Raegan was amused by his reaction, beaming. She felt an overwhelming tenderness. Seeing this side of Mitchel, surprised and bewildered, was a delightful contrast.

Raegan's voice, gentle and sweet, carried her confession. “Mitchel, I've had feelings for you for a long span of time!"

Mitchel's face showed more emotions than ever before, displaying a blend of joy and astonishment. “When was that exactly?"

Raegan's face fell as she recalled the past. “Remember me asking if you'd ever been to Tenassie?"

"Yeah." Mitchel did recall. It was on their way back from paying respects to her grandmother.

He gave it some thought but confirmed he had never visited Tenassie.

However, with Raegan mentioning it again, he started to piece things together. “Did our paths cross there?"

Raegan confirmed with a nod, "Back then, I was attending middle school in Tenassie. My grandmother had no means of income, and my uncle wasn't dependable. To ease my grandmother's financial strain, I dedicated myself to my studies in hopes of earning scholarships. The school recognized my efforts, rewarding me with scholarships for three years and covering all my tuition and boarding expenses. Yet, this generosity from the school sparked envy among some fellows. One Friday, on my way back to my grandmother's house, they confronted me on the road. Despite being outnumbered, I stood my ground and defended myself with a brick."

This memory was vivid in Raegan's mind. She had only one thought at that moment. Showing weakness would only invite more bullying. She was determined to stand strong and show them she was no pushover.

On that day, her clothes were ripped, but she faced the harsh cold wind defiantly. Word by word, she warned her bullies, “If you hurt me, this won't end here. I'll report it to the school, and if the school does nothing, I'll take it to the town education bureau. If they don't handle it, I'll escalate it to the county, then the city. I'll ensure you face consequences!"

Bullies often picked on those they perceived as weak. They saw Raegan as an easy mark because she had no parents to stand up for her. Back then, Raegan just had a frail grandmother and an indifferent uncle who wouldn't cause a fuss.

However, Raegan was well aware of this tactic. Understanding she couldn't count on anyone but herself, she resolved to stand up to the bullying.

Raegan's resolve frightened the bullies away. But as they left, one of them, not quite ready to back down, intentionally kicked Raegan's school bag into the river, sarcastically remarking, "Oops, didn't see it there. Your bag was in the way."

That school bag held Raegan's newly received textbooks and a set of practice books from the teacher. Nobody else valued them, but to her, they were invaluable. She remembered precisely that the practice set cost $72.8. That amount was equivalent to her family's living expenses for a year, a sum beyond reach.

The school assumed that with the scholarship money Raegan received annually, covering the $72.8 wouldn't be an issue.

What the school didn't know was that Raegan's uncle had taken the money her grandmother had saved for her college education.

The school had been supportive of Raegan. She felt she couldn't ask for more without feeling embarrassed.

And her grandmother, feeling guilty for not being able to provide the needed money, fell sick. Even while feeling sick, her grandmother would collect empty plastic bottles to sell, saving every penny she could.

The teacher realized Raegan hadn't bought the new textbooks but didn't make a big deal out of it, instead giving her the practice books left over from other students. The practice books were practically new.

Raegan was over the moon, eager to show her grandmother so the latter wouldn't have to pinch pennies any longer. She believed she could earn another scholarship next year.