Beyond the Divorce

A Delayed Confession

As I rushed out and ran toward the row of potted plants, I found nothing there. I stood there in confusion, knowing it wasn’t just my imagination.

Ryan suddenly appeared beside me. “Want some company for a walk?”

I looked up at his face. He was smiling warmly. A pang of guilt washed over me, so I nodded. “Sure.”

We walked together through the yard, side by side. Ryan made me feel at ease, never once mentioning why I had dashed out in the first place.

He chatted about our school days. Suddenly, I asked him, “Ryan, why can’t I remember my childhood?”

“Which part are you referring to? If it’s something related to me, I’ll help you recall it.” He looked at me with a smile.

I shook my head. “No, it’s from when I was younger. I remember everything with you, like when we first met in the teacher’s office. My dad asked Mr. Thomas to tutor me in physics.”

“Ah, yes, in Mr. Thomas’s office. You were wearing your school uniform and looked different from the others. Your hair was dark, your eyes were big, and you had long eyelashes. Some classmates started calling you Lash Princess.”

“Really? Why didn’t I know that?” I laughed. “Lash Princess” sounded a bit exaggerated.

“It was in the second semester of our sophomore year,” he recalled.

“That’s right! I’m talking about memories from before junior high. I don’t have any recollection of what came before. Have you ever experienced something like that?” I turned around and walked backward.

“Watch your step! Then he shook his head. “I haven’t. My memory has always been good.”

“It’s not that it’s bad, but…” I pondered, unsure of how to express myself. Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

Suddenly, I stumbled a bit. He swiftly reached out, catching me and pulling me into his arms. “Be careful!

You’re a mother now. Don’t be so mischievous!”

His tone was remarkably gentle.

Tell me, after all these years abroad, you haven’t met a girl you like? You’re so handsome! There must’ve been plenty of girls who liked you.”

He laughed, his eyes sparkding. “There was ane girl who always had a crush on me!”

“Spill the beans!”

“She studied architectural design at the same college as me. She was my junior. When I was about to leave the school, she had just enrolled. She’s mixed blood…”

“She must be very pretty.”

I suppose so.”

“What do you mean, suppose so? Is your taste in aesthetics that questionable? You can’t even tell if she’s

pretty or not?”

“Is my taste that bad? I just didn’t pay much attention.” He glanced at me, smiling with a hint of shyness.

“What do you mean you didn’t pay much attention? What were you paying attention to then? You weren’t

even friends with her, right? Wait, if you weren’t friends, how can you say she had a crush on you?”

I knew exactly what was going on, but I played dumb.

“The thing is, my heart was already taken. Another girl has occupied the space!” He looked at me, his

smile affectionate.

He continued, “Her name is Linda. She is very talented. Her work made it into the top ten, so she must

have a bright future.”

“Has she graduated now?” I asked, feeling a pang of regret.

“She should be graduating soon. While I was working abroad, she was already starting her thesis. After I

returned, I bid farewell to her, and then I got busy. We haven’t been in touch since.”

“You really know how to handle things. She had deep feelings for you, yet you just brushed her aside.

That’s not good. You’ll hurt people!” I patted his shoulder.

Maybe because I was so familiar with him, I didn’t feel any sparks.

“You noticed, too?” He looked at me affectionately.

I realized too late that I had misspoken. This rascal was insinuating something.