Chapter 7

The weekend arrived as scheduled.

When I got there, Julian and his friends were already geared up.

From a distance, a group of them stood outside the ski rental hall, laughing and roughhousing.

As I got closer, I realized there were far more than just "a few friends" as he’d said.

All the familiar faces from the private room were there.

Julian was the first to see me. He walked over, signing apologetically:

“I’m sorry, big sis. I didn’t expect so many classmates to come.”

“If you didn’t bring enough money, I can put it on my credit first.”

I looked into his amber eyes and slowly shook my head.

“It’s fine. I have enough.”

Amber intimately linked her arm through mine.

“Lena is so awesome, big sis! So rich!”

The others joined in with their feigned enthusiasm.

“Thank you, big sis!”

“Big sis, you’re so beautiful and kind!”

I could tell not a single word was heartfelt.

Their eyes scanned me back and forth, like they were evaluating a fake that was about to be exposed.

Julian glanced at them, the corners of his mouth tensing slightly.

When it was time to pay the deposit, I pulled out a stack of scattered banknotes from my bag.

There were crumpled fifty-dollar bills, and ten-dollar bills with curled edges.

Amber exaggeratedly gasped, “Wow! Lena, big sis, you didn’t smash your piggy bank, did you?”

I calmly nodded. “I did.”

Julian’s head snapped towards me.

He knew about that piggy bank.

I had bought it when we first got together, specifically to save for our “travel fund.”

I told him that when we saved enough, we'd go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights.

He had smiled then, signing:

*Sounds great! I also want to go to Antarctica to see penguins.*

At the time, I didn't respond.

What he didn't know was that I only had enough time left to save for that one trip to Iceland.

I wanted to see the Northern Lights at the last journey of my life.

I wanted Julian to accompany me on the final trip of my life.

But now, the jar was empty.

Julian stared at me.

“We’re not going to Iceland?”

“We are,” I replied casually.

“I found other ways to make money.”

Everyone around us immediately started teasing, feigning congratulations for my "newfound wealth."

Only Julian’s face grew darker.