“Zoe, you totally did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Myra asked.


    I never expected Myra to think that way. My waist still hurt, and I could already feel a bruise forming.


    I almost wanted to lift my shirt and show her, but I wasn’t that reckless. I wasn’t about to risk it all for a silly crush. I gave her a look but didn’t stop her.


    “Zoe, what was it like when Josh held you? Were his arms super strong? Was his hug…” Myra started.


    “Myra!” I cut her off, my patience running out. “Is there anything even remotely normal in that head of yours?”


    Seeing I was really upset, Myra stuck her tongue out. She mumbled something else, but it was too quiet for me to hear.


    I pressed my hand to the sore spot on my waist and stepped out of the power distribution room first.


    That was when it hit me-Josh had called me over, but he hadn’t asked me a single thing. I ended up embarrassing myself and getting hurt in the process.


    I thought, ‘This guy… Looks like I’ll need to keep my distance. He’s just another contractor. Nothing more. Besides, we only went on one blind date. That’s it.’


    Myra handed something to Josh and followed me out. When she saw me standing by myself, she said, “Zoe, Josh wants us to head to the next testing site. He’ll join uster.”


    I nodded, about to head over with Myra, when my phone rang. It was Oscar. “Where are you? You just left me hanging.”


    I was caught off guard for a second. I thought, ‘Has he really stayed there the whole time? Is he already done exploring the whole amusement park?’


    “I thought you left already,” I answered honestly.


    “I didn’t leave. Where are you?” Oscar asked.


    I


    gave him the location of the testing site, and he said he’d be there soon. But it was almost an hour before he finally showed <ol><li></li></ol>


    “Did you get lost?” I teased.


    Oscar was fiddling with a ball from the ocean pool. No surprise there-he was a former snooker champion, after all. Anything involving balls seemed to be his thing.


    “I’ve walked through every maze in the world. A ce this small isn’t going to make me lose my way,” he said, his usual confidence showing. Aside from ying ball, Oscar loved solving mazes.


    Alvin once told me that Oscar explored a maze wherever he went. He’d nearly tackled every maze on Earth and was now nning to explore some geological ones.


    People were all so different with their hobbies. Some liked racing cars, others enjoyed birdwatching, some loved adventure, while others were collectors…


    “The path through a maze might be confusing, but there’s always a way home,” Oscar suddenly said.


    I paused for a moment before realizing what he meant.


    He was trying to tell me that getting lost wasn’t the end of the world–as long as I remembered which path I wanted to take. He’d also told me before to figure out what I really wanted.


    On the surface, Oscar seemed carefree, but he was actually pretty wise. What mattered most was that he genuinely cared


    about me.


    Now I understood why he came here-to offer advice. Not to tell me to forgive Alvin or give him another chance, but to encourage me to let go of the past and focus on the future,


    My heart softened slightly. “Yeah, thanks, Oscar.”


    Oscar handed me the ball he’d been ying with. “Let’s go. If you ever need anything, just reach out. No matter what happens with Alvin. I’m always with you.”


    “Sure.” I nodded, taking the ball from him.


    A momentter, I felt a tap on the top of my head. He’d patted me gently. “You’re such a great girl. Someone even better wille along and appreciate you.”


    He finished speaking, pulled his hand back, and walked off.


    I was left holding the ocean ball he had been ying with, still warm from his touch. I stared in the direction he’d gone, my heart twisting with a mixture of bitterness and longing.


    田


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