Standing in the crowded airport, Summer’s eyes searched for Jazz. She took out her cell phone and called him again. “Where are you, Jazz?” “The bakery on the side.” Hearing this, Summer’s tensed body and heart eased up instantly. She panted, patting herself on the chest in relief, knowing that Jazz had not left yet. She carefully looked at the surrounding shops, searching one by one, until she saw a bakery. When she walked in, Jazz was sitting on the corner table by the door, fiddling with his cell phone. He looked up and broke into a bright smile that was unique to a teenager. “Why didn’t you go to school? What are you doing at the airport?” Summer gave him an earful. Saying nothing but still with the corner of his mouth turning up, he rose to his feet and stood in front of her, then put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her carefully. “Let me take a look at you.” “What are you looking at?” She asked in puzzlement. “Look what you look like when you are worried a
Jazz looked up at her. He had that youthful look, but more of seriousness and solemnity on his face. “I am already an adult, and I know what I am doing. I am not on an impulse.” “Then why did you suddenly decide to go to Athana? You haven’t finished your high school. What kind of decision have you made? Do you think you are rational enough? “What happened yesterday accounts for only a quarter of the reason I want to go to Athana. The other reason is my future career. Of course, one of the most important reasons is you.” Summer was startled. But she said nothing. He then continued with his firm and unshakable tone of voice. “I like you, but in name you are my sister-in-law. If I continue to look at you like this, I will only sink deeper and deeper in the hole, and eventually become unable to extricate myself. I need something else to divert my attention. I have never been so rational. So don’t stop me because I will not change my mind, no matter who it is.” Although he was s
Summer stood on the spot until Jazz went out of sight. Blinking her welled up eyes, she left the airport to return to the school. She had always not been a sentimental person, but at the moment, she was. She just could not bear to see Jazz go. The afternoon class ended quickly. But during the class, she could not help glancing at the seat in the last row by the window. It was as if she could still see the charming boy lying his head lazily on the table and dozing off, and when the sun shone in through the window, it coated him with a faint glow. That was not all; she seemed to have heard that boy humming with his naughty voice, ‘Reserve my love for you with golden quill, and precious phrase by all the muses filed.’ He left to fly higher. So how could she break his wings? Some girls in the class had not given up asking his whereabouts. So Summer told them the truth, that he had applied to leave the school and gone to Athana. They all had a disappointed look on their faces,
Four men backed her into a corner, all of them with cigarettes hanging from their mouths. She knew they were anything but good men. “Where do you go in such a hurry, lady? Come with us, would you?” The man blew out a lungful of smoke and revealed his yellow teeth. He squinted and took out a reflective knife to threaten her. Her body was tightly pressed against the wall, but she did not panic. She looked shocked but still collected. With her hand in her pocket, she felt with her fingers and typed something on her phone while she said to those men, “What do you all want?” “What do you think we want?” “If you are after money, I can tell you clearly that I have $500 in my bag and an ATM card that has only $2,000 in the bank account. I will tell you the password and will not call the police nor go after you all. The money is enough for you all to enjoy an expensive meal and a night stay in a hotel.” She was composed, articulate, and methodical. The four men exchanged glances w
“Hey, rascal! Are you trying to be a hero? I advise you to run as far as you can. Not everyone can be a hero. Am I right, mates?” one man said.The rest sneered. “If you want to be a hero, you have got to pay a price. Don’t overreach yourself.”“You have one last chance. Get out of the way, otherwise, we can’t guarantee what the consequences will be.”But Mark ignored their bluster, strode over with his long legs, and gave the nearest man a good kicking.That man did not see it coming and was kicked face down to the ground, his head hitting the wall so hard that he wailed in pain. The other men did not sit idly when they saw their mate beaten. They let go of Summer, got up from the ground, and lunged at Mark while cursing something in their mouths.“You must have a death wish!”“Let’s beat the living daylights out of him, mates!”Mark glanced at them coldly without saying a word, his eyes deep and his face grave.A melee started. In the silence of the night, there was only th
Summer slowly shook her head. When she saw Mark was soaked in blood, his white shirt red, she panicked. “Let’s go to the hospital first, the nearest one.” But the paramedic who came with the police could perfectly handle wounds like this. So instead of going to the hospital, the two of them got into a police car and went to the police station to get their statements taken. Summer was sitting on his right, and the doctor on his left, treating his wound immaculately. Mark did not make a sound as blue veins popped up on the back of his hands. She, of course, noticed it, and was worried and nervous. The doctor comforted her that although the wound was deep; it was only an open wound. After applying medication, disinfectant, and bandage, he would be fine. It was not until now that the gloominess in Mark’s eyes faded. He gazed at her. When they arrived at the police station, Mark just briefly said something to the police officers and they got the hint. The four men would end
“You had better not let me see guilt on your face, Mrs. Valentine,” Mark said. Summer’s hand paused for a second. “But you are hurt because of me. This is an undeniable fact.” He glanced down at her with his charming but cold face, his voice as deep as ice, when he said, “It is a man’s responsibility to protect his wife. Who else would you want to come to save you if not me?” She was stunned at hearing this. Following immediately, a burst of warmth rose within her, along with some unexplainable emotions that made her shiver and jump for joy. He had said nothing nice to her, but these simple words of his were the best among them. Tenderness quickly concealed those fears and terror, her expression softening. She then went into the kitchen and made him soup. She did not drink the soup but just sat across from him, looking at him and getting a sense of satisfaction that she had never had before when he drank all of it. He was a left-hander, and he hurt his right hand. So his
While he was sound asleep, Summer went quietly into the kitchen. There were a ton of ingredients in the refrigerator, and they were very fresh, more than enough for making breakfast. She made some bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. When she finished preparing it, Mark had also woken up and gone into the bathroom. His arm was injured and he would probably find it inconvenient to do certain tasks. Out of concern, she followed him. He had washed his face and was now shaving his beard. He did it so awkwardly, with just one hand. “Let me give you a hand,” she said. Mark raised an eyebrow and handed the razor to her, then raised his chin and drew his face closer to her. It was the first time for Summer to do this kind of chore. Her hand did not seem to listen to her instruction, as it was trembling. She could not help it; it was a razor, not something else that she was holding. He bent down slightly so that his eyes were level with hers. They had eye to eye. Those deep, pen