My Beloved Has Risen from Death’s Embrace

She ran over like a gust of wind and patted his shoulder, "Hey! Why are you here again? Was your grandpa late again?"

Orion nodded, his eyes darting around nervously, though thankfully hidden behind his sunglasses.

He was deliberately waiting for her

"Hmph!"

"I know it!"

Xanthea stomped her foot in slight annoyance. That old liat he had just promised her yesterday!

"Where do you live? I can have our housekeeper drive you home."

Before she could finish, Orion pulled out a sapphire German Bearded Iris from his clothes. The petals, adorned with soft butter yellow speckles that bloomed from the inside out, were full of color and gracefully outlined. The flower was stunningly beautiful!

Xanthea's eyes lit up instantly. "Wow, what a gorgeous iris!"

Orion handed it to her, and she looked at him in disbelief, is this for me? Thank you, thank you so much!"

"It's so pretty!"

She took it, admiring it from every angle, and even gave it a little kiss.

The iris, in full bloom under the shining sun, was a sight to behold, but Orion thought it paled in comparison to the brightness of her smile at that moment Xanthea felt she had received the highest praise and scratched her head shyly. His fanboy filter for her seemed pretty strong! Her parents and brothers had often joked she was as hard to catch as a mischievous monkey

"I don't have anything to give you in return. Should I sing you another song?"

But she hadn't written any new songs recently.

"I'll stay here and play some games with you!"

Orion nodded.

Xanthea pulled out her unbeatable grade school trio from her backpack a Sudoku puzzle, a Rubik's cube, and a book of brainteasers!

These were the games she often played with her classmates-they were also tools she used to outsmart them. But she could go easy on him.

"Let's get the rules first. We'll pick a game and see who can finish it first within a set time. The winner gets to make a request or choose a punishment for the loser, deal?"

Onion agreed, familiar with her game rules.

Seeing how quickly he agreed, Xanthea smirked mischievously, like a sly little fox watching an adorable, clueless prey jump into its trap. He was so naive, wasn't he? Didn't he know about her notorious reputation at Crestwood Primary School? He was bound to lose!

"You better watch out!"

She laid out the Sudoku cards, two Rubik's cubes, and the book of brainteasers in front of them, "Pick one!"

Orion grabbed a Sudoku card, and Xanthea, trying to be kind, wamed him, "Are you sure? I'm top of my class in math! Maybe try a different one?"

He shook his head.

"Alright then!"

"One card for you, and one card for me."

After dividing the cards, Xanthea leisurely twirled her pen, not in a hurry to start. Based on pastom expected him to experience som struggle like her other classmates, not able to fill in a single square. Yet, she hadn't even started when he handed his completed card to

her.

00

Xanthea stared at the completed Sudaku card, which was without a single mistake, her mouth agape wide enough to swallow an egg

whole.

He had gotten them all right-how was he so good?

it seemed she had underestimated him!

"I hadn't said 'start' yet, so it doesn't count!"

To avoid punishment, she resorted to playing dumb. She thought he would be upset but he just put down the hej card, indicating she could start again.