Soup (1)

Chen Kaori sighed as she placed back the photo into the inner pages of the book. It was one of her textbooks back in college. She was smitten enough to use the photo as a bookmark. Her classmates used to assume that he was her boyfriend. She used to deny a relationship beyond friendship, but eventually she got tired correcting everyone.

He Zifeng was studying under another department and was popular in the university.

Maybe people never really believed there was something going on between them.

Alas, it would only remain a memory.

Chen Kaori placed the book back on the shelf. She decided not to be that hopeful girl anymore.

What he said that night in the photo boosted her hopes up, but through the years she was beside him, she was never really with him.

She wanted more, but she knew he could only give as much. She loves him enough to let go.

A sudden knock on her door took her back to the present.

The old lady living across the hall had a smile and a bowl with cover on her hands when Chen Kaori opened the door.

"Mrs. Fu...uh, how can I help you?"

"Oh, this is for you, Dear." Mrs. Fu handed the bowl over to her carefully.

Chen Kaori took the bowl with two hands, then flashed a smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Fu. Please come in."

Chen Kaori placed the warm bowl on her kitchen counter, then she brewed tea. Then she served Mrs. Fu a cup of tea.

"Thank you, Dear." Mrs. Fu took a sip from the tea. Then she continued talking, "I remember your father bringing you black sesame soup, so when I made some today, I remembered to bring some for you."

"Thank you for your kindness." Chen Kaori gave a slight bow.

"You are such a good child. It must be hard living alone in the city. You don't even have a pet to go home to." Mrs. Fu's words are full of worry.

"Uh...I'm fine by myself. Besides, if I get a pet, it would be pitiful as I often go out for hours. I might not be able to feed it." Chen Kaori explained.

"Oh yeah...that reminds me. When you were out for work the other day, there was a man loudly knocking at your door."

"Wha- Did he tell who he is?" Chen Kaori was surprised. She cannot believe that someone will stop by her place. She had no other visitors except for Mrs. Fu and her father since she moved in.

"Oh, no...but he has this awful expression as he was asking for your whereabouts. Oh, he told me you resigned from his company." Mrs. Fu recalled.

"He Zifeng..." Chen Kaori muttered.

"What did you say, Dear?" Mrs. Fu tried to make out what she said.

"Oh, nothing." Chen Kaori flashed a smile so as not to alert the old lady. "I think I know him. He has quite the temper. He did not make it difficult for you, did he?"

"Well, he seemed really upset not finding you here, but he did not ask further when I told him you were at work. Then he bid goodbye politely. I can sense he was just tolerating me, but he was not rude." Mrs. Fu narrated.

"Oh...that's good then. Please don't worry about it. I'll deal with him myself." Chen Kaori patted the elder's hand.

After chatting for a bit more, Mrs. Fu excused herself and went back to her own place.

Chen Kaori walked back to her kitchen after sending her neighbor back next door.

She took a bowl from her cabinet and scooped some of the warm sesame soup into it.

She had a warm smile as she recalled that summer. It was the summer when she first met He Zifeng.