Chapter 114: This Christmas, Killing! (Second Update!)

Hawk had never before felt time pass so slowly.

But he felt it now.

Because the staff at the Children's Home would give out cheap little gifts every Christmas Eve, his younger sister Hearing Hearing Anya had loved Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Hawk had grown to love them as well.

But ever since his sister Hearing Hearing Anya left on September 10th, 2009, he had snuck into the cemetery to spend that year's Christmas Eve with her.

Since then, he hadn't liked Christmas.

Not only did he dislike it, he even found the holiday noisy.

But this year, Hawk was looking forward to the Christmas break more than anything.

Yet that is how time works.

The more you pay attention to it, the slower it goes, and only when you stop paying attention do you suddenly find that time has whooshed away.

So, after realizing this, Hawk forced himself to stop focusing on time and forced himself to maintain his previous rhythm of life.

Finally!

One week before Christmas, Midtown High School finally announced the start of the holiday.

Hawk went home with Gwen.

He had originally been impatient to rush to Xinzexi that very day to stake out the Hulk, but Gwen's mother had extended a warm invitation, and he couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

However, when Hawk and Gwen returned to the Golin Apartment, George hadn't returned yet, so Hawk followed Gwen back to her bedroom on the second floor for the time being.

Hawk was no longer a stranger to Gwen's bedroom.

After entering the room, Hawk sat on the edge of the bed quite naturally, while Gwen pulled over her study chair and sat down to continue her phone call with Mary, who had just picked up.

A while later.

Gwen finished the call with Mary with a smile, put her phone aside, sat sideways in the study chair, and said to Hawk, "Mary asked if we have any plans for the Christmas break; maybe the four of us could form a group."

Hawk raised an eyebrow.

"Four?"

"Her and Peter."

"Good heavens."

Hawk was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "When did this happen?"

Gwen’s face was serious as she gossiped with Hawk: "You’d never guess—just today, after attending Norman Osborn's funeral. And you probably won't believe this, but Mary was the one who confessed first."

Hawk’s expression was somewhat surprised.

"Really?"

"Didn't expect that, did you?"

"Indeed."

Hawk nodded subconsciously.

He truly hadn't expected that in this life, Peter would actually not reject Mary's confession.

However...

Hawk thought of Peter knocking on his window last Sunday night, entering, and telling him about how he had killed his best friend's father.

Yes.

Just like in the original story, the old Green Goblin, Norman Osborn, had still died.

The method of death was also the same: he died after Peter had already spared him, when he tried to counterattack, failed, and ended up dying on his own Green Goblin glider.

But there was one point that was different from the original story.

In the original story, after Peter put the old Green Goblin's body back, he was spotted by Harry and went home alone.

But here, Peter wasn't spotted by Harry; instead, after the incident, he turned around and came to Hawk's house to recount what had happened.

Hawk felt quite helpless.

He had just returned from field research in Xinzexi that day and really wanted a good night's sleep. He had intended to shoo Peter away, but seeing Peter's dejected expression, filled with guilt over the death of his best friend's father, he thought about it and simply acted as a loyal listener, drinking cola while listening to Peter pour his heart out and trying to comfort him.

As a result...

This comfort had triggered the butterfly effect.

Peter hadn't rejected the confession of the goddess in his heart, but had accepted it instead?

Good heavens.

Hawk exclaimed "good heavens" in his heart.

But...

Hawk smiled and said to Gwen: "That's great; Peter really does like Mary Jane."

"Mary has always known, but Peter..." Gwen paused here, frowned, and then, as if thinking of something, looked at Hawk: "Just like someone else—clearly caring, yet pretending not to."

Hawk met Gwen's eyes, which seemed to speak for themselves.

The corners of Gwen's mouth turned up.

"Am I wrong?"

"No."

Hawk shook his head.

Gwen smiled, then blinked her eyes and looked at Hawk, asking: "So you admit that you’ve had feelings for me since we first started school? Mr. Hawk?"

Hawk smiled and looked at Gwen.

"Yes."

"I knew it."

Gwen got the answer she wanted, the smile on her face grew even happier, and then she tilted her head slightly, leaning against the study chair as she looked at Hawk: "Because I’m the same."

She could understand why Peter had feelings for Mary but had delayed taking action for so long.

Because she had experienced it herself.

The corners of Gwen's mouth turned up.

"I’m certain now that Peter is Spider-Man."

"Because if Peter weren't, he surely wouldn't have the courage to be with Mary."

"Right?"

"..."

Hawk looked at Gwen, who was confirming Peter's Spider-Man identity with him once again, and smiled as he gave the same answer: "Once again, I neither admit nor deny it, unless he wants to reveal his identity himself."

Gwen shrugged: "Whatever, Peter is with Mary now anyway; sooner or later Mary will know, and Mary will definitely tell me."

Mary was such a gossip; once she knew, she might not share it with others, but she would certainly share it with her.

Gwen thought to herself, then remembered the question Mary had just asked on the phone.

"By the way, you haven't said yet—should we reply to them?"

"What?"

"It's a twenty-one-day holiday; should the four of us form a group and find a place to hang out?"

Gwen said, looking at Hawk with an expectant gaze.

She thought Mary's suggestion was quite good.

A couples' group trip.

It seemed like a pretty good idea.

Hawk didn't reply immediately, but frowned slightly.

Gwen saw this.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't be sure yet."

Hawk thought for a moment and gave Gwen an apologetic smile: "I have something to take care of this holiday, but I haven't confirmed which day it will be yet."

Gwen blinked.

"Something to do?"

"Yes."

"..."

Gwen watched Hawk nod, tilted her head, and looked at him: "If I ask you what you have to do, will you tell me?"

Hearing this, Hawk looked toward Gwen.

Gwen was looking at him without blinking.

Their eyes met.

Hawk’s thoughts turned rapidly, then he laughed and nodded: "If you ask me, I will tell you."

Upon hearing this, Gwen also nodded.

The next second.

She looked at Hawk with a determined gaze: "Alright then, I want to know, Hawk."