Chapter 19

Leon, Zane, and Steve stood motionless in place after getting scolded by Cheryl. They stared at the scattered pearls, the pieces of crystal embedded in their legs, and the shredded photo on the ground. They said nothing. Cheryl had refused to go home with them because she regarded them as harbingers of bad luck and the source of her suffering. Her words were like knives stabbing into their hearts, followed by a painful twist of the blades. It was agonizing. No one moved. Tears streamed down their cheeks. After a while, Leon looked up and wiped off his tears. He promised, "Cheryl, I won't give up. I'll strive for your forgiveness." It was as though his motivation had been revived by an unknown entity. "I'd be surprised if you'd already moved on so quickly after 20 years of growing up with each other," said Steve. "Cheryl must've told us all these hurtful things because she's devastated. I mean, what kind of apology would it be if we succeeded in gaining her forgiveness on the