Although Jesselton College was still a few hundred miles away from Southsville, it was much closer compared to Lincoln University. There was a flight every day, making it convenient for round trips.On the day of our farewell dinner, my besties and I drank beer, white wine, and fruit wine. Each of us got so drunk that we lost our bearings. We huddled together and cried as if we would never meet again.It was Colin who carried me back to the dorm that day. I shamelessly vomited all over him.…Four years had passed, and I was already 22 years old. I was no longer the little girl who would cry all night because of Felix.When I met him on campus, I greeted him casually with indifference.I never told him about going to Jesselton College for graduate school. Over the past two years, our interactions were limited to social media and my occasional return home.His relationship with Lilac was good. Although she was still pretentious whenever we met, she treated Felix well. I had gradu
The end of September in Jinovy was still warm. I sat under the shade of a tree, fanning myself with my hand while waiting for my new roommate to go to the cafeteria with me. Then, I heard someone calling my name.I turned around and saw a man standing under the sun. He wore a white shirt with dark stripes and gray trousers. He was smiling gently at me.The midday sun pierced through the leaves, leaving spots of light on his face.Matthew?"Matthew, what are you doing here? What a coincidence," I exclaimed happily, standing up and walking toward him.It had been over two years since we last met. When we parted ways back then, he asked me, "Lulu, will we ever meet again?"The world was indeed small. In just two years, we met again in the vast sea of people at Jesselton College.In an instant, I remembered the tall man who bade me farewell with tears in his eyes. He had quietly stood there, expressing his feelings, regrets, and reluctance to leave me.Time had transformed him, tur
Feeling a little full, I picked up a fork to eat fruit."He has a heart problem, but he's fine now. Thank you."We talked about everything. And finally, the topic came to Southsville, where we went to high school together for three years.After studying in another city for years, I often thought of many people and things in Southsville. My high school classmates were the most vivid ones in my memory.Matthew was very talkative. I didn't even remember many things he said, but he narrated them as clearly as if they happened yesterday.He was a little proud while mentioning our senior year of high school graduation.Everyone was standing on the field to take graduation photos.He spent ten dollars to change places with the boy behind me, successfully taking the spot closest to me."Matthew, I have the graduation photo on my phone. Do you want to take a look?"His eyes lit up, and he smiled softly. "Of course. Show it to me."I soon found the photo, clicked it, and pushed my phon
Matthew controlled the door lock, which made me nervous. The atmosphere in the car became ambiguous."Open the door. I want to go back."In the past 22 years, I had never been so embarrassed no matter who I faced—even Felix, whom I loved so much back then.Matthew turned sideways, staring at me seriously. His eyes seemed to glow. I dodged his gaze, urging him to open the door.Soon, he stroked my head and said hoarsely, "Lulu, don't make me wait too long.""Mhm, I'll get off."Apart from Colin, I seemed to instinctively distance myself from every man. After turning off the car, he got out and opened my door. He reached out to me gentlemanly.After thinking for a second, I didn't take his hand but got out myself.Matthew looked disappointed, but he still cheered up and followed me."It's only a few steps away. I can go back by myself. Go ahead and attend to your business."During the meal, his phone's notification tone kept ringing. But he didn't answer the phone, nor did he
Matthew was the first to make his pursuit of me clear. I couldn't find a reason to say no, so I agreed.While washing my face, I was thinking about my four years at Lincoln University. In the first semester, some guys would always send me flowers and ask for my contact number for no apparent reason. However, nothing like that ever happened again in the following years.Due to this reason, I always felt envious when I saw a man holding a big bouquet of roses and confessing his love to a woman.At that time, I thought I was too tall and indifferent, which made me unpopular. Or maybe my classmates at Lincoln University loved studying so much that they had no time to care about a beautiful woman like me, which made me appear so worthless.But Jesselton College was different from Lincoln University. The second day after I reported here, a senior blocked my way and asked for my contact number.Felix happened to pass by that day. I didn't know what he said to that senior, but he turned a
When Matthew put the phone back, he looked at me intentionally, seemingly a little nervous. I smiled at him despite my doubts.We were just former classmates. Whoever he sent messages to had nothing to do with me. Since I had no right to interfere, he didn't need to be nervous.Only when we got to the destination did I realize that it wasn't a formal restaurant but a club.It was my first time visiting a place like this. Its atmosphere and decoration style were different from a restaurant. This place was high-end and beautiful, especially the garden deep in the lobby on the first floor. There, one could see rare plants of varying heights. It looked like a small botanical garden.The guests were all dressed in bright clothes and had subtle fragrances, which was incompatible with the environment I grew up in.My simple dress looked very shabby amidst the gorgeous clothes. I couldn't help but regret following Matthew.I was used to living my own life, so I didn't care what others th
The waiter soon served the dishes and poured the red wine for everyone present.When it was my turn, Matthew reached out to block it. "She doesn't drink wine. Just give her fresh juice.""Hey, I never knew Matt would help women.""Pretty lady, you're so lucky to have Matt protecting you.""Matt, this woman is beautiful, and she has a good temperament too. Have you ever thought about asking her to be your girlfriend?"Matthew ignored everything they said as if he hadn't heard anything.But when he heard the last sentence, he finally smiled meaningfully. "I want to. I'm working hard on it."Everyone booed, asking him to work harder on pursuing me as soon as possible.I had never experienced such a scene and did not expect them to bring up such a topic. I felt like a clown standing on the stage, which was very uncomfortable.Faced with everyone's teasing, I only responded with a faint smile.With the wine, the atmosphere at the table gradually became warmer. Others were toasting
Helen was lying on the bed, seemingly doing something. When she saw me come in, she looked at the roses in my arms for a few seconds and then turned away. She showed indignant disgust and was seemingly unreconciled.I didn't say anything, let alone do anything. I wondered what this woman disliked about me. Why did she hate me more and more? Did same-sex repulsion also apply to roommates?It stood to reason that it shouldn't. At Lincoln University, I got along very well with my two roommates. Why were the roommates at Jesselton College so difficult to get along with?Helen's unwarranted hostility was so strange.I put the roses on my table, thinking about finding something to keep them when Helen said, "I have hay fever."What? Hay fever?Did it mean that I had to throw away such beautiful flowers? I felt a little troubled. It would be a pity to throw them away.It was the first bouquet of red roses I had ever received. Apart from the sender's intention and the meaning of the flo