The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

96 Lucky To Know You

“Oh, Poppy. Then what about your intention to become an instructor? Have you made a plan to achieve it?” Kathy turned to Poppy.

The girl with the two black irises nodded, “Maybe, I’ll start pursuing the basic teaching certificate first in the next few days. Then after that, I’ll start looking for students.”

“That’s a good plan, Poppy. If you need help, feel free to ask me. I totally support your idea.” Emma said excitedly.

“Me too, Poppy! Tell me if you want me to build a website or if you want to find any information. I’ll be sure to help.” Kathy added.

“Hey.. what’s wrong?” Emma asked confused by touching Poppy’s delicate hand.

Poppy shook her head while laughing lightly by wiping the corners of her watery eyes, “Sorry.. I just feel too happy and touched. So far, I’ve never had friends who want to help and support me sincerely like you guys. Even though right now, I’m like a scourge that deserves to be shunned, you guys are still really good to me.. ” She explained in a trembling voice.

Emma and Kathy stared at each other for a moment. The faces of the two girls became sad to hear Poppy’s words.

“You don’t need to talk about it anymore, Poppy. Maybe it wasn’t time for you to meet your true friend. But now, you’re with us. We are friends. And that’s what best friends do..” Emma said.

***

.....

“You have to be careful when cleaning snow, Emma. I’ve slipped like that too. The difference is, I broke my leg straight away, so I had to take a ballet vacuum for a few months.” Miss Diana said worriedly.

Emma chuckled, “You’re right. I was in a hurry so I wasn’t careful.”

“Okay then, Emma. You should just rest so your leg will heal quickly. You don’t have to worry about the grade of the extra class either. I’ll help out with it. I still have enough time to do it.” The woman winked. Before he gave up her duties as a ballet teacher at this university, she would help Emma as best she could. In her heart, Miss Diana was very grateful to Emma who had helped Poppy from trouble.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, Miss,” Emma answered uncomfortably while rubbing the trunk of her neck.

Miss Diana shook her head quickly, “Nope.. It’s alright. Then, I’ll be back inside. See you later, Emma.” She said before leaving.

‘Ugh.. that woman..’ Emma watched the graceful figure disappear out through the door of the ballet class.

“Hey, Emma. It’s nice, isn’t it? If I become the teacher’s favourite.. If I was also loved by her.. I would often skip class without having to worry about my extra class’s grades..” Kathy wished alone.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Please don’t talk carelessly. You might end up making Miss Diana seem unfair in the eyes of the other students.”

“But I do envy you..” Kathy mumbled weakly.

“By the way, what is that, Emma? It looks like a coat,” Poppy pointed to a navy blue paper bag next to Emma’s sling bag.

Emma nodded slightly after glancing at the object Poppy pointed at, before going back to rummaging through her locker to take home all her ballet shoes and equipment to wash while they weren’t used for the next few days. “You’re right. It’s a coat.”

“May I take a look? It has beautiful colour. Did you just buy it?” Poppy asked.

“Someone lent it to me. I was going to take it to the laundry on the way home. So I purposely take it together with my ballet stuff that I’m going to wash.”

“The colour does beautifully. But why is it so big?” Kathy muttered.

When Emma looked back, she found Kathy and Poppy busy with the coats Hellen had lent her.

“That coat is very warm, you know..” Emma said as putting her ballet shoes into another paper bag that was almost full of keeping things from the locker.

“Look like it does. Let me try it on...” Kathy took the coat from Poppy’s hand and put it on right away.

“Please be a little careful, Kathy. Emma still has to give it back to its owner.” Poppy said with a worried face of seeing Kathy’s reckless behaviour.

From the other side of the ballet room, the three girls didn’t notice a pair of serious eyes watching them with furrowed brows. Her two grey-blue irises kept staring at the brown object they were holding.

“Isn’t that coat...”

***

Emma reached into her sling bag with a furrowed brows, “Ugh.. where’s the key?” then, she saw a car key with a beautiful swan keychain made of glass, tucked between her make-up pouch and wallet, “Ah.. here it is.” she took it and..

Clack!

“Ugh.. Damn it!..” Emma muttered as she stared at her car keys which had fallen on the asphalt as they slipped from her slippery gloves.

Just as she was about to crouch down to pick up the object, a reddish-white hand had already taken the key and handed it to Emma.

“Calvin? Ah, thank you,” Emma said by accepting the key. Then, she looked at her swan hanger with a disappointed face, “Geez.. it’s broken..”

Seeing Emma who looked like a kitten made Calvin chuckle amusedly. The girl was really cute, even though she didn’t mean it that way, “What happened to your leg, Emma?” he asked after breaking his thoughts.

“I fell while cleaning the snow on my house porch,” Emma chuckled.

Calvin shook his head, “You need to be more careful, Emma. But, are you sure you can drive a car with a leg like that?”

“Of course. Look.. I’m here now. It’s just a slight sprain.” Emma smiled. Then, she thought for a moment before looking at Calvin again, “Are you going straight home?”

“I’ll get some food before going home. How about you?”

“Actually, I’m going to the supermarket after dropping my laundry off at the laundry shop. Do you think you’d like to go together? We can eat on the way.” Emma offered. As she has said before, she would not close the opportunity to get closer to a man as good as Calvin Lee.

After seeing for herself how unique a love was, Emma became very curious to try it for herself. As Jonas said, she would only understand if she experienced it herself. And maybe, Calvin could make Emma feel the experience called ‘Love’.

“Sure! But, let me drive, ok?” Calvin held out his hand in front of Emma for the keys with a big smile. He was really happy that Emma had asked him out first.

Emma’s car drove down the City of Handway that afternoon. It snowed like normal days in winter.

“It’s snowing day and night. Looks like we’re at the height of winter.” Emma muttered.

Calvin nodded, “That’s right. We’re already into winter break the day after tomorrow. Do you have any plans to spend the holidays, Emma?”

“Hmm.. I’m thinking of doing my cooking and ballet. Besides, maybe I’ll find something else.” Emma answered. Then, she pointed to a blue and white building on the side of the road, “Could you stop there for a moment? I’ll put the laundry down.”

“Okay,” Calvin answered, then pulled the car over. “Let me unload the stuff.” He immediately took off his seatbelt, about to get out. But Emma quickly restrained him.

“No need, Calvin. It’s just two bags. I also wanted to make some special requests to the clerk.” Emma said before opening the door.

“Ok then. Just be careful, the floor in front of the shop looks slippery.” Calvin exclaimed when Emma opened the back passenger door to pick up the items for laundry.

“Alright...” Emma replied before closing the door.

Calvin’s eyes kept on watching Emma until she walked into the laundry shop, “She really is an independent girl.” he mumbled in awe.

Then, he looked back and forth to see what was inside Emma’s car. Well, maybe like the average girl, her car was very neat, clean, and smelled good. Calvin saw the car perfume stuck to the car’s AC window. He nodded when he saw that Emma was using a perfume with a well-known brand that Calvin knew was quite expensive. So, he could tell that she came from a rich family.

“Usually, a perfect girl like Emma has a fierce father,” Calvin muttered. Then, he slapped himself on the cheek, “What are you talking stupid?! How good are you, to even dream of marrying her?” But a smile then appeared on the handsome face, “But.. shouldn’t we dream as high as possible?”

Not long after, Emma came out of the laundry shop and rushed back into the car, “Sorry to keep you waiting.” she said.

Calvin shook his head quickly, “Don’t mind it. So, shall we go straight to the supermarket?” he asked, and got a nod from Emma.

After a slightly slower journey than usual, due to slippery roads, Emma and Calvin arrived at a famous supermarket which was the largest in Handway City.

“I’ve never been to this supermarket,” Emma said as she looked around with sparkling eyes. She didn’t even know there was a supermarket that was bigger and more luxurious than the one she had visited. As usual, Calvin Lee was always showing her what was new in Handway City.

Calvin took a shopping cart and pushed it for Emma, ??”Looks like you’ve never been around the eastern area of ??Handway City, have you? You could say, here is a major tourist destination in Handway City.”

“Wow.. No wonder, even though it’s very cold outside, I see the streets in this area are still crowded with pedestrians. Ah.. I think I’ve passed the main street when I just arrived in this city.” Emma thought.

“If you’ve ever been to Handway City’s main station, you’ll know that Ren Otis station is indeed on the East Handway,” Calvin explained like a tour guide. Then, he pointed at the entrance to the market area, “If you really like shopping for household needs, this supermarket is the most complete one. You can find a lot of things and even lots of taster booths to try free food.” he continued.

“Ah.. If only I knew this place from the start. I would be willing to drive all the way to this supermarket to shop until I’m satisfied.” Emma muttered happily. “I feel lucky to have known you in this city.”

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