Under the basketball hoop, a girl in a white dress with long, black, silky hair fluttering in the wind.
She held a bottle of mineral water in her hand, quietly gazing at Anton Ford, waiting for him.
Whenever this happened, as long as Anton saw her coming, he would feel happiness.
He tossed the ball to a friend’s chest and quickly ran towards her, "Abby, didn’t you say you weren’t coming?" he asked with a smile, overjoyed.
The girl handed him the water bottle, "I finished my homework, so I came to see you." She then glanced at the nearby female classmates, led by the class president, all looking over excitedly with jealousy in their eyes.
She didn’t say anything, just smiled at him, "You go on," then turned and walked back towards the classroom.
Anton Miller watched her departing figure for a long time, and at this moment, the group of girls crowded around him!
"Anton, could I borrow your English notes for a bit?"
"Anton, for Friday’s class activity, should we sing a duet?"
Among the lively voices, Abby Sawyer clearly heard the class president Susan’s voice. The girl’s voice was sharp, deliberately raised.
Abby’s heart skipped a beat; she stopped and turned her gaze.
She saw Susan inching her face close to Anton Miller’s, lifting her hand to wipe his sweat!
Abby Sawyer’s expression remained calm, she quickly withdrew her gaze, lifted her steps, and continued towards the classroom. She needed to study; there was an exam tomorrow.
In a dream, Anton Miller looked past the short Susan to that retreating figure, a feeling of loss quietly rising.
Soon after, the dream was filled with endless arguments.
"Anton, here’s your letter." After Abby entered the classroom, she casually placed a letter on his desk, "Which girl sent it this time?"
The envelope was unopened; he put the letter into the drawer without opening it in front of her but answered her question, "A good friend from middle school."
Abby seemed to have a thousand words to say but ultimately said nothing.
When she was about to turn away, he stood up and grabbed her arm, "Abby Sawyer, why don’t you believe me? What’s there to be angry about? It’s just a friend!"
The girl stopped, her eyes blandly looking at him, "I believe you, so I’m not angry."
"What do you believe? Is this attitude not being angry?"
"What attitude should I have? I’m your girlfriend; should I reply to the letter for you and befriend her?"
"Abby Sawyer, you are unreasonable."
"..." The girl said nothing, simply because she loved him.
In the dream, he felt very upset, and she lacked patience, breaking away from his hand and turning to leave.
They gave each other the silent treatment for several days over this matter; he didn’t take the initiative to explain, but neither of them mentioned breaking up.
Then Anton Miller woke up abruptly from his sleep, the bedroom lit by a sleep lamp, its hazy light reflected on his face.
The image of that girl lingered in his mind relentlessly...
Her familiar voice felt as if it was beside his ear.
In the silent night, he was engulfed by endless dismay.
Not understanding love in youth, only regretting it after losing it.
And then, regardless of anything, he couldn’t fall asleep, tossing and turning for half an hour, then got up and picked up a bottle of alcohol, sitting by the window drinking.
There was a sense of loneliness, like raising a cup to invite the moon, forming a trio with his shadow.
This woman was like a lonely soul, entangled in his dreams for nearly a decade; he didn’t know when it would end...
But his pride wouldn’t allow him to reach out to her, knowing that ten years could change everything.
Every time he checked her TikTok and QQ space, he left no trace... but couldn’t calm his heart for a long time.