After that day, I didn’t hear any news about Rod for quite a long time. I did occasionally meet with Earl, though.
I accompanied him for walks near the university. When he was in the area for business meetings, he would call me, and I would rush down, arriving breathless. He handed me concert tickets, saying he got them by chance and knew I enjoyed the artist, so he brought them for me. The man had an elegant, slender figure and carried himself with natural composure. I wondered if he realized how difficult these tickets were to obtain.
He was always polite and considerate, making it awkward for me to refuse. I transferred money to him for the tickets, but he wouldn’t accept it. Finding myself completely out of options, I invited him for spaghetti instead. Yet somehow, he still ended up paying the bill.
In early December, he had to go abroad again, for at least half of the Christmas holiday season. I made a point to see him off at the airport. He smiled at me, seeming like he wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing before turning to leave.
Not long after he left, I ran into Edward. Sighing, he told me that Rod rarely hung out with them anymore and wasn’t seeing Afra either.
“Afra came back this time fully intending to reconcile with Rod. But who would have thought Rod wouldn’t even acknowledge
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her? The other day, when he got annoyed with her persistence, he even pressured the Francis Family to marry her off quickly.”
I listened as if hearing a story. “But they were so good together before.”
“Who knows? Feelings are unpredictable. Besides, Afra grew up following Rod around. During those Christmases when she was alone overseas, even if there wasn’t love, taking care of her was the right thing to do.“I smiled without commenting. Actually, I never told anyone. On Rod’s birthday, after he put on that watch, I received a phone call. It was from Afra.
“You’re Rod’s current girlfriend, right? I heard he treats you differently. But you should know, we were almost married once, and all these years, we’ve never forgotten each other.”
I glanced at the man chatting animatedly not far away. The tears on my face had long been dried by the wind, and I wouldn’t shed any more for him. I said, “Then I hope you two are stuck with each other forever.”
But now it seems my blessing didn’t come true.
B
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