Don't Fall in Love! (English Version)

CHAPTER 18

I opened my eyes, finding my father in the kitchen. I smelled the baozi he was making and smiled. He looked at me and smiled too.

ㅡI came to make you breakfast.ㅡBa started to speak.

ㅡWhere's my mother?ㅡ I asked. Ba opened the lid of the pot, allowing the smoke from the steamed buns to fly into the air.

ㅡShe left.ㅡ He let me take the first baozi out of the pot, put it on a plate, and handed it to me. I adjusted the chopsticks in my hand.

She went to meet her boyfriend.

I stopped moving the chopsticks to look at my father. He didn't seem sad when he said that, his expression was calm.

ㅡDaughter, you need to let me go.ㅡHe said. His words were like an arrow piercing my chest.

You need to move on.

I stood up and hugged him. I let the tears fall from my eyes and wet my entire face.

ㅡBa, I don’t want you to go. Please stay with me!ㅡI exclaimed between sobs.

ㅡDon’t dwell on the bad side of the past, Faye. Remember that you had good times too and smile. I want you to be happy, daughter.ㅡI said finally.

Slowly, Ba disappeared from my arms, leaving me alone.

ㅡBa!ㅡI opened my eyes and felt a sharp pain in my head. I slowly got out of bed and went to the bathroom. When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I had a slight feeling that it would break if I stayed in front of it any longer.ㅡI look horrible!

My eyes had a black stain around them because of the mascara I had put on the day before, which meant I hadn't even taken my makeup off before going to bed. My hair was in a messy bun, with tangled strands everywhere.

ㅡWhat happened last night?ㅡ I looked up, hoping that some memory would fall from the sky. However, nothing appeared.ㅡArg!

I took a warm shower and put on some fresh clothes. As I combed my hair, my father's words echoed in my head:

You need to move on.

I put the comb on the table and sighed. Ba was right. It hurt, but I had to move on.

I left the room and went to the kitchen. Surprised, I found Ma cooking something, while humming a song.

ㅡGood morning, Ma.ㅡI greeted, attracting her attention.

ㅡGood morning? It's almost one thirty in the afternoon.ㅡ She laughed. I, however, widened my eyes. ㅡWhat happened yesterday for you to sleep so much?

ㅡI don't know.ㅡI ran my hand over my head. ㅡI woke up with such a headache and I don't remember anything I did last night." Ma stopped stirring the pot of pasta and looked at me, looking angry.

ㅡFaye, don't tell me you drank.

At that moment, some strange flashbacks appeared in my mind.

ㅡFaye, you're going to fall.ㅡ Erix shouted from afar. Completely ignoring her words, I tried to climb a tree while laughing uncontrollably. However, I failed miserably and my expression changed to sad.

I shifted in my chair, feeling uncomfortable with my own memory. What did I do yesterday?!

ㅡI don't know.ㅡ I let out a sigh.

Minutes later, we were already sitting together at the table, having lunch in silence. Then I remembered the question that tormented me almost my entire Saturday.

ㅡMaㅡshe looked at meㅡ, are you seeing someone?ㅡDr. Ireine choked on the pasta she was eating. I stood up to help her, but she motioned for me to sit down again.

Ma took a sip of water and cleared her throat before answering me.

ㅡYes, daughter, I am seeing someone.ㅡShe nodded.

That was a shock to me. I didn't know what to say, the words just escaped my mouth. Ma put down her cutlery and looked at me.

ㅡFaye, I still love your father, but I have to move on.

Move on. Why was that sentence so hard to hear?

I lowered my head, staring only at my plate that was still full. I heard Ma sigh, so I looked up. She was crying. Without saying anything, I stood up and hugged her.

Since Ba's death, I've never heard her cry as much as she did today. She was always keeping everything to herself and didn't show the pain she was feeling.

ㅡMa.ㅡ I broke the hug so I could see her face. ㅡI just want you to be happy. Ba wants us to be happy too.ㅡMy vision was starting to blur, but I smiled.

ㅡI'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, daughter.ㅡ She wiped her face and sat back in her chair. I went back to my seat and shook my head.

ㅡI know you had a busy week at the hospital…ㅡ I picked up the fork and wrapped the pasta in it.

We were silent for a moment, all we could hear was the sound of the cutlery hitting the plate.

ㅡWhat about you and Erix? Have you started dating yet?ㅡ Ma asked suddenly. It was my turn to choke.

ㅡMa!ㅡ I took a sip of water and couldn’t hide my blushing cheeks.

ㅡWhat’s wrong? I think you two would look beautiful together.ㅡShe smiled.

ㅡW-we are…ㅡI raised the corner of my mouth shyly.

ㅡReally?! And why didn’t you tell me?

ㅡWell, I was going to tell you yesterday, but…ㅡ I let the words fly through the air.

ㅡI’m sorry, Faye.ㅡMy work has often affected you and is always preventing me from spending more time at home...

We fell silent again. So, we finished our meal and I was responsible for washing the dishes. When I did, Ma surprised me with a gift box.

ㅡFor you. Tomorrow is your birthday and I don't know if I'll be able to come. That's why I did everything I could to be with you today.

I took the box and opened it. It was a beautiful midi dress, with puffy sleeves and its color was a very light yellow.

ㅡHow beautiful! Thank you, Ma.ㅡ I thanked her and hugged her. I soon ran to my room to try it on.

[...]

I walked on the sidewalk, heading towards the meeting point I had arranged with Erix. It was Monday, 2 pm. I was still happy about the previous day, because I went to the mall with Ma after lunch. And, as planned, we went to the movies and had a lot of fun shopping.

I saw Erix just ahead, he was kicking a random stone on the ground, with his hands in his pants pocket, and his hair was covering his eyes a little.

ㅡHiㅡ I said shyly. Erix looked up and analyzed me from head to toe. That made me blush. I was wearing the dress ma had given me and half of my hair was tied up.

And, with shining eyes, he said:

ㅡ You're so beautiful.

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