episode : 4

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🌞 Morning – The Garden

Victor plucked a flower from a tree. Suddenly, Lily stormed out from behind him and yelled:

Lily: “Hey! That's my flower tree! Who told you to pick it?”

Victor: “Yours? Is your name written on it?”

Lily: “Yes! Yesterday I stood under the tree and said, ‘This is my tree.’ That counts as writing it!”

Victor: “Well today I said, ‘It's mine!’ Now the writing’s changed!”

Lily put her hands on her hips, cheeks puffed out:

Lily: “You do this every day. You're such a baby!”

Victor raised an eyebrow:

Victor: “And you walk around early like ‘Victor hippo’!”

Lily: “Hippo? You sounded so bloated after juice last night the cat ran away in fear!”

Victor: “Well, I at least slept! You walk around like a ghost at night!”

Lily: “A ghost? You puffed up like a balloon last night after juice—Dad asked, ‘Is Victor inflating?’”

Victor laughed:

Victor: “And you hiccuped so loudly Sima thought there was an earthquake!”

They both laughed, but quickly turned serious again.

Victor: “I’m not talking to you!”

Lily: “Well, I said I won’t talk first!”

Victor: “You’re copying what I say!”

Lily: “No, you copied me first!”

From a distance, Sima chuckled:

Sima: “These two actually survive on fights!”

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Afternoon – Lily’s Room

Lily pouted, tears in her eyes, burying her face in a pillow. Her mother, Mina, quietly came in and sat beside her.

Mina (teasingly): “What happened this time, princess? Who did my royal daughter wrong?”

Lily pulled the pillow away and retorted:

Lily: “Victor! He keeps arguing! Today he ate my apple and called me a hippo!”

Mina (mock-exaggerated): “Oh, called you a hippo? You’re a sweet spotted deer! That’s adorable!”

Lily with a pout:

Lily: “You just call everyone cute and that gets me angry!”

Mina: “Alright then… from now on I’ll call you—the scariest fierce tigress on earth!”

Lily burst into a laugh:

Lily: “Mom! You’re so dramatic!”

Mina stroked her back:

Mina: “Remember when you said ‘I won’t marry Victor, his snoring scares the birds away’?”

Lily (laughing): “Oh my God, Mom! You remember that?”

Mina: “I remember everything. You're everything to me. So if someone upsets you, tell me directly—Victor’s just a kid, he doesn't understand yet.”

Lily nodded and hugged her mom:

Lily: “I’d cry without you… I’m so glad you’re here.”

Mina: “And if anyone makes you unhappy, I’ll give them a kiss slap!”

Lily laughed:

Lily: “You could slap? You’re soft like a rose!”

Mina: “For you, I’ll turn into a tigress!”

They both laughed together. Lily wiped her eyes and rested her head on her mother’s lap.

Mina (smiling): “How about I make you hot chocolate and we watch a movie tonight?”

Lily: “You’re the best, Mom!”

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Evening – The Family Announcement

Everyone gathered for tea. A gentle evening breeze brushed the garden, and Lily’s father looked serious.

Lily, holding her tea happily:

Lily: “Dad, now that you’re back after so long, we have so much to talk about!”

Her father smiled gently:

Father: “All that will come later, dear. But first I need to talk to your mother about something important.”

Mina narrowed her eyes:

Mina: “What now? Your face worries me.”

Her father took a breath:

Father: “Victor’s father is considering sending him abroad for studies. His grandfather supports it too.”

Lily froze, eyes wide:

Lily: “What?! Abroad?! Where? For how long?”

Mina spoke calmly:

Mina: “Have you thought this through? Victor’s only fifteen.”

Her father continued:

Father: “Yes, but Rafael says the opportunity is rare—a special six-year program.”

Lily dramatically placed her hand on her chest:

Lily: “Six years?! Will I be alone in the desert?! I’ll forget him!”

Mina held back a laugh:

Mina: “You won’t forget—just make calendars with his photo, print posters!”

Lily scowled:

Lily: “You’re all against me! I’m the only one upset!”

Her father chuckled:

Father: “Silly girl, you’ll still talk to him, video-call him, and he’ll take you abroad when he grows up!”

Lily pouted:

Lily: “I won’t talk. If Victor goes abroad, I won’t eat his apples!”

Mina rolled her eyes:

Mina: “Why apples again?”

Lily: “Victor knows!”

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Sunset – Victor’s Room

Victor stood gazing at the sky by the window. The door knocked.

Rafael entered smiling:

Rafael: “Hey Prince, what are you looking at in the sky?”

Victor, stern-faced, replied:

Victor: “You all decided I’d go abroad without asking me if I want to.”

Rafael smiled again:

Rafael: “You don’t want to?”

Victor shrugged:

Victor: “I’ve grown used to Lily, Mom, this house—you guys too. Why should I leave everything?”

Just then Victor’s father entered; Rafael stepped aside.

Father: “Son, in life we don’t always get what we want. But we must take what’s best for our future. You have this chance—will you miss it?”

Victor looked down:

Victor: “I’m scared, Dad. Everything’s unfamiliar. I’m still small…”

Rafael patted his shoulder:

Rafael: “You’re not small—you’re brave. We all know what you can do. You just need courage.”

Victor’s father reassured him:

Father: “And you know we’re with you always—phone calls, messages, everyday. We’ll be proud when you go.”

Victor nodded:

Victor: “Okay... I’ll go. But I have to tell Lily first. If she cries, I won’t say more.”

Rafael grinned:

Rafael: “She’ll turn away first, then laugh and say—‘If you go, who’ll pick my flower?’”

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