Me After Meeting You

She didn’t want to discuss Elly’s father with Calvin’s mother any further. The past was clearly too hard for her to bear, and her old wounds had never healed properly either. But this discussion had shed a light on why Calvin’s personality back in high school had been so awkward, introverted, and reticent. It explained why he wished so hard to be invisible despite his good grades.

She grabbed Calvin’s mother hand with her own. She was trembling; what had happened in the past had left an indelible trauma on her body.

“He’s been punished now, so let by gones be by gones. And, Mrs. Kenric, you’re really an amazing parent for having raised Calvin so well.” Amber consoled her gently. “Even for Elly, leaving such a family behind would only be a fortunate thing for her. She’s a very well behaved child, talented at both school and drawing. When she recovers, with your love, not only will she be able to lead a regular person’s life, but she will also be able to love and show filial respect to you.”

“Respect? Love? I don’t hope for those things anymore.” Though Calvin’s mother said this, she did calm down slowly. She snuffed out her cigarette and rubbed her face out of exhaustion. “Don’t worry. I gave birth to her, and I’ll take care of her. Mark knew this, which is why he foisted her on to me. I’m not like him, but I won’t be able to spend that much effort on her.

Amber, as my son’s childhood classmate, I don’t fear your laughter. The family I remarried into is too rich, so much so that they think everyone’s just out for their fortune. They don’t even want Calvin to join the family, let alone someone like Elly.”

After saying this, she opened her bag and gave a card to Amber. “There’s a bit of money in here. Calvin knows the pin number. Take it. If she doesn’t recover, then let her stay in the hospital, if she does … then please give her this money and help her rent a house and enjoy life on her own in the future.”

After saying all this, she prepared to leave. Amber was shocked. “Aren’t you … aren’t you going to see her? Visiting hours for the day are just about to end.”

“I’m not going.” Calvin’s mother turned away from Amber as she coldly said, “Ever since she was born, I haven’t raised her for a single moment. She probably doesn’t want to see me in the future either.”

Before Amber could say anything else, Calvin’s mother had opened the door and quickly left.

Amber rushed out and saw Calvin standing there in the middle of the outside corridor, staring at her with a vacant gaze.

Calvin’s mother walked past his side, pulled at his hand, and dragged him away.

Amber didn’t try to chase after them. After wards, she received a call from Calvin. He didn’t speak for a long time. Through the static of the radio waves, she could only hear his repressed and labored breathing.

It was just like that year, when he had called her from a far away country, when it was snowing heavily at the end of December. And just like then, Amber sat by the window, looking out into the white world. “Who are you?”

He didn’t respond. The only sound that came from the phone was a light breathing noise. She asked for his identity a few more times without response, and was just about to hang up when she suddenly thought of him.

“Calvin.”

And finally, he answered, lightly whispering back, “Yes.”

She fell silent, not knowing what to say next. The two of them remained in that silent vigil until he finally hung up.

This time, it was he who called her first.

“Amber.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I was shocked numb by that piece of news.”

Amber’s voice was gentle. “It’s understandable. I was very shocked too.”

Calvin laughed bitterly. Sometimes, he felt that fate was really always against him; every time, whenever he arduously mustered up enough courage to start a new life, something like this would always happen.

Ten years ago, he had done his best to enter the same university as her. But then his mother had remarried and he had been sent abroad.

Ten years later, he had mustered up his courage to confess to her, but just when he thought that they had a chance of working out, his past had been dredged up and somehow made even worse than before.

Amber could only say that one sentence before Calvin hung up. Afterwards, no matter how much she called, she couldn’t get through to him.

He had turned his phone off.

Evidently, he was still that sensitive youth of the past, embarrassed of his own background and reflexively isolating himself from everyone else.

But the fact that he had taken the initiative to call her made it clear that he had matured quite a bit compared to that time. At the very least, he had the courage to face her now.

As Amber mulled over the situation, she sent him a text. “I’m at my home. If you need someone to talk to, I’ll be here waiting for you.”

After that, she did obediently go home and wait there. Even when Amber’s mother had finished work and was packing up, she was still there, waiting. Amber’s mother couldn’t help but call her. “How long has it been since you’ve come back? Are you lost? Should I send out a palanquin for you?”

Sweat dripped down from Amber’s forehead. She quickly responded in an ingratiating tone. “I’m a bit busy right now. I’ll be sure to come home next week.”

“Busy? Busy with what?” Amber’s mother didn’t listen to her words at all, and instead started thinking about that dolt who had randomly showed up at her daughter’s house. The thoughts incensed her, and her voice immediately deepened. “It can’t be that you still haven’t broken up with that man, can it?”