64. Murder This Christmas! (Second Update!)

Hawk had never felt time pass so slowly before.

But he felt it now.

During the Christmas holidays, because the caring staff at the children's home always gave out some cheap little gifts on Christmas Eve, his younger sister Anya had loved Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Hawk grew to love them as well because of her.

However, ever since September 10th, 2009, when his sister Anya passed away, he had sneaked into the cemetery on Christmas Eve of that year to spend it with her.

Ever since then, he had stopped liking Christmas.

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

Yet this year, Hawk was looking forward to the arrival of the Christmas holidays with unprecedented anticipation.

However, time works in mysterious ways.

The more you pay attention to it, the slower it feels, and it is only when you stop paying attention that you suddenly realize time has vanished in a flash.

So once Hawk realized this, he forced himself to stop focusing on the time and compelled himself to maintain his previous daily rhythm.

Finally!

In the week leading up to Christmas, Midtown High School finally announced the start of the break.

Hawk went home in company with Gwen.

He had originally been eager to rush over to New Jersey that very day to stake out the Hulk, but Gwen's mother had extended a warm invitation, and he could not think of a reason to refuse.

However, by the time Hawk and Gwen returned to the Goran apartment, George had not yet come back, so Hawk temporarily followed Gwen up to her second-floor bedroom.

Hawk was no longer unfamiliar with Gwen's bedroom.

After entering the room, Hawk naturally sat down on the edge of the bed, while Gwen pulled over her study chair, sat down, and continued a phone call with Mary, which had just been connected.

A moment later.

Gwen smilingly concluded her call with Mary, placed her phone aside, sat sideways in her study chair, and said to Hawk, "Mary asked if we have any plans for the Christmas holidays. Maybe the four of us could form a group."

Hawk raised an eyebrow.

"Four?"

"Her and Peter."

"Well, look at that."

Hawk was stunned at first, then smiled and asked, "When did this happen?"

Gwen wore a serious little expression, gossiping with Jamie: "You'll never guess. Just today, after attending Norman Osborn's funeral. And you probably won't believe it, but Mary made the first move."

Hawk's expression showed a trace of surprise.

"Seriously?"

"Didn't expect that, did you?"

"Indeed."

Hawk subconsciously nodded.

He truly hadn't expected that in this lifetime, Peter actually wouldn't reject Mary's confession.

However...

Hawk thought of the previous Sunday night when Peter had knocked on his window, entered the room, and confessed to him that he had killed his best friend's father.

Yes.

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

And the manner of his death was the same: he died after Peter had already let him go, attempting a counterattack that failed, ultimately perishing on his own Goblin Glider.

Yet, there was one detail that differed from the original story.

In the original plot, after returning the old Green Goblin's body, Peter had been spotted by Harry and had gone home alone.

Here, however, Peter had not been spotted by Harry. Instead, after the incident occurred, he turned around and came straight to Hawk's house to recount the whole affair.

Hawk had been quite helpless.

He had just returned from a field trip in New Jersey that day and desperately wanted a good night's sleep. He had initially intended to chase Peter away, but seeing Peter's guilt-ridden and somewhat devastated expression over the death of his best friend's father, he reconsidered and simply played the role of a loyal listener, sipping cola while listening to Peter pour his heart out and offering words of comfort.

As a result...

With that comfort, the butterfly effect had manifested.

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

Well, well.

Hawk inwardly called out in amazement.

Still...

Hawk smiled and said to Gwen, "That's wonderful. Peter really likes Mary Jane."

"Mary always knew, but Peter..." Gwen paused here, frowning slightly as if thinking of something, and looked at Hawk, "is just like a certain someone—clearly caring, yet pretending not to care."

Hawk met Gwen's gaze, her eyes seemingly expressive.

The corners of Gwen's lips curled upward.

"Am I wrong?"

"Not at all."

Hawk shook his head.

Gwen smiled, then blinked and asked Hawk, "So, you admit that you've had feelings for me since the very first day of school, Mr. Hawk?"

Hawk smiled slightly, then looked at Gwen.

"Yes."

"I knew it."

Having received the answer she wanted, Gwen's smile grew even brighter. She tilted her head slightly, leaning against the study chair as she looked at Hawk: "Because I felt the same way."

She could understand why Peter had feelings for Mary yet had hesitated to take action for so long.

Because she had experienced it herself.

The corners of Gwen's lips lifted.

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

"Because if Peter weren't, he certainly wouldn't have had the courage to walk alongside Mary."

"Right?"

"..."

Looking at Gwen, who was once again verifying Peter's identity as the Spider-Man, Hawk smiled and gave the exact same reply: "Once again, I neither admit nor deny it, unless he decides to reveal his identity himself."

Gwen shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Since Peter is with Mary now, Mary will find out sooner or later, 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 recalled what Mary had just asked over the phone.

"By the way, you haven't answered yet—what should we tell them?"

"About what?"

"We have a twenty-one-day holiday. Should the four of us group up and go somewhere to have some fun?"

Gwen said, looking at Hawk with expectant eyes.

She thought Mary's suggestion was quite nice.

A couples' group trip.

It sounded rather pleasant.

Hawk didn't reply immediately, instead frowning slightly.

Seeing this, Gwen asked, "What's wrong?"

"I can't be sure yet."

Hawk thought for a moment, smiled apologetically at Gwen, and said, "I have something to take care of during this break, but I haven't determined the exact day yet."

Gwen blinked.

"You have business?"

"Yes."

"..."

Watching Hawk nod, Gwen tilted her head and looked straight at him: "If I ask what kind of business it is, will you tell me?"

Hearing these words, Hawk looked back at Gwen.

Gwen gazed at him without blinking.

Their eyes met.

Hawk's thoughts raced rapidly; then he let out a soft laugh, nodded, and said, "If you ask, I'll tell you."

Hearing this, Gwen nodded as well.

The next second.

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

Meeting Gwen's gaze, Hawk fell silent.

After a brief moment.

Two words slipped past his lips.

"Murder!"