A Hundred Times: Ascending With The Strongest System-Chapter 27 - 26: A Date With Christine [Part 3]

Christine grinned mischievously, sitting down next to her as she leaned on the bench, her eyes falling on Zoey's gift bag for a moment.

"Hmmmm...Tell you what, I'll tell you after you show me what you've gotten me." Christine said with a small smirk.

Zoey blinked suprised, she wasn't expecting Christine to say that. But she was also curious to what Christine could possibly want to be happy, so she opened the bag and handed it to Christine.

"I hope you like it." Zoey said with a small blush, looking away a bit nervously as she shifted a bit uncomfortably in her seat.

"Oh?" Christine gasped slightly as she pulled out a dazzling golden necklace, with a small Mana crystal that shone brilliantly in the night like a diamond. Her eyes widened as she turned the necklace around in her hands, this....this was definetly expensive.

"Zoe-" Christine's expression turned serious as she quickly turned to face Zoey, but was suprised as she felt Zoey's finger on her lips, stopping her from saying another word.

"Shhh!" Zoey shushed her, her eyes narrowing slightly as her crimson eyes glowed slightly.

"I know what you're about to say, and yes, this necklace was pretty expensive. The other gifts are too, however, you're more important than the prices behind these gifts, and I want you to keep them for me, as it would make me very happy if you did." Zoey said, her tone soft but very serious.

Christine stared at her for a moment, suprised by how quickly her demeanor shifted. The cute and easily flustered girl was nowhere to be seen at the moment, replaced by a more serious and determined one.

"...."Christine nodded silently, to which Zoey removed her finger from her lips, a sigh of relief escaping Zoey's lips as she felt relieved.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

"Thank you..." Christine said as she stared at the necklace once more in her hands, a blush forming on her cheeks as she felt her heart beat faster.

"You're welcome, Christine. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me, for helping me in my worst times, and for being my only friend, despite my terrible reputation, I'm truly grateful to have you in my life." Zoey said as she let out a happy smile.

Christine's face flushed at the smile that send butterflies in her stomach, her heart leaping at the sight that was worth more than gold in that very moment. She had never seen Zoey smile like this before, usually her smile would be soft, and a bit restrained.

But right now, she could feel the happiness radiate off her face, shining as bright as the sun. Christine smiled slightly, she couldn't help but admit that she felt happy seeing Zoey happy, it was a blissful feeling, one that she could get addicted to.

"Could you..." Christine started, extending the necklace towards Zoey, blushing slightly as she avoided eye contact, "Help put it on?" Christine asked, her tone a bit hesitant.

"Of course. Hold still." Zoey said with a determined nod as she grabbed the necklace from Christine and gently, helped her put it on with slow, careful movements.

Christine flinched slightly as she felt Zoey's hands at the sides of her neck, fumbling a bit with the necklace as she put it on, and after a few seconds, she pulled back, admiring her work.

"There, it suits you." Zoey said as she stared at Zoey with a small smile, admiring how the necklace fitted her perfectly, adding to her charm.

Christine's hands gently caressed the necklace around her neck with her hands, getting used to the feeling of having something so expensive on her neck.

"I like it....Thank you, once again. I'll forever cherish it." Christine said as she grasped the small Mana crystal on the necklace with sheer determination.

"I'm glad you like it," Zoey said her gaze drifted upwards at the stars in the sky, closing her eyes for a moment as she let a huge sense of calm wash over her being for a moment.

Christine studied her facial expression, noticing a blissful smile etched on her face as she looked like she didn't have a care in the world. After a few seconds, Zoey finally broke the silence between them.

"Christine," Zoey suddenly started, "You still didn't answer my question." Zoey said as she sat upright on the bench.

"What is it? What would make you the most happy?" Zoey asked, curious to what it might be that could fill her best friend's heart with joy.

Christine grinned as she clutched the gift bag, "Well, I still haven't searched the whole gift package yet." Christine said as she began to look through the gifts, finding quality products, a few earings that complimented her necklace, all worth their fare share of money, and definetly expensive.

But there wasn't an item she was hoping Zoey would have, and that made her sigh slightly.

"What's wrong? Are the gifts not good for you?" Zoey asked, her tone a bit worried and slightly panicked as she took Christine's sigh for dissapointment.

"What are you saying? These gifts are wonderful!" Christine said seriously, pouting slightly at Zoey's worried tone. "However...somethings missing."

"What? What's missing?" Zoey asked, her curiousity reaching it's peak.

"A ring." Christine replied, causing Zoey's eyes to widen in shock, her jaw dropping slightly as the word repeated in her mind like an echo.

"A-a ring?" Zoey repeated as her cheeks burned a deep crimson, her heart beating hard in her chest like a drum, threatening to break free like a caged bird.

"Yes, a ring, silly," Christine grinned as she noticed how red Zoey's face had become, figuring that her teasing was extremely effective, a low pleasurable chuckle leaving her lips.

"I thought you'd be proposing to me tonight, that would've made me very happy." Christine said, suddenly grabbing Zoey's hand, intensifying the blush that coloured her cheeks by a enhanced degree.

"B-but Christine! I'm not 18 yet!" Zoey blurted out, her mind reeling at the thought of marriage. Christine grinned as she intertwined their fingers, leaning closer, they're faces inches from each other.

"I know that, but it doesn't mean that we'll be getting married right away. I still have to wait for you, I know that much." Christine continued her teasing, before pulling away with a small laugh, finding Zoey's speechless and blushing face too amusing.

"Jeez...don't tease me like that." Zoey muttered to herself, trying to calm down her racing heart. She stood up from the bench as she sighed slightly, shaking her head to get rid of any thoughts of marriage between them. Not yet atleast....

Christine stretched her limbs with a yawn as she got up beside Zoey with a sleepy yawn, the exhaustion of the day catching up to her.

"I'll be heading home now, my shifts starts early in the morning, so I need to go to sleep." Christine said, sighing, deep down she wanted to stay with Zoey a bit longer, but fate was cruel tonight.

"Allow me to walk you home." Zoey said, surprising Christine as she thought that Zoey would've left.

"Hehe, sure." Christine said as she started to walk ahead, with Zoey walking next to her.

As they walked, they engaged in small conversation, and by the time they were done, they had already reached Christine's apartment. They stood a few metres from the apartment, before Christine turned around.

"Thanks for making tonight special, I really enjoyed it." Christine said, her words genuine.

"No problem, and I'm glad you did. Goodnignt Christine." Zoey finished off as she gave a goodbye hug to Christine, the two of them standing there for what seemed like a life time, but was in actuality a few seconds, before pulling back.

Christine started walking back to her apartment as Zoey stood there for a few seconds, watching her go, before finally turning around with a small, blissful sigh escaping her lips.

'Today was eventful to say the least.' Zoey thought as she started to walk back towards her apartment, walking down the pavement of the streets as cars zoomed by here and there.

Her thoughts drifted toward the [Knight's Oath] sword she had yet to buy, a grin spreading on her face as she thought of the power it wielded.

'I'll need to clear a dungeon to afford the sword, I'll try a D-Rank one. Ever since I've levelled up, the cost for exp has greately increased for me to level up again, so I'll need to push myself if I want to get stronger.' Zoey thought, determined.

After a while of walking, Zoey's apartment came into view. The promise of a good night's rest, and tommorow's challenges, called for her as she increased her pace and started running.

'Hm?' Zoey thought as she saw a sleek black limousine parked infront of her apartment, a man dressed in black standing outside. Beside him, a gorgeous woman with long black hair and a yellow coat stood firm, her gaze firm and serious, as a puff of smoke left her lips as she continued to smoke her cigarette.

'This can't be good...' Zoey thought as she stopped in her tracks, the woman and mysterious man's gazes finding her.