“Like rain leaving the sky,Like dust leaving the earth,I, too, will eventually leave you.”
Time flew by like a fleeting white colt passing a crack. When I answered the final question on my exam paper, a sudden, inexplicable sadness surged within me. My three years of high school, my youthful days, seemed to have drawn to a close with this final, intense stroke. The reluctance to part was surprisingly palpable.
As the dismissal bell rang, I packed up my belongings and left the exam hall.
Li Zi and Chen Qiao Luo were already waiting for me outside. Seeing me come out, Li Zi waved enthusiastically and said, “Yun Hao! Come on, Tong Xiaotian has already booked a place for dinner. Tonight, we’re not going home until we’re drunk!”
I smiled as I walked over. The phone in my pocket vibrated. Taking it out, I saw it was a text from Gu Yu. I opened it; he asked how the exam went. I replied with a simple “Good” and put my phone back in my pocket.
Over the past few months, Gu Yu and I had become friends. My grades had never been great, but thanks to his tutoring over the past six months, I managed to take the exam without much pressure. For Gu Yu, I felt genuine gratitude, and becoming his friend was something I had never imagined before.
Tong Xiaotian’s chosen spot was a hot pot restaurant. Despite the June heat, the place was bustling. We ordered an overwhelming amount of food and a dozen beers. In that moment, everyone seemed a little lost about the future.
After a few drinks, Li Zi got drunk and started babbling nonsense while slumped over the table. I found it amusing, and as I turned my head, I saw Chen Qiao Luo placing some cooked meat into my bowl.
Since the incident some time ago, Chen Qiao Luo had changed a lot—becoming more mature and gentle. Although it felt a bit strange, I gradually got used to it. Still, I occasionally missed the carefree, joking Chen Qiao Luo of the past.
Perhaps this is what growing up means.
After our meal and drinks, Tong Xiaotian took the intoxicated Li Zi home. Chen Qiao Luo and I slowly walked along the streets.
Maybe it was because the college entrance exams had just ended, but almost every restaurant near the school was packed. From the outside, you could hear people inside crying and laughing. A pang of sourness welled up in my chest. I couldn’t help but stop and turn to look at Chen Qiao Luo.
Seeing me pause, he stopped as well and asked, “What’s wrong?”
In the past six months, Chen Qiao Luo had grown so much more mature, so much better at caring for others. Listening to his calm voice, I felt a gentle comfort wash over me. I shook my head and said, “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
We walked very slowly, passing through the large and small streets of the city. Along this unhurried path, our youthful days seemed to replay themselves like a film. Thinking of how we used to cry, laugh, and mess around, I felt an indescribable sadness. I realized that from now on, perhaps we would never encounter such beauty again.
On the evening the exam results were released, I received a call from Gu Yu. He seemed to have done well and cheerfully asked if I was free to grab a meal.
We met at a tea restaurant. When I arrived, he was already waiting and waved at me as I approached. It seemed that as long as he wasn’t facing Chen Qiao Luo, Gu Yu always appeared so pleasant.
Gu Yu placed a piece of broccoli into my bowl and asked, “Zhu Yun Hao, have you checked your score?”
“Yeah, over 500 points,” I nodded and smiled. “Thanks to your tutoring; otherwise, I wouldn’t have scored that high. What about you? Judging by your mood, you must’ve done well.”
“Yeah, just performed as expected.”
0 Comments