If Sam were to choose the world’s most valuable paintings, one of them would surely be of Sophie reading a book.
There she sat, engrossed in her book, seemingly over the ripple caused by Sam’s earlier tease, having returned to her usual aloof deanor.
Sam, who was replying to a ssage from Angel on his phone, found his gaze occasionally drawn to her. He admitted to himself that there was no sha in acknowledging this attraction, an opportunity many guys could only dream of.
The afternoon sun stread through the window, illuminating her long hair draped over her shoulders, enveloping her slender figure. Unadorned with makeup, her beautiful face was as cold as ice.
The golden sunlight filtered through her hair, casting a glow on her delicate features and upturned eyelashes. Every inch touched by the sunlight seed ethereal.
Of course, amidst this seemingly idyllic admiration, Sam harbored his own minor troubles, realizing he needed to see Angel before heading back ho.
Indeed, mastering ti managent seed a necessity rather than a choice for n.
Engrossed in his thoughts, Sam forgot his gaze was fixed on Sophie’s face until her cheeks began to redden... She finally couldn’t resist closing her book and turning to look at the still daydreaming Sam.
"Have you had your fill of staring?" she asked.
Sam, montarily startled, realized how his gaze could be easily misconstrued. Yet, far from apologizing or showing nervousness, he replied with a smile, "The sunlight today is just too beautiful to ignore."
Sophie rolled her eyes, placed her book back in her bag, and stood up. "Then enjoy it all you want, I’m heading back."
As she stood, her pleated skirt fluttered, revealing the smooth skin of her thighs.
The texture must feel incredibly silky... wait, I an to the touch.
Stretching lazily, Sam also stood up. "Let’s go, I was about to head ho myself."
Sophie frowned. "Who said I want to go ho with you?"
Saying so, Sophie walked to the door but didn’t close it behind her. When Sam, having packed up, left the classroom, he found Sophie crouching down, tying her shoelaces.
Seeing this, Sam could hardly suppress a chuckle. She had just said she didn’t want to go ho with him, so why wait here on purpose? It’s just tying shoelaces, that shouldn’t take ten minutes, right?
But she really is cute. Should he attempt a leapfrog move? Jump right over her head?
Better not, he thought.
As Sam approached, Sophie stood up just in ti, glancing at him. She was about to speak when Sam beat her to it.
"I know you weren’t waiting for , but let’s not waste ti; it’s getting dark."
With that, Sam took the lead.
Watching Sam’s retreating back, Sophie furrowed her brows, her fists clenched a bit tighter, but eventually, she let go with a sense of resignation.
Forget it, let him act cool if he wants.
They walked downstairs together, moving through the campus which seed eerily quiet at this ti.
Indeed, after the end-of-term exams, everyone seed eager to head ho, with hardly anyone still engrossed in club activities. It felt like the vacation had started the mont the exams ended.
The girl beside him walked slowly, prompting Sam to adjust his stride to match hers.
Walking side by side always seed to carry a special significance, making Sophie sowhat distracted.
She didn’t like walking shoulder to shoulder with boys, or anyone for that matter, be it n or won.
But, she had to admit, there was sothing about Sam that seed to wield a strange kind of magnetism; as much as she wanted to dislike him, she found it impossible to truly do so.
"Do you like reading novels?" Sam asked, glancing at the path lined with fallen leaves leading to the school gate.
Sophie looked up. "I guess so. I’ll read anything that’s good."
"I thought you only liked those lancholic, aesthetically beautiful novels," Sam said with a smile.
Sophie wrinkled her nose. "I’m not that pessimistic. In fact, I disagree with many views. It’s like philosophy, you know? Everyone has their own interpretations and reasoning when reading different novels. They might contradict each other, but you still have to find your own path."
"That’s a very rational judgnt. I also think many beliefs are just self-comforting, self-deceiving notions," Sam remarked.
"Like what?" Sophie looked at Sam as if challenging him, curious if he was just pretending to be cultured.
Sam shrugged. "Like a line from the novel you were reading: ’We spend our lives walking alone, seeking love and being sought by love.’"
Sophie frowned. "You disagree with that statent?"
Sam shook his head. "Not exactly disagree, but rather, we shouldn’t blindly believe in it."
His unusual stance piqued Sophie’s curiosity as she studied his face. They had reached the school gate, but Sam stopped, turning back to look at the campus under Sophie’s watchful eyes.
"Look, as kids, we had companions in kindergarten, in junior high we had classmates, in high school, we had high school friends, and then in college and at work... In the end, we have many companions along the way."
Sophie looked back at the campus, quiet and peaceful under the soft glow of the setting sun, emanating a faint warmth. "But with every step, we’re moving away from old acquaintances. People continuously vanish into the past, making that statent correct."
Sam nodded. "Yes, seen in that light, there’s nothing wrong with the statent... But we can’t deny that each person has indeed existed in our lives, in our past. As long as we rember them, they haven’t disappeared; they continue to exist and provide us with strength and warmth to keep going. How can you say then that we are always walking alone?"
Sam, his face bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, had his hair tousled by the evening breeze. His gaze seed distant, stretching to the horizon, to the skyline, leaving Sophie to wonder just how far into the future he was seeing.
The brilliance was sowhat blinding. She slightly lowered her head.
"I don’t need friends. I can keep going on my own."
Sam smiled, turning back to face her with an air of indifference. "That’s okay. At least you’ll rember , and I’ll rember you."
His gaze made her ears instantly warm. She couldn’t bear the bright light in his eyes and quickly turned her head away.
"The school bus will arrive soon."
She started to walk faster, her hair bouncing with each step.
They boarded the school bus, a familiar scene, following her heart’s last resolve, still choosing seats one in front of the other with Sam. But this ti, she sat a bit further back, allowing her a clear view of Sam leaning slightly against the window.
The passing scenery outside the bus window was fleeting, elusive, like mories from a movie. She wouldn’t lean out to catch a glimpse of missed landscapes; she always felt that what was missed wasn’t really missed—it was never hers to begin with.
Yet, looking at Sam’s clean shirt, at his ssy hair, she frowned. Though reluctant to admit it, yes, so things were enough for Sophie to rember him.
This sumr... was indeed different.
When the bus stopped at a familiar place, the two of them got off together. On the clean streets, one could occasionally see a stray cat jumping over a fence or lazily enjoying the last rays of the sun.
It seed like the final stretch of the term, the last walk with Sam. Sophie didn’t know what to say, maybe she should remain as she always had been, saying nothing.
Ti would take its toll, evaporating wavering emotions, adjusting unclear feelings.
But at this mont, at the crossroads of their impending separation, Sam stopped and turned back to look at an unprepared Sophie. Your next journey awaits at .Côm
"Sophie."
"Hmm?"
His hesitant deanor, almost like a conflicted ani protagonist wanting to confess but holding back, was unmistakably clear. She knew it was impossible, yet she couldn’t help feeling a little anticipation.
"What are your plans for the sumr vacation?"
Was that all he wanted to ask? Sophie unclenched her fists, feeling sowhat empty inside. "Isn’t it a bit late to be asking that now?"
Sam chuckled, "Why would it be late? I’m not asking you to co back to my hotown with ."
"In your dreams!" Sophie looked away, then sighed and turned back with an impatient gaze, "Stay ho, read so books, maybe go out for a walk occasionally. That’s all."
"Don’t you play any gas?"
"A waste of life."
"Louis would be heartbroken to hear that," Sam remarked.
"Who’s Louis?"
"Never mind, just a friend of mine. Maybe I’ll introduce you soti."
Sophie frowned imdiately: "No thanks."
Sam shrugged indifferently, his gaze drifting to a chubby cat on the wall, alternately licking its paws and scratching its head in a comical fashion. The sight made him chuckle.
"What’s so funny?" Sophie asked, visibly annoyed.
Sam shook his head, "Nothing, just... don’t you get bored? Spending the whole sumr like that, it seems like a pity. Loneliness and boredom... they can be tough to deal with."
Sophie scoffed disdainfully, "Only those with weak spirits fear loneliness and boredom. The so-called companionship among friends is just aningless socializing, a way to pass the ti."
Such deep-seated biases~
Sam nodded, "You’re entitled to your opinion... But if you ever feel bored or lonely, you can call . Though, the reception might not be great in the countryside."
Sophie snorted, "Why would I call you? Don’t flatter yourself."
Sam responded casually, "It’s okay, I know you like to play tough."
"You’re the one who’s playing tough!"
"Say what you will. Anyway, I’m off. See you after the sumr."
Sam smiled easily, as if he could never be hurt.
But the word "sumr vacation" lingered in Sophie’s mind.
Sumr vacation.
Dozens of days.
Sumr always seems so long... right?
"Sam."
"Hmm?" Sam turned, puzzled at the girl who had suddenly called out to him.
Sophie’s expression was complex, tinged with dissatisfaction yet seemingly resigned, before she finally sighed. "After the sumr... I’ll introduce her to you."
Sam didn’t ask who ’she’ was at that mont because he felt he already knew the answer. "Are you sure? You really don’t have to force yourself."
"If you don’t want to et, forget it." Perhaps he’d find it a nuisance? After all, such a peculiar request... Otherwise, he wouldn’t have seed so indifferent when he first discovered her secret...
But the next mont, Sam’s face broke into a smile. "I’d like to et."
"Huh?" Sophie was surprised, only to hear Sam add, "I never thought such a thing would happen, but now that I think about it, it might be interesting. So, please do. Alright, I’m off."
He waved his hand, not expecting Sophie to say goodbye, and turned to walk down the long, quiet street. The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him.
The breeze blew Sophie’s hair from her forehead, her gaze filled with a hint of confusion. Slowly, as his figure disappeared, she raised her hand in a wave, then lowered her head, uttering words only the wind could catch.
"When we et again, the sumr will almost be over."
Reviews
All reviews (0)