The new day at the university was greeted with the warmth of the sun slowly peeking through the clouds, casting a golden glow on the campus. It had been almost a month since Honey joined the university, and she was gradually finding her place and absorbing college life. In her painting sessions, all her classmates were amazed by her talent, and the admiration in their eyes filled Honey's heart with happiness.
Inside Arthur's laboratory, Edward, Carlo, and Max, the usual trio, were hanging out. However, Carlo was feeling a bit annoyed at Edward and Max. They had pulled a prank on him by making him wear an armor costume in the painting class, where Honey was also having her session. As a result, Carlo was mistaken for a pervert by Honey's professor and scolded.
Carlo grumbled, "You two just had to drag me into your ridiculous prank. Now, I'm the one getting scolded by Honey's professor." Edward grinned mischievously and said, "Well, you did look pretty funny in that armor, Carlo." Max joined in the teasing and added, "Yeah, you were quite the sight!"
Carlo retorted, "Oh, ha ha, very funny, you two." He rolled his eyes playfully, though he couldn't hide a hint of embarrassment. Despite the prank, he was glad to see Honey's painting session was going well.
Edward, trying to lighten the mood, says, "If you want to cry, use these," and he hands Carlo a pack of tissues. "Where did you get these?" Carlo asked while staring at the packs of tissues.
Edward responds, "I went to the shopping street and won them as a prize."
Carlo rushes to his backpack and he checks inside. He suddenly becomes frustrated as he realizes that his lottery tickets, which he was hoping to win a TV prize with, were used by Edward as a prank. Edward jests, "If I can't win, you can't win either," and laughs. Carlo grumbles, "Ah! My fantasy life with a TV," and leans his head against the wall.
Edward, ever mischievous, runs in front of Carlo and declares, "Don't worry! We still have lottery tickets."
Carlo's excitement surges as he faces Edward with hope, asking, "Edward, you still have more?"
Edward playfully responds, "Of course... not. But we'll make them."
Max chimes in while holding a cigarette in his hand, "They mean the same."
Edward stands tall on the table, determined, and exclaims, "Don't underestimate me. I'll have my revenge this year!" and laughs.
The atmosphere was tense as Arthur and Honey walked and they found them loitering around. He couldn't hide his annoyance and immediately remarked, "This is not your hangout lounge!" He settled himself on his office table, hoping to put an end to their shenanigans.
Edward, always the mischievous one, started circling around a pillar and proposed, "Then let's form a club!" His eyes gleamed with mischief, and he seemed amused by the idea.
Arthur couldn't resist poking fun at them and teased Carlo, "A club to wear armor and peep at nude girls?" The sarcasm in his voice was evident, and he wanted to remind Carlo of the recent embarrassing incident.
Carlo let out a frustrated groan, realizing that their escapade had reached the ears of other teachers as well. He couldn't help but ask, "Professor, how did you know that?"
Arthur's grin widened, and he casually replied, "I read about it in the university's newspaper." He had to admit, the whole incident had provided some amusing fodder.
"That's terrible." Carlo's face fell, and he knew that this incident would be the talk of the university for some time. He grabbed his backpack and made his decision to leave. Sighing deeply, he uttered, "I'm going home."
However, Arthur called out to Carlo, not letting him escape so easily, "Hey, Carlo!" He had another favor to ask. "If you're going back, can you take Honey to the home center?" He gestured towards Honey, who was quietly standing beside him.
Carlo was taken aback by the unexpected request. It seemed like Arthur was giving him a chance to spend some time with Honey. He mustered the courage to clarify, "Take her out?" seeking confirmation.
Arthur nodded in affirmation, and Honey beamed at Carlo, her smile radiating warmth like the sun. "Please take care of me," she said sweetly, making Carlo's heart skip a beat.
In that moment, amidst the playful banter and teasing, something blossomed between Carlo and Honey. A bond that could lead to something beautiful, and both of them were eager to explore where it might take them.
☘
Carlo and Honey continue walking down the shopping street, and the atmosphere is bustling with vendors and customers. The street is lined with various shops and stalls, offering a wide array of products, from fresh produce to clothing and trinkets. The street is vibrant with colorful banners and decorations, creating a lively and welcoming ambiance.
As they stroll along, a voice calls out Carlo's name, and they turn to see an old man accompanied by four others approaching them. The man is bald, wearing red vendor clothes with a sash displaying the name of the shopping street. His stern expression and imposing presence suggest that he holds a significant position in the community.
Honey looks at Carlo and asks, "Who's he?" Carlo explains, "That's Evie's father. He's the head of the neighborhood council for this shopping street." Honey is intrigued by the familial connection, but she remarks, "They don't look alike."
Evie's father fixes his gaze on Carlo, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He teases, "If you see Edward Hayes, tell him this. We made this lottery ticket with the combined wits of this shopping street." He proudly displays the lottery ticket, and the group bursts into wicked laughter, amused by his playful remark. Carlo can't help but feel concerned for Edward, knowing that Evie's father is quite cunning.
As they bid farewell to Evie's father and his companions, Honey turns to Carlo with a smile. "Your friend's father seems like quite a character," she says. Carlo nods, still trying to contain his amusement, and replies, "That's an understatement. He's a handful, but he's got a good heart."
They resume their walk down the shopping street, the playful laughter of Evie's father and his friends lingering in the air. Honey takes in the sights and sounds, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the place. Carlo, relieved that the encounter went well, feels a sense of warmth, knowing that he and Honey are getting closer.
☘
In the midst of the laboratory's organized chaos, a lottery ticket sits encased in an acrylic glass with various scientific equations and illustrations adorning its surface. It appears as though the ticket's contents are under careful examination, as if trying to decipher the secrets to winning the grand prize.
The laboratory was abuzz with Edward's peculiar experiments, as he stood there wearing laboratory glasses, like a mad scientist in his element. Pink and green chemicals swirled in various beakers and flasks, while a boiling tray occupied the center of his attention. The room was filled with the aroma of peculiar concoctions and a faint hint of curiosity.
In the midst of this bizarre scene, Evie cautiously stepped into the lab, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Edward's eccentric display. "Eh? It's just you, Edward?" she uttered in surprise.
Edward, always the playful one, perked up at the sight of Evie and declared with a grin, "Only you, Evelyn Madison, can be my partner after all!" He playfully sauntered towards her, as if attempting to give her a hug, but before he could get too close, Evie swiftly kicked him away, sending him stumbling into a nearby table. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, rubbing the spot where he had collided with the table.
However, in the blink of an eye, Edward recovered and nonchalantly said, "If you're not nice to me, I won't take you out for drives." He then returned to his seat, acting like nothing had happened.
Confused, Evie responded with a puzzled "Huh?" and proceeded to take a seat, placing her bag beside her. Edward, in his characteristic fashion, continued his enigmatic behavior. "My goal is the car for the grand prize," he stated, pointing a finger at Evie.
But as Evie observed his strange demeanor, she couldn't help but sense that Edward was up to one of his unusual tricks again. "You're doing that again? That kind of trick isn't going to work," she retorted, not easily swayed by his antics.
Unfazed, Edward carefully poured a green chemical into a test tube and replied, "It's not a trick. It's an artwork called a 'defect'." He seemed genuinely invested in his peculiar creations.
Rolling her eyes, Evie responded with a dismissive "Save your excuses," and buried herself in reading her paper, trying her best to ignore Edward's antics.
As they bantered back and forth, Edward decided to playfully push his luck. "As long as I'm not exposed, it's fine. We're friends, right? Don't tell that to your old man," he quipped with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I'll tell him, don't you worry," Evie replied coolly, not buying into Edward's antics.
Ever the jester, Edward couldn't resist teasing her further. "Then, I'll tell everyone your wish for love at the shrine every New Year," he declared with a wicked grin.
Instantly, Evie's expression turned to one of sheer surprise and embarrassment, realizing her secret wish had been laid bare. She scrambled to defend herself, exclaiming, "I've never done that!"
Unperturbed, Edward produced a bond paper, a damning piece of evidence. "Yes, you have," he said teasingly, waving the paper in front of her like a magician with a trick.
Fueled by irritation, Evie couldn't contain her frustration any longer. She punches the bond paper from Edward's hand and tore it to shreds in an act of defiance, much to his surprise.
Edward's exclamation of disbelief was met with a fierce, beast-like glare from Evie, who had had enough of his antics. The laboratory setting, now filled with a peculiar mix of chemical scents, witnessed yet another episode of their playful banter.
☘
The supermarket bustled with shoppers, their carts filled with groceries and everyday necessities. Honey and Carlo strolled through the aisles, the bright fluorescent lights casting a warm glow on the neatly arranged shelves of products. Honey's eyes wandered around, curious and fascinated by the variety of items displayed.
Amidst the wide array of products, Honey's attention was drawn to something peculiar—a large, eye-catching rock placed prominently on a display stand. The rock stood tall and majestic, its smooth surface gleaming under the store lights. A banner beside it proudly proclaimed, "Recommended Product: High Quality Garden Stone."
Honey's gaze fixated on the rock, as if captivated by its unique presence. Carlo noticed her curiosity and inquired, "It seems that something's been troubling you." Honey turned to him, her soft smile evident in her response. "Yes," she said, "they're all great, so I'm troubled." Her innocent admiration for the rock amused Carlo, who found himself both perplexed and charmed by her genuine interest.
However, as Carlo observed Honey's fascination with the rock, he couldn't help but misinterpret her intent. Assuming she had a talent for sculpting, he awkwardly asked, "Honey, you aren't only good at oil paintings but you carve as well, right?" Honey's puzzled expression made it clear that Carlo had misunderstood.
"What do you mean?" Honey inquired softly, her confusion evident. Carlo stumbled in his response, realizing his mistake. "Oh, I didn't think you carved as well," he clarified, feeling slightly embarrassed by the misunderstanding.
Honey's smile persisted, and she reassured Carlo, "I'm actually looking for a stone to make pickled vegetables." Carlo's surprise was evident, as he had assumed her interest lay in the artistic realm. Undeterred, he decided to help her find the right stone.
Approaching a staff member, Carlo politely inquired, "Excuse me, do you have a pickle stone here?" The staff member regretfully replied, "I'm very sorry. Our store doesn't have it." Carlo thanked them and turned back to Honey, relaying the unfortunate news.
Honey nodded, her smile undiminished. "Thank you for trying, Carlo. I appreciate it," she said warmly. Carlo couldn't help but be charmed by her graciousness, and he was determined to find a solution. "Don't worry, Honey. We'll find a way," he assured her.
Determined to assist her, Carlo pondered other ways to find the perfect stone for her pickled vegetables.
☘
As Edward examines the two lottery tickets, one from Carlo and the other that he made, he scrutinizes them carefully to see if he really made a defect. After a moment, he realizes that he made a perfect defect and he says, "Perfect." Evie sees the lottery tickets that Edward holds and she whispers in his ear, her voice dripping with amusement, "How naive."
Edward suddenly takes a surprise and quickly hides behind the acrylic glass, fearing that Evie will rip it again. Evie, meanwhile, walks while holding a cup of coffee, playing the role of a villain as she glares at Edward. She says, "Edward, did you forget something very important?" Her grin is mischievous. Edward retorts, "It's no use trying to deceive me, Evelyn Madison!"
Undeterred, Evie chuckles evilly and says, "Did you take a proper look at the back of the tickets?" Edward looks curious and asks, "What?"
Evie reveals her master plan, "In order to prevent forgeries, I designed a stamp on the real ticket." With a flourish, she produces the genuine lottery ticket, complete with a cat stamp on its back, and shows it to Edward. Intrigued, Edward emerges from behind the acrylic glass and eagerly rushes towards Evie, eager to inspect the ticket closely. He deftly takes it from her hands, studying it intently, as if to validate its authenticity.
Evie continues, "The fake one you made doesn't have that stamp, so it's impossible to use that ticket in the lottery." While she speaks, Edward grabs a piece of wood and starts carving it with a wooden hammer to create a stamp. Evie observes him, thinking he's ignoring her, and says, "Did you hear me?"
Edward brushes her off, declaring, "I'm making a stamp right now, so don't bother me." Evie then sits on a blue chair and tries to reason with Edward, "Just give up, will you?"
Edward, full of determination, stands up and takes a deep breath, declaring, "But I want to eat the large beef steak!"
Evie clarifies his intentions, "Didn't you say you wanted the car?"
Edward stands up, taking a deep breath, and declares, "As long as I can wipe the smile off your old man's face, car or beef, it's all good." His gaze fixated on Evie, he appears determined to outwit her father at all costs.
Suddenly, Evie's patience reaches its limit, and she springs to her feet, demanding, "Anyhow, stop this scam!" She tries to take the wood from Edward's hands, leading to a slight struggle between the two.
In the midst of their struggle, Edward accidentally hits Arthur's table, causing a picture frame to fall to the floor with a soft thud.
Evie gathers herself and reaches down to pick up the fallen picture frame. As she gazes at the photograph, a mix of emotions crosses her face—curiosity, wonder, and perhaps even a hint of surprise. The photograph captures a smiling Arthur on the right, an unidentified man on the left, and a beautiful woman holding a wine glass, whom Evie recognizes as Rika.