I've never been keen on love for so many years. I thought I could live alone for the rest of my life.
Ten years after we graduated from middle school, our class president suddenly suggested organizing a reunion.
He reached out to everyone in the group chat, emphasizing that everyone should attend.
By the time I entered the private room, most of my classmates were already there.
The class president handed me a few drinks with a smile, saying it was a penalty for being late.
I'm not good with alcohol and was about to refuse, but the class president insisted. "Kristina, I heard you started your own company. You're not looking down on us, are you? What? Can't you even have a drink with us?"
The lively room suddenly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at me, waiting for me to make a fool of myself.
Just as I was about to take the drink, a hand reached over and took the glass. That person downed the drink in one go.
"I'll drink it for her. Don't make it difficult for the girl."
I turned my head and saw Locke's eyes filled with amusement.
He was still as gentle and refined as ever, but he was no longer the naive boy he once was. He seemed much more mature than he had been ten years ago.
The class president laughed and teased Locke for playing the hero to save the damsel in distress.
And just like that, the awkward moment passed.
I wanted to thank Locke, but he acted as if he didn't know me, engrossed in conversation with the other classmates.
I cornered him when he went to the restroom.
He looked up at me, his gaze cold, as if I were a stranger.
"What do you want?"
I mustered up the courage to say, "I wanted to thank you for helping me with the drink earlier."
He didn't even look at me and turned to leave.
Instinctively, I grabbed his hand.
He seemed a bit impatient, gritting his teeth as he spoke, "Now what?"
My courage faltered under his impatient gaze.
Seeing me open my mouth to speak, Locke immediately pulled his hand away.
In the process, a pack of cigarettes fell from his pocket onto the ground.
That pack of cigarettes at least gave me a topic to break the awkward silence.
"You... you smoke now? I didn't know that."
He picked up the pack, lit a cigarette, and exhaled the smoke.
His face became obscured by the smoke, and even his voice seemed a bit muffled.
"There's a lot you don't know. I also didn't know that you, who sat with me for three years, actually hated me so much."