Chapter 25%
A week later, the plane I was on landed in the familiar city. The humid air hit me as I stepped off.
On the way to the City Hall, Jonathan suddenly told the driver to make a turn.
“Where are we going?” I asked, a sense of unease creeping in.
“Just for a bit his voice was strained. “I’ll be quick”
The car stopped in front of our high school
It was the summer break and the campus was deserted. The iron gates were locked, but the low wall on the side was still as easy to climb over as it had been ten years ago.
“Remember how to climb it? Jonathan turned to ask me..
I didn’t answer. Just lifted my skirt, stepped on the old tree root by the wall and climbed over!
The art room window was still cracked open.X
“I first saw you here” Jonathan said quietly. “You were sketching.”
The memories came flooding back before I could stop them.!!
That spring, teenage Jonathan always showed up outside that window like clockwork…
Once. I looked up halfway through a drawing and caught him staring. He panicked and almost fell off the windowsill, but his face was red as he said, “Hey, classmate, you draw really well“!
“And here.”
Jonathan led me to a corner of the sports field. The old oak tree was much thicker than I remembered.
He crouched down and brushed away the weads around the roots, revealing a crooked carving of D.L.B
“During our senior year sports day, I skipped the relay and waited for you for three hours. He traced the letters gently with his fingers.
The leaves rustled above us. One drifted down and landed on his shoulder.
Images flashed through my mind like a movie reel.
After winning the Sports Day championship, he hung the medal around my neck in front of the school.
He scaled the school wall the night before the college entrance exams just to leave a box of throat lozenges on my desk.
During our long–distance relationship in college, he flew over to give me a scarf he had knitted himself.
Jonathan suddenly grabbed my hand. The warmth of his palm was startling.
“Daphne.” His voice choked. “I’ve been regretting everything every day these past few days.”
I noticed tears welling up in the comers of his eyes.
1 lost the person who loved me the most.”
This boy who had once promised me the stars was now standing at the starting point of our story, holding his shattered heart in calloused hands, waiting for an impossible miracle.!!
I felt a sense of helplessness. “Jonathan, this nostalgia trip isn’t working on me!!
“It’s not just about nostalgia. His eyes were red rimmed. “I just want you to know that the Jonathan who loved you has always been here. It’s just…
His voice broke and he reached out to touch my face. “It’s just that I’ve only just found him again. Please give me a chance, okay? I know was wrong
“Jonathan,” I avoided his touch. “We’re not who we used to be.“X
His fingers froze in mid–alc slowly retracting. “I know I just. 1
–
“Go get the documents,” I stood up. ‘T’ll wait for you at the City Hall,T
I returned to Jonathan’s place to pick up his things. Pushing open the familiar carved wooden door, I found Wendy sitting in the living
room
“Oh, isn’t this Mrs. Zander?” She emphasized the word “Mrs. deliberately. “Oh wait, soon–to–be ex–Mrs.”
I couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge her!
Wendy continued. “You probably don’t know yet, but I just had my 4D ultrasound. It’s a boy”
I didn’t want to engage, but she suddenly grabbed my wrist.}
“Daphne” She lowered her voice. “Did you think you’d won?”
The next second, she abruptly let go of my wrist and stumbled backward, her back hitting the bookshelf
“Ah! My stomach!” Wendy shrieked.
I watched this familiar performance calmly, not even bothering to argue
Jonathan’s face was gloomy when he came out.