Sarah glanced up and saw William in the cafeteria, the young man with long limbs, a pair of phoenix eyes, thin lips, and always a cold gaze when looking at people.
She still remembers the first time she met William.
The young man, dressed in a red jersey, was particularly eye-catching on the basketball court. During halftime, he casually lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his head. She didn't know what the person next to him said, but he hooked a smile that bewitched Sarah so much that she wanted to fly children with him at that moment.
That was the start of her long journey of chasing him.
Although William has never given her a proper look, it doesn't affect her liking for William.
"William, Sarah is over there."
William glanced over, then walked over with his tray.
Sarah looked at the young man in front of her, about to speak, and heard William say, "You looked for my deskmate?"
"Yes, the new student?"
William looked at her: "Don't mess with her."
Sarah brushed her long hair and said, "Alright, can I get your contact information? Mr. Shen."
Daniel looked at William's expression, knowing that if Sarah wasn't a girl, William would most likely say 'get lost.'
"Dream on."
Daniel glanced at Sarah, well, that's even worse than 'get lost.'
Sarah asked the girl next to her, "Don't you think he's especially handsome when he says 'dream on'? I'm done for, I love him even more."
"Handsome... very handsome..."
"William, William, want to play ball?"
William shook his head slightly and said, "No." His slender fingertips slid on the screen, and the same color blocks on his phone screen were eliminated.
A text message popped up on his phone, and he was about to swipe it away when he saw the words 'I'm your mom.'
He opened the message, it was from an unfamiliar number with the message: 'I'm your mom, can we meet? Xiao Si.'
William glanced at it and blocked it, feeling agitated as he turned off his phone and leaned back in his chair, exhaling a breath of stale air.
It's ridiculous to say.
At first, Philip started from scratch, and although their family was not rich, they were very happy. Over the years, he has never treated his mother poorly. Even at the beginning when his monthly income was only a few thousand yuan, he would buy her bags worth tens of thousands. Philip has been running the business for many years, slowly making it better.
Later, because he was deceived by a peer, the money was rolled in, and he was in debt for millions. Even though the family was heavily in debt, Philip has never treated his mother poorly.
But one day, his mother suddenly started packing and told him, "I'm leaving."
At that time, William was only seven years old. He hugged her leg, crying and begging her not to leave.
But his mother just looked back at him coldly and told him, "I don't want to live this life for a day."
"Do you not want me anymore?"
The look in her eyes was like a burden, and her words were like a knife, stabbing his heart: "I don't want to bring a drag along."
Philip doesn't blame her for leaving; he only blames himself for not being able to give her a good life.
Since then, he has devoted himself to his career, almost never smiling, and is very indifferent to his own son, William.
Philip's business grew larger and larger, and he made more and more money, but he was still not happy. No matter what William did, he could not get a compliment or a smile from him.
He has not remarried for so many years, and even the screensaver is still their first photo together, and he also keeps their photo in his wallet.
In the second year of junior high school.
In the living room, as soon as William entered the door, he smelled the pungent smell of smoke and alcohol. He saw a table full of cigarette butts and bottles, Philip was dead drunk on the sofa, still tightly holding a photo. The woman in the photo was beautiful, wearing a white dress, and smiling shyly at the screen.
For so many years after his mother left, all he saw of Philip was calm and unsmiling. This was the first time he had seen Philip so out of control.
He helped Philip to the bedroom, but saw a red invitation card fall from his arms.
The gold-foil cover, when opened, revealed a dazzling name and a red background photo. The woman in the photo was smiling happily at the camera, next to a strange man.
William silently stuffed the invitation back into his arms and then exited the room.
Scarlett, his mother remarried.
His mother left without hesitation, and he couldn't get over it for a long time. He thought that when he heard her news again, he would be hoarse and desperate, eager to confront her and ask her why she left him, why she left Philip? Why didn't she want him?
But when he saw the news again, he couldn't tell his feelings clearly. He didn't feel relieved, but suddenly felt that everything seemed not so important.
Philip seemed to have aged ten years overnight. For so many years, he was still fantasizing that she would come back, and he was still waiting for her.
Sometimes he thought his father was ridiculous for being so affectionate, waiting for someone who didn't love him at all.
...
William lowered his eyes, turned off his phone, and then turned it on again. He clenched his fingers tightly, so much so that his fingertips turned white. Suddenly, his heart felt blocked.
Even after so many years, he found that he still couldn't let go.
He opened his phone again and couldn't play the usual games. He gently swiped the phone screen a few times, then turned off the phone.
He lay on the table, covered his head with his coat, and closed his eyes.
Ellie glanced at him, then turned her head back, and continued writing her own questions.
"Si..."
Daniel turned around and wanted to talk to William, but saw him sleeping on the table, so he turned his head back.
William seemed to be back in his childhood, with Scarlett in a white dress holding him in her arms, smiling brilliantly.
The scene changed, and Scarlett dragged a suitcase and said to him, "I don't want to bring a drag along."
"Wake up... School's over." A soft and sweet girl's voice came from the ear.
William opened his eyes, and his black eyes were full of red blood vessels, which startled Ellie.
He took off his coat and his voice was still a bit hoarse. He said to Ellie, "Thank you." Then he walked out.
Daniel chased after him and said, "William, wait for me." William walked very fast, showing no intention of stopping.
Ellie was packing up her books when Aria came over and said, "Let's go together."
Ellie looked up at her and said softly, "Okay."
Aria affectionately took her arm and walked on her right side, saying, "Ellie, don't you live on campus either?"
Ellie shook her head and said, "Well, I don't live on campus." She couldn't live on campus; many things were inconvenient, and later, she might not be at school for a long time.
Aria smiled and said, "I don't live on campus either. We can all go home together in the future."
"Okay."
Aria saw her parents coming to pick her up and said to Ellie, "I'm leaving, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."