Reborn From Oblivion

"Who sent these?" No. 13 asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

Officer Baldwin slid two hefty suitcases in front of him and suggested with a friendly nod, "Doesn't matter who sent them; the gesture's genuine, that much is clear. Why not just accept them and save face?"

No. 13, however, was unfazed. "Find out who sent them and send them back before they get too far."

"Come on, if you turn them down again, Ashley's just gonna keep trying."

"It was... Ashley?" No. 13's disbelief was evident.

He'd turned down her gifts twice already, and knowing her pride, he figured she'd never bother with him again.

Turns out, he underestimated her persistence.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his usually cold eyes.

Officer Baldwin nodded. "Yep, it's her. How does she manage to stick to you like glue?" he teased, his gaze fixed on No. 13.

No. 13 rolled his eyes. "Compared to you, she's got nothing on persistence."

Officer Baldwin coughed, cheeks turning a shade of pink as he laughed awkwardly.

"Trust me, I don't want to be a pest either. But orders are orders. The higher-ups see potential in you and have sent me to convince you to join us. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it."

No. 13 gave him a hard stare. "Stop wasting your time. It's not going to happen."

He suddenly reached out, pulling the suitcases closer, his fingers toying with the zipper, only to hesitate and push them away again.

"Not even curious?" Officer Baldwin asked.

No. 13 shrugged. "Just a bunch of stuff I don't need."

In a last-ditch effort, Officer Baldwin unzipped one of the suitcases right there, muttering, "Let's see what's inside. Maybe there's something that'll catch your eye."

Inside was a handmade sunflower crafted from soft yarn, complete with green oval leaves, a brown center, and golden petals. On the center sat two small figures, a little boy and a slightly taller girl

No. 13's attention was drawn to the sunflower, his usually captivating eyes now filled with surprise and a mix of emotions that were hard to read.

Officer Baldwin started pulling out the items one by one. "Check this out, a handmade sunflower. It's not perfect, but the effort and time put into it show real

care.

And this clay mug... hmm, it's got that quirky, lopsided charm, definitely someone's DIY project. The craftsmanship is, well, let's call it unique.

But this piece of clothing looks promising. The fabric feels soft and

warm, with two sunflowers

wnovel

embroidered on the cuffs. The desig and workmanship are top-notch. This might be one to keep.

And how about this diary?"

Seeing the odd collection of gifts, Officer Baldwin was taken aback. He eventually sighed, "These gifts area bit offbeat. Honestly, they're kind of an insult to your intelligence. You're not a kid, no wonder they aren't your thing. Alright, I'll just pack them up and take them away. No need for you to be bothered." noveldrama

As Officer Baldwin began repacking the gifts, zipping up the suitcase and getting

ready to leave, a pale hand suddenly reached out, holding the suitcase down.