Finally, after trying on what felt like every dress she owned, Anna was at last done getting ready.
She stepped out with a proud smile on her face and gave a small turn.
"So? How do I look?"
Silence.
No answer.
No one was there.
She blinked.
The hall was empty.
Samy and Amy had already left and gone ahead—leaving her behind.
A dangerous smile slowly appeared on her face.
"That boy…"
She took a deep breath.
"How dare he leave me behind?"
She grabbed her bag like she was preparing for war.
"I'll teach him a lesson."
And with that, Anna marched out like vengeance itself had decided to attend church.
Meanwhile, walking ahead on their way to church, Samy and Amy were talking about yesterday.
Amy smiled lightly.
"I was really surprised to see Ember with you on stage."
Samy let out a nervous laugh.
"Honestly… me too."
He scratched the back of his head.
"She just grabbed my hand and went straight to the stage. I barely had time to process what was happening."
He looked ahead, his expression softening a little.
"It was terrifying at first. All the 'what ifs' kept running through my mind."
A small pause.
"But when I looked at her…"
He smiled faintly.
"The gentleness on her face somehow changed all those 'what ifs' into 'even if.'"
Amy looked at him for a moment—
then smiled knowingly.
"I see…"
She folded her hands behind her back.
"So you had a wonderful time with her on that stage."
A small teasing grin appeared.
"I'm sure you enjoyed it to the fullest."
Samy smiled back at her.
"I sure did."
Amy looked at him for a moment before asking,
"Then why did you look down yesterday?"
The smile on his face slowly faded, revealing what had been hiding underneath.
Samy glanced at her, slightly confused.
"What do you mean?"
Amy slowed her steps a little.
"I can't say for certain… but even after all those happy moments with Ember, you still looked sad."
Her voice was calm, not accusing—just observant.
"It hasn't been long since I've known you, but I don't think it's wrong to say I understand people… at least a little."
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe not you specifically—but people in general. The way they act, the way they hide things."
She looked at him.
"So even if I haven't known you for long… I can still tell when someone is carrying something heavy."
Samy let out a quiet breath.
"I guess you have a sharp eye for reading people."
He gave a small, honest smile.
"I'm honestly a little surprised."
Amy raised an eyebrow with a tiny grin.
"So… I was right."
A brief silence passed between them.
Then she asked softly,
"What happened?"
"Honestly… I'm not really sure how to tell you," Samy said.
Amy gave a small shrug.
"You don't have to tell me if it's something private."
She glanced at him, her tone light but sincere.
"But if you do, I might be able to give some advice… from a girl's side."
Samy looked at her.
Amy continued,
"Sometimes one perspective isn't enough. You need another one to see things clearly."
She pointed at him playfully.
"You're a boy—you'll think like a boy."
Then she pointed at herself.
"And I'm a girl, so I'll help from the girl side of the battlefield."
Samy let out a small laugh.
"I didn't know it was a war zone."
Amy smiled proudly.
"They absolutely is."
Samy sighed and finally gave in.
So he told her everything—
from the guava incident,
to accidentally insulting Ember's father,
to Theo's advice,
and even the dream that had sent him flying off the bed in the morning.
Amy listened quietly the whole time.
And when he finished—
she burst out laughing.
Samy looked at her in disbelief.
"Come on… why are you laughing too?"
Amy tried to stop, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"
She laughed again.
"But this is just too funny."
Samy gave her a deadpan look.
"Glad my suffering is entertaining."
"Very," she replied immediately.
At least she was honest.
Amy finally calmed herself and folded her arms.
"Okay, Theo isn't wrong. If you feel like you need to apologize, then you probably should."
She paused.
"But…"
Samy looked at her.
"What if she doesn't think anything of it?"
He blinked.
Amy continued,
"What if you're the only one overthinking it?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"If you apologize for something she isn't even bothered by… wouldn't it feel like you're belittling her kindness?"
That hit.
Hard.
Samy went quiet.
Because he had thought the same thing.
More than once.
He looked down.
"She was kind to me," he said softly.
"Warm… even after I said all of that."
His voice dropped even lower.
"And if I apologize the wrong way…"
He let out a quiet breath.
"…it might feel like I'm saying that kindness was not genuine."
"Exactly. So go and apologize to her," Amy said.
Samy blinked.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
He looked at her in complete confusion.
"You just told me it might not be a good idea to apologize… and now you're telling me to apologize?"
Amy looked at him with the kind of disappointment usually reserved for failed exam results.
"This is why boys are dumb."
Samy placed a hand on his chest.
"That felt personal."
"It was."
She didn't even hesitate.
Amy let out a small sigh and continued,
"Remember what Theo said? 'Even if it's not that serious, if you feel like you should, then just apologize.'"
She looked straight at him.
"What do you think he meant?"
Samy thought for a second.
"…To apologize even if it's not serious?"
Amy closed her eyes.
"No, stupid."
She pointed at him like a teacher correcting a particularly hopeless student.
"He meant if something is bothering you, deal with it—
instead of letting it sit there and slowly eat you alive."
Samy went quiet.
Amy's voice softened.
"If your heart keeps stopping every time you think about it…
then clearly, it matters."
She smiled faintly.
"So stop trying to figure out the perfect apology."
"Just be honest."
Samy stared at her for a moment.
Somehow— he understood himself.
He let out a small laugh.
"You're surprisingly wise for someone who laughed at my suffering."
"Yeah, I know," Amy said proudly.
"Anyway, I can already see the church. Let's go before we get late and get judged spiritually."
Samy gave a small nod.
"Fair enough."
And with that, they walked into the church and quietly took their seats.
After church, Samy stood outside near the entrance, the soft morning sunlight falling across the churchyard.
He looked at Amy and gave her a small smile.
"Thanks."
Amy tilted her head.
"For what?"
"For clearing my head."
He let out a quiet breath.
Amy smiled proudly.
"You're welcome. That's what wise people like me are for."
"Someone seems to be having a very good time bonding."
A terrifying voice came from behind.
Samy froze.
That voice.
He knew that voice.
Slowly—
very slowly—
he turned around.
It was Anna.
Standing there.
Smiling.
Which somehow made it worse.
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
Firmly.
Too firmly.
"Wanna recreate David and Goliath?" Anna asked sweetly.
Samy immediately knew peace was never an option.
"You be David," she continued.
"I'll be Goliath."
She leaned closer.
"The only difference is—I'll squash you before you even touch the sling."
Samy looked like a man receiving divine punishment in real time.
Then—
in the distance—
he saw Grace and Daniel walking nearby.
His parents.
His salvation.
Without hesitation, he pointed dramatically.
"Why don't you and Amy play Ruth and Naomi instead?"
Then he added, with the urgency of a man escaping death,
"I have to go play Isaac with Mom and Dad."
And before Anna could respond—
he ran.
Absolutely ran.
Like survival itself had become a competitive sport.
Amy hold off Anna and tried to calm her down for samy.
The next day—
Samy was violently knocked off his bed.
He hit the floor with a thud and looked up in confusion.
"What is happening?!"
Anna stood on his bed like a war commander claiming victory.
She was holding her phone.
"Okay, I'll tell him," she said into it.
Then the call ended.
She looked down at him with deep disappointment.
"I cannot believe you managed to bother me again."
Samy, still half on the floor and half in the afterlife, blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Anna crossed her arms.
"You didn't exchange numbers with Ember?"
A pause.
"She had to call me—to tell you—that she'll be waiting for you early."
Samy sat up straighter.
Anna continued.
"Apparently, her father wants to talk to you."
Silence.
Pure silence.
Samy's soul left his body for a moment.
He stared into nothing.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly what this meant.
Ember had definitely told her father.
And now—
Uncle Joe was going to skin him alive.
At Ember's house—
The thought of being dead within the next minute filled Samy's mind as he stood outside her door.
He stared at it like it was the entrance to judgment itself.
He knew—
the moment he rang the bell,
hell would be unleashed,
and he would be personally dragged into it.
He stood there for a while, trying to gather enough courage to willingly walk into his own execution.
Just as he was mentally preparing his last words—
the door opened.
It was Uncle Joe.
He looked at Samy standing there like a criminal awaiting sentencing and raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing just standing there?"
He stepped aside.
"Come in. I have something to talk to you about."
Those words alone nearly ended Samy's bloodline.
He hesitated for a second—
but he knew there was no escape now.
A man can run from many things.
Consequences are not one of them.
So, with the bravery of a soldier walking into battle—
and the face of a man attending his own funeral—
he stepped inside.
He took a seat.
Uncle Joe sat across from him and calmly offered him some tea.
Samy accepted it like a final meal.
The room was too quiet.
Suspiciously quiet.
After a few moments, Uncle Joe leaned back slightly and said,
"Ember told me everything."
Samy froze.
The tea that had been peacefully going down his throat immediately chose violence.
He started choking.
Coughing.
Fighting for his life.
Possibly ascending.
Uncle Joe calmly pushed the glass of water toward him.
"Careful," he said.
Which somehow felt even more terrifying.
After finally surviving the tea assassination attempt, Samy looked at him with absolute fear.
"…What do you mean?" he asked, like a man begging the universe for mercy.
"That you danced with Ember yesterday," Uncle Joe answered calmly.
"And that everyone loved it."
Samy blinked.
That was it?
No, you insulted me
no, prepare your final words
but—
dancing?
He stared at Uncle Joe, who still looked exactly like the kind of protective father who could legally turn someone into fertilizer for standing too close to his daughter.
And I had danced with her.
Publicly.
In front of people.
With witnesses.
Samy swallowed.
"Yes… but I didn't know I was going to dance with her," he said carefully, like a man explaining himself in court.
Uncle Joe nodded.
"I know. It happened suddenly."
A pause.
"And because of that… I've come to a conclusion."
Samy's soul immediately left his body again.
A conclusion?
This is it.
He has decided the method of execution.
He sat there silently, accepting fate.
Then Uncle Joe continued—
"I want you to help her practice more."
Silence.
Samy blinked.
"…What?"
Uncle Joe leaned back slightly.
"Ember loves dancing. She used to enjoy it a lot, but because of certain circumstances, she stopped about a year ago."
His voice softened a little.
"Yesterday was her first time performing again."
He looked at Samy.
"And I'd like you to help her walk that path again."
Samy stared.
His brain, which had been preparing for death, now had to process responsibility instead.
Frankly, this was somehow harder.
"I want you to help her participate in the upcoming programs," Uncle Joe said. "Guide her a little."
Samy sat there, still confused.
Wait…
I'm not being executed?
This is… trust?
What kind of plot twist was this?
Still, seeing that Uncle Joe was not angry—and realizing this was probably the easiest escape route the universe would ever offer him—
Samy nodded quickly.
"Yes. Of course. I'll help her."
Immediately.
Before the offer changed.
Uncle Joe gave a small nod, satisfied.
At that exact moment—
Ember walked into the room.
"Oh—you already came?"
She looked a little surprised.
Samy turned toward her—
and suddenly Theo's words and Amy's advice came crashing back into his head like unpaid emotional rent.
Just be honest.
Right.
Yes.
Absolutely.
He would.
Probably.
Eventually.
Maybe.
Uncle Joe stood up.
"You two should get going now, or you'll be late."
Ember nodded.
"Alright, Dad."
Samy quickly stood as well and moved toward the door like a man escaping emotional responsibility.
Just before they left, Uncle Joe called out again.
"Samy."
He turned.
Uncle Joe gave him a calm smile.
"It's Ember's first day in class."
A pause.
"Make sure she doesn't feel out of place. Show her around properly."
The smile remained.
But somehow—
it felt like a threat.
A very polite threat.
Samy nodded immediately.
"Yes, sir."
Excellent survival instinct.
And with that—
Samy and Ember stepped outside and began walking toward college together.