“Jolly! Why are you here? Didn’t you go to Europe?”
Rachel couldn’t believe that Jolly, who had been missing for some time, appeared in front of her as if she had fallen from the sky.
“We did, but we went back to Enistan because we were worried about you guys when we heard that something happened back there after a few days of being there. We still didn’t hear anything about you at all. We didn’t know what happened until we returned to Riverdale.”
“You even went back to Enistan? Have you guys gone crazy?!”
“Don’t worry. Things were a little unexpected, but Leroy and I are safe now. I will explain to you later.”
“Is Leroy here as well? Where is he?”
“He is outside.”
Following Jolly’s gaze, Rachel looked outside the French windows of the homestay, and suddenly saw a man and a woman standing in front of a stall selling lollipops that was set up in front of a shop across the street.
Surprised, she asked, “Isn’t that…
“Carmen Frazier? The beloved daughter of the Grandeur Group?”
Justin seemed slightly startled as well upon hearing that before he looked outside.
At this moment, Leroy and Carmen were standing in front of the stall that sold lollipops outside.
“Which one do you want? I’ll buy it for you.”
“The orange-flavored one is delicious. The strawberry one is good, too. Let me think about it.”
Even though the woman who had a simple ponytail and was dressed in jeans overalls was in her twenties, she looked as innocent as a lamb with her waist bent, her face almost sticking to the glass cabinet where the lollipops were sold. Her eyes were wide as she watched the lollipops intently.
“Excuse me.” Leroy smiled helplessly. “We will take both.”
“No, no.” Carmen quickly waved her hand in rejection. “Leroy, I can’t eat two.”
“Don’t worry about it. You can take your time with them.”
She still shook her head, but after hesitating for a long minute, her eyes suddenly lit up when she suddenly thought of something. “Right! We can buy two, and give one of it to Jolly!”
The stall owner looked at her stunned, but after coming to his senses, he had sympathy in his eyes as he bagged the lollipops and handed it to Leroy.
“Thank you!” Carmen cheered with a sweet smile on her face.
Rachel and the rest of them came out of the homestay right then.
As soon as Carmen saw Jolly, she immediately hopped over. “Jolly! Leroy bought me lollipops! What flavor do you want? We have an orange and a strawberry one. I’ll let you pick.”
Hearing that, Jolly resignedly cooed, “You can go ahead and eat it first. I won’t eat it now.”
“I won’t eat either then. I will eat with you.”
Leroy came up from behind and said hello to Rachel and Justin as the women talked.
It was only then did Carmen see them behind Jolly. She then tilted her head and looked at the small group with curious eyes.
“Carmen, this is Chris and Justin. They are both Leroy’s and my friends,” Jolly introduced.
As realization hit Carmen, she quickly greeted, “Hello!”
“Hello, Miss Frazier.” Rachel returned the greeting with a start.
Carmen then waved her lollipop around and said, “You can just call me Carmen.”
Rachel and Justin exchanged glances when they heard her words.
That’s weird, they thought simultaneously.
Jolly, too, had a complicated expression on her face. “I will tell you later.”
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