The magpie's significance became clear when Isaac later returned.
It turned out that Miranda was pregnant.
The magpie's chirping at dawn was supposed to be a good omen, but Isaac's mood was far from celebratory. He looked worried, and this news had become a heavy burden on his mind. He needed to both reassure Miranda and devise a way to convince her to terminate the pregnancy.
Their lack of funds was a significant obstacle in this pregnancy. The few thousand dollars required for the procedure had him so stressed that he felt like his hair was turning gray.
As the evening approached, Amelia called Jack to invite him to the library to study together. Lately, they had been studying together more frequently.
They had transitioned from secretly hiding their meetings from their roommates. Now, they were openly comfortable with each other.
Whenever Amelia encountered difficulties, she would turn to Jack for help. He would always manage to resolve the issues with ease. This had deepened her admiration for him, and a subtle affection had begun to grow.
Samuel and Isaac had been privately speculating about whether Jack and Amelia were together.
But every time they brought it up, Jack would vehemently deny it. He had sensed a subtle emotional current between them. He believed Amelia's feelings were rooted in appreciation for his academic guidance.
Despite his best efforts, his past relationships had eroded his confidence in love.
As usual, they planned to have dinner together before studying.
In the cafeteria, Jack took care of getting the food, while Amelia reserved their seats.
Since it was snowing outside, Jack had gotten them both bowls of hot casserole soup. Amelia gently wiped down the chair for Jack. Once he was seated, she thoughtfully served him his favorite dish.
As Amelia was about to serve the soup, she accidentally spilled it all over Jack.
Panicked, Amelia quickly grabbed some tissues to help Jack clean up the mess. Her face turned bright red as she apologized. "Why don't you take those clothes off and I'll wash them for you?" she suggested.
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