Chapter 2The Secret He Kept

Plane shuttled above clouds, outside window is large large soft cloud sea.

Sunlight shone in through window, shining on body warm.

I leaned on seat back, just wanted close eyes rest mind.

Dad beside suddenly gently patted back of my hand:

"Chloe, tell Dad truth, that boyfriend you dated before, is it Julian?"

I fiercely opened eyes, heart missed a beat, subconsciously wanted deny:

"Dad, what you saying, no..."

Words not finished, Mom held my other hand:

"Silly child, you are our precious daughter, your every move can't hide from us."

"New Year's Day when we met Sarah and Julian, I saw your face poor scary."

She paused, sighed:

"You locked yourself at home seven days, me and your Dad also didn't dare go back disturb you, just wanted give you some space, let yourself slowly recover."

"We know you suffered grievance, also know you don't want let us worry."

I originally didn't want cry, but this moment, poked through all disguise by parents, those emotions forced down, finally couldn't hold anymore.

Tears like broken line beads, rolled down without warning.

I turned head, wanted avoid their gaze, but gently cupped face by Mom:

"Cry ba cry ba."

My Dad voice carrying few points choke:

"Aggrieved just cry out, don't hold in heart, have Mom Dad here."

I couldn't hold anymore, pounced into Mom's arms, shoulders violently trembling, suppressed long crying finally intermittently overflowed.

I choked, incoherent:

"Mom, I so silly ah, I dated him one year underground love, just want wait day he public our identity."

"But... but he with someone else, also said only treat me as sister."

My Mom gently patting my back, saying again and again:

"Not silly not silly, our Chloe just too serious, so spared no effort pay all."

"Is Julian that bastard not worthy our Chloe."

I nestled in Mom's arms, cried long time.

Until cried all grievance clean, then gradually stopped tears.

Trance, memory uncontrolled surged up.

High school Julian, was poor student in class.

My Dad his head teacher, saw his grades top but family poor, not only helped him actively apply financial aid, also often brought him home eat.

I was at that time, slowly moved heart to this boy three years older than me.

He would red face thank my Mom, would when I couldn't solve math problem, patiently lie on table explain to me, fingertip occasionally touched my finger, would bounce away like electric shock.

Later he admitted famous medical university, I fought life chase his steps, college application filled same city medical school as him.

University graduation year, he entered Best Hospital in City, I sharpened head also squeezed into that hospital.

He just on day I started work blocked me in fire escape.

He said:

"Chloe, I like you."

"But I now just started, can't public, wait I stand firm heel, definitely give you a title."

Secret crush so many years person, personally confess to me.

Where I still care what underground love, full heart all joy, didn't think agreed nodding.

Those days, we kissed on duty room sofa, hugged in unmanned stairwell, said goodnight in late night WeChat.

I thought as long as I wait, wait him turn regular, wait him promotion, can wait him hold my hand, stand under sun openly.

Now think, really naive laughable.

Got off plane, parents didn't rush go hotel, instead pulled me straight run city most famous steak house.

Tender steak roasted sizzling sound, rich aroma came to face.

Dad also ordered me a cup sweet fruit wine, smiling said:

"Adult, drink a bit no matter."

Start from this day, we started our travel.

Parents seemed more excited than me, holding camera snapping non-stop.

A while pull me take group photo, a while squat roadside take a unknown small wild flower.

Those annoying things once happened, those bits and drops about Julian, seem really in this journey scenery, slowly washed light.

Days passed fast, we walked one after another city, tasted one after another food, took full an album photos.

Until street red lanterns gradually hung, mall rang familiar New Year song, I then reacted, turns out we already out playing more than a month.

New Year footsteps closer and closer, every family started prepare New Year goods, air floating faint fireworks smell.

Parents looked calendar, smiling said to me:

"Time go home, we have to go back paste couplets, wrap dumplings, have a lively New Year."

Just then, Dad suddenly thought of something, patted my shoulder:

"Right, before go back take you see someone, is Dad's proud student, you childhood also saw."

I heart mumbled, besides Julian, who else is Dad's proud student?

When we carried luggage walked out airport arrival exit, far saw a figure standing by pickup sign.

Man wearing simple camel coat, posture tall and straight, waving towards our direction.

I stared him few seconds, only felt between brows revealed inexplicable familiarity, but just can't remember where seen.

"Caleb, here."

My Dad smiling welcomed up, patted man's arm.

Man called Caleb walked fast over, politely greet parents:

"Teacher Song, Mrs. Song, long time no see."

His gaze turned to me, smile deeper a bit:

"Chloe, long time no see, remember me?"

Dad aside smiling explained:

"This is Caleb ah, high school always came our home eat, grades special good, later he went abroad didn't have time come back, this year just back country, said first time wanted come see us."

I finally remembered.

These years he changed lot, faded youth green, added few points mature steady bearing.

I somewhat shy smiled:

"Long time no see, you became handsome, just now didn't recognize."

Caleb ears instantly red thorough, he scratched head:

"You don't tease me, so many years no see, you instead didn't change a bit, still same as childhood, like tease people."

This words amused parents laugh loud, good while later Dad then lifted my suitcase, waved hand to us:

"Okay okay, don't stand here blow wind, hurry home."

Caleb hurriedly took suitcase in Dad's hand put into trunk, also thoughtfully helped me open car door.

Parents in back seat chatting travel funny things, also said wait New Year start want go abroad.

Me and Caleb sat front row, occasionally chat two sentences.

Suddenly, Caleb turned head look Dad in rearview mirror, tone serious:

"Teacher Song, matter you let me handle before, I all done."

I stunned, somewhat puzzled look my Dad:

"What matter ah?"

My Dad leaned on seat back, cold snort:

"Julian that bastard bullied my daughter so, I can just let go?"

"I just asked Caleb, poke news he step two boats, to their hospital department group and leaders that's all."

Dad looking my astonished look, tone sank:

"He occupied our family support finish study, turn head spoil you so, really treat our Song family easy bully?"

Caleb aside echoing nod, added:

"After news sent out, their hospital all exploded."

"Heard Julian promotion quota revoked, also called by leader scolded."

"Sarah knew truth, on spot broke with him, now whole hospital up down everyone knows what virtue he is."

I looked scenery retreating fast outside window, heart couldn't say what taste.

Turns out parents long vented this anger for me, but why I don't have imagined pleasure?

Probably that relationship, along with those unwillingness and resentment, long thrown behind head by me.