hopped off the swing and walked toward him.

He paused slightly. “Yes?”

She stopped beside him, hands clasped behind her back, as if weighing something important. Then she spoke almost too casually. “Why don’t we try it first?”

His hand froze mid-air. “Try what?”

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Message from Noa: We’re in the final quarter of the year, my dear ones, hang in there! God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (ɔO‿=)ɔ ♥

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