Chapter 255
Watching the classmates all vie for her drawings, Zinnia readily agreed.
Ethanโs eyes lit up with anticipation as he glanced at the half-finished sketch in Zinniaโs hands, already featuring about half their classmates. โSo, who gets the one with all of us in it?โ he asked.
โHmmโฆโ Zinnia paused, unsure who to give it to.
โHow about we hang it in the classroom? Zinnia drew all of usโitโs perfect there,โ someone in the crowd suggested.
After a momentโs thought, everyone nodded in agreement. Hanging it in the classroom was perfectโeveryone could see it, and no one would feel left out over who got to keep it.
โZinnia, what do you think?โ Lydia asked, ignoring the others. It was Zinniaโs drawing, so the decision should be hers.
Her classmates chimed in, โYeah, Zinnia, what do you think? If you donโt want to hang it, we wonโt. Itโs totally your call.โ
โOf course I agree,โ Zinnia replied, her fair and delicate face lighting up with a beaming smile.
The whole class burst into good-natured laughter.
After settling on where to hang the artwork, everyone scattered to their own business. Still, before leaving, each classmate reminded Zinnia, โDonโt forget our drawings!โ Zinnia responded to each with a warm smile and assured them she wouldnโt forget.
Zinnia lowered her head and resumed working on the drawing. Now that it was going to be hung in the classroom, she took extra care with the details.
As Zinnia finished the drawing, a figure approached and cast a shadow over her work. Looking up, she saw it was Maisie. โMaisie?โ she said.
Maisie looked at her hesitantly, words caught in her throat. โZinniaโฆโ
Noticing her hesitation, Zinnia asked gently, โMm? Is there something I can help with?โ
Glancing past Maisie, Zinnia couldnโt help but notice their classmates trying to act casual while eagerly watching their interactionโclearly, they all had something to ask of her.
โZinnia!โ Maisie blurted out, unable to contain herself. โWilliamโs organizing a performance this afternoonโweโre all dying to hear you play the zither.โ
Everyone in the class had seen the video of Zinnia playing the zither and was itching to see and hear her perform in person.
Seizing the chance of the Christmas performance, everyone pushed Maisie to ask if Zinnia would agree. After all, Ethan and a few others whoโd seen her perform last time had made the rest of the class green with envy.
โBut we donโt have a zither here,โ Zinnia said, not refusing the request. It wasnโt a big deal to her.
Hearing this, the classmates' eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity. Rosalindโs own eyes sparkled as she squeezed through the crowd and dashed over to Zinnia. โIโve got it,โ Rosalind exclaimed excitedly. โI had my butler secretly bring over my momโs treasured zither just for today.โ
โZinnia, what do you think of this zither?โ Rosalind asked eagerly, beckoning to the people just outside the door.
At the signal, the boys waiting outside entered, carefully carrying a zither in its protective case. They set it down in the cleared space.
Zinnia couldnโt help but laugh at their anticsโeverything was already set up, just waiting for her nod. โSo you guys planned this all along, huh?โ
Rosalind chuckled sweetly and linked arms with Zinnia, โCome on, we all want to hear you play the zither for us in personโotherwise, Ethan will never stop bragging about being the only one whoโs heard you perform. So, itโs settled, okay?โ
Zinnia couldnโt help but chuckle, โLike I even have a choice now?โ
โPlease, Zinnia, honey,โ Rosalind whined, nuzzling against Zinniaโs neck. โSay yes, please. We all want to hear you.โ With her shoulder-length curly hair topped with a cute clip and her sugary voice, she looked every bit the adorable sweetheart.
โAlright, alright, I give in.โ Zinnia surrendered helplessly. She was completely defenseless against someone acting so sweet and cute with herโespecially an adorable, well-behaved girl like Rosalind. Usually the one being pampered, now faced with those pleading puppy-dog eyes, Zinnia just couldnโt resist.
โYouโre the best,โ Rosalind beamed happily.
Lydia stood to the side, watching as Zinnia and Rosalind playfully teased each other. With a gentle voice, Lydia said, โZinnia, you havenโt played this zither beforeโwould you like to give it a try?โ
โSure,โ Zinnia agreed with a smile.
Seeing that Zinnia was occupied, Rosalind stopped pestering her. Still, she couldnโt shake the feeling of a chill creeping up her back. โIs the classroom AC set too low?โ she wondered.
Turning to Joseph, the handsome, aloof boy beside her, Rosalind complained, โJoseph, can you turn up the heat? Why is it so chilly in here?โ
โTold you to wear more this morning, didnโt I? Now you know what cold feels like,โ Joseph said, shooting Rosalind a cool stare as she rubbed her arms.
He peeled off his black-and-white baseball jacket and tossed it to her, then strode over to the thermostat and turned up the heat a few degrees.
โNo, I just wonโt. Serves you right,โ Rosalind huffed, but her hands still obediently tugged Josephโs jacket tighter around herself. Though the classroom heating was on full blast, she couldnโt figure out why sheโd suddenly felt a chillโthough now, it seemed to have vanished strangely.
โButton up,โ Joseph said as he turned up the heat. He gently took Rosalindโs hand and led her away from the doorway, deeper into the classroom. His fingers moved with quiet care as he fastened each button of her jacket, one by one.
โUgh, your clothes are so uglyโalways black or white. Canโt you buy something brighter? I like red, light blue, pinkโanything but this dull stuff,โ Rosalind complained, wrinkling her nose disdainfully at the black-and-white baseball jacket she was wearing.
โI only buy this kind. Donโt like it? Then you pick for me,โ Joseph said impassively, methodically buttoning her jacket.
โHumph! Fine, Iโll buy them myself! My picks will definitely look better than yours. After school, weโre going shoppingโno arguments. Your taste is just awful.โ
โThat whole family treated you horribly, yet you still went back with them. You had it good with usโwhat got into you to agree to go? And look at these tacky clothes youโve been wearing since,โ Rosalind huffed.
Joseph listened quietly as Rosalind murmured her complaints, his gaze lingering on her lips as she rambled on. An unconscious smile played at the corners of his mouth. โShe looks so adorable when she poutsโฆ I almost want to kiss her.โ
Only after she finished did he rein in his emotions, his voice gentle as he said, โSo, Iโll be waiting for you to pick out some nice clothes for me.โ
โOf course you need me to buy you nice clothes, huh? Thatโs been my job since we were little. The moment I stop, you just end up wearing hideous things. Just look at how youโve been dressing since you left,โ Rosalind said.
She was coaxed into a good mood, letting out a haughty little hmph as she lifted her delicate chin, though the smile at the corners of her eyes was impossible to hide.
โSee? I knew I mattered,โ she thought smugly. โWithout me, poor Joseph is a mess. Only I can turn that grumpy little puppy into someone sweet.โ
Chapter 256