My Childhood Friend Loves Mocking Me Chapter 06

My Childhood Friend Loves Mocking Me Chapter 06

Half a month before the new semester started, I blocked Jake on everything.

His number, all his socials-even that old account he never used anymore-I unfollowed and

blocked it all.

It was not a petty fit of anger. I truly wanted no more news from him.

Every time my phone vibrated, I would tense up instinctively, fearing it was his message that could

easily break down the emotional walls I had built up.

Mia occasionally sent me voice notes talking about class reunions.

“Lila, you have no idea. Jake’s been searching for you everywhere, asking everyone where you’ve

gone.”

She sounded downright gleeful. “Chloe tried to stick up for him, and he totally snapped at her-in front of everyone! Her face was priceless. Serves her right!”

“He’s gotten much skinnier lately, and he quit playing ball entirely, turning down every

invitation.”

Mia paused briefly, “Word goes around he’s been shaken up by what happened between you two. Is

it true?”

I stayed silent for a few seconds. “I enrolled in Southern Arts College instead of Northern Town

Music Academy.”

There was a long silence on her end, followed by an excited shout.

“Wow Lila! You finally stood up for yourself! I’m treating you to a nice meal!”

I never told Mia that Jake had sent me one final long message before I blocked him, stretching

across multiple screen pages.

He wrote that he could not figure out why I had changed all of a sudden, that he felt uneasy without me staying by his side, and that he kept having dreams of me leaving forever with no way to find me

again.

I only skimmed the first few lines before deleting it completely, without even saving a screenshot.

September was still sweltering in South Town, nothing like the weather up north.

Autumn came early in Northern Town, where long-sleeve clothes were already needed by September.

But the heat here was damp and clinging, a sticky warmth on the skin, laced with the sweet scent of

osmanthus in the air.

I rented a small apartment in the old town area, with a row of ancient sycamore trees standing right

outside my window.

The landlady said those trees were even older than her, which reminded me of the one outside the Hale family house.

Yet these trees grew far more freely here, their branches stretching unrestrained toward the sky.

On registration day, I carried my instrument case and stepped into the campus of Southern Arts College, my heart beating fast.

The grounds were filled with new students hauling luggage and musical instruments.

Some hummed tunes while walking, others played the violin on the lawn, and small groups gathered to play impromptu ensemble pieces.

No one knew who I was, no one whispered behind my back calling me Jake’s little follower.

Here, I was simply Lila, nothing more, nothing less.

The traditional music department held its freshmen welcome party inside a small concert hall.

A girl sitting beside me leaned over and whispered, “What instrument do you play? The two-string fiddle?”

“The violin.”

Her eyes lit up at once. “That’s amazing, I play violin too! I’m Raina, I’m from West Town. What about you?”

I gave her a soft smile. “I’m Lila, from Northern Town.”

“Northern Town? You traveled all this way down south for college, that’s so brave.”

She gave me a thumbs-up. “I heard Northern Town Music Academy is top-tier too, why didn’t you go there?”

I thought for a moment, then looked out the window. “Maybe because the sycamore trees here are

more beautiful.”

She was stunned for a moment then burst into laughter, patting my shoulder lightly.

“Lila, you are such an interesting person.”

“I’m sure we’ll become great friends. I hope we get along well from now on.”

I smiled and held out my hand to shake hers.

I truly believed the days ahead would be warm and wonderful.