Whenever we happened to cross paths on campus, she would brighten with an especially radiant smile, spread her arms, and rush to hug me tightly, as if reuniting with a long-lost relative. Though it was clear to everyone that we commuted together every morning, no one dared to ruin the moment by stating the obvious.
For my part, I used these opportunities to connect with her classmates, who treated her kindly. Allowing her to cling to me as usual, I offered polite introductions:
“Thank you for looking after my sister, Adeline. I am Amanda, the eldest daughter of the Jelite family. My sister may be a bit quirky at times, but that’s part of her charm. Please continue to take care of her. If you need anything, you can find me in 2-A or the library. Oh, and as a token of friendship, please take this.”
From my bag, I handed out small booklets to her startled classmates. They examined them closely, wide-eyed.
“These are study guides for the upcoming exams. I sell full reference books covering the entire first-year curriculum, so if you’re interested, feel free to reach out. Well, Adi, I’ll see you after class!”
I gently stroked my sister’s cheek as she gazed at me wistfully, then headed off to my destination.
“What… what is this?!”
Adeline’s classmates flipped through the booklets in astonishment, their eyes glued to the clear diagrams, neatly written notes, and highlighted key points.
“It’s my sister’s study guide,” Adeline explained with pride.
“The handwriting is stunning! And the diagrams are so easy to understand…”
“Yes! My sister’s cursive is practically art. I could stare at it longer than at some paintings.”
[The classmates, though bemused by the adoration, wisely refrained from commenting aloud.]
Thanks to these booklets, the classmates who received them improved their grades significantly, and word spread. As a result, the sales of my reference books soared—a fortunate side effect.
Shortly after, I introduced Adeline to Freddie, a senior I had grown close to during our library study sessions.
While tutoring my sister in the library one day, Freddie approached us with his usual friendly smile.
“Hello, Amanda. Is this the famous little sister I’ve heard so much about?”
Looking up from our books, I saw Freddie standing nearby. Rising to my feet, I motioned for my sister to do the same. Standing beside her, I lowered my voice to introduce her.
“Yes, Freddie. This is my beloved sister, Adeline. Isn’t she lovely? Doesn’t her kindness just radiate from her? Perhaps it’s even purified you a bit!”
“Purified, you say? Nice to meet you, Adeline. I’m Freddie Shucott, your sister’s study partner here in the library. She speaks of you often, so it’s an honor to finally meet you.”
Freddie extended his hand for a handshake. My sister glanced at it, then at me, hesitating. With a subtle nod of encouragement, I watched as she cautiously shook his hand.
From that point onward, the three of us often spent time together in the library and quickly grew close.
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