Santino’s reply came quickly and without pause,his tone full of scorn.“I’d clap my hands and celebrate,thanking the heavens for finally taking this disaster away.”
Aurelia wanted to say more,but Santino cut her off without mercy.
“What?I’m going on a date with my girlfriend now.Do you want to come along too?Are you really that desperate for love?”
Humiliation forced her into silence.She opened her mouth,stammering,but all she could taste was the bitterness of blood spreading across her tongue.
He turned and walked away,never giving her another look.
Aurelia watched his back as he left,a bitter smile on her lips.She remembered how different his voice had once been,soft and gentle when he spoke to her.
It was the night before the college entrance exam.When he heard she had a high fever,Santino dropped his books,skipped class for the first time in his life,and rushed to her home.
On that sweltering summer night,he arrived carrying a bag of medicine,his school uniform soaked with sweat.He didn’t care about himself,only hurrying to press a cold towel against her burning forehead.
As Aurelia looked at the beads of sweat clinging to his temple,her eyes stung,and her heart filled with warmth.
She remained forever trapped in that summer night,and each passing day only carved the pain of memories deeper across her heart.
Santino’s back slowly faded from sight.Aurelia gazed at the empty room and whispered softly,“But I’m about to die anyway.”
“When I die,maybe you’ll be a little happier.”
The next day,Astrid Lawrence wore a floral dress and held onto Santino’s arm as they went together to visit his mother.
Seeing his mother’s pale and tired face,Santino clenched his hands.Gratitude for Aurelia’s past kindness and the anger he felt toward her tangled together,leaving him restless.
At the hospital,Aurelia held the examination sheet tightly.“The brain tumor is spreading quickly.Without treatment,you have at most half a year.”
The doctor’s words still echoed in her ears when she turned a corner and suddenly came face-to-face with Santino and Astrid.
Startled,she quickly hid the sheet behind her back and forced a smile.“What a coincidence.”
But Santino only gave her a cold glance,his eyes filled with dislike.
“You’re following me again.”
“I wasn’t…”
Before she could finish,Santino pulled Astrid into his arms and walked away.