When the ashes settled,Aurelia opened her phone and saw a new post Astrid had just shared on social media.
The attached photo showed Santino kissing Astrid’s cheek,his eyes cold as they stared into the camera,as if declaring she was his.
Aurelia’s hand froze mid-scroll,and it took her a long time to come back to herself before she finally left a simple comment:“99.”
Just as she was about to put her phone away,a new message from Astrid popped up.
[Aurelia,do you know what Santino likes?I want to buy him a birthday gift.]
[You’ve known him for so long,you must know him better than me.]
Looking at those playful words,Aurelia seemed to see the petite girl standing shyly before her,her face touched with the blush of first love.
She agreed to meet Astrid,and when they did,she spoke smoothly about Santino’s hobbies and daily habits,as if reciting from a list she had memorized by heart.
Compared to numbers and stocks,Aurelia knew Santino even better.
Astrid listened carefully and at last raised her eyes,a trace of unease flashing within them.“Aurelia,I don’t mean anything by this,but I just wanted to ask…do you like Santino?”
Aurelia’s smooth words suddenly stopped.After a long pause,she forced a smile and asked awkwardly,“No,why?”
Santino had once said she always lied,and he hadn’t been wrong.She did lie,just as she hid her illness from him,and her love from Astrid.
Hearing her denial,Astrid finally let out a breath of relief.“That’s good,I was really afraid you liked him too.People always say you clung to Santino,that you’re a terrible woman…but I don’t believe it.You’re clearly kind and capable.If I had to compare myself with you,I’d never stand a chance.”
Aurelia found her words almost funny.“Of course not.Santino is loyal.He’ll give you all his heart.”
But Astrid’s expression dimmed.“I don’t know…sometimes I feel like Santino doesn’t really love me.When we walk together,he often just stares at his phone or at the red string on his wrist.Even when I call him,he doesn’t answer.”
The red string.Aurelia’s heart gave a quiet tremor.
That red string was the one she had prayed for during Santino’s college entrance exams,bowing step by step in the pouring rain until she finally obtained it.
Later,Santino had indeed ranked first in the exams.