My Childhood Love Came Back Too Late

"She's basically your dog, Alvin—can't get rid of her no matter what you do!"

Alvin's mouth curved, and he reached up and unhooked a red cord from around his neck.

A lucky jade charm hung from it.

I had one too.

We'd gotten them when we were seven, both families visiting the temple together.

One each. We'd worn them since childhood, never once taken them off.

He said they were our pledge—proof we belonged to each other.

The day we got married, we'd exchange them.

Now he placed his in Freya's hand.

She held it up to the light, turning it over, her eyes crinkling into a grin:

"Pretty. This is mine now—and so are you!"

I wiped the water from my face and looked at Alvin.

He turned his head, gave me a sidelong glance, and the smile dropped:

"What? Since when do I need to run it by you before I give someone my stuff?"

I hadn't gotten an explanation. What I got was a bucket of cold water and a roomful of cruelty.

He wasn't the boy who would've done anything for me anymore.

Someone called out: "Let's go, let's go! Next stop KTV, I already booked it!"

The whole group headed for the door.

When Freya passed me, she stuck out her foot.

I pitched forward and my knees cracked against the threshold, the pain sharp enough to steal my breath.

She looked back at me, smile sweet as sugar:

"Oops, sorry. Didn't see you there."

Then she hooked her arm through Alvin's and walked out.

He let her pull him along, right past me.

He glanced down.

The look was so brief I couldn't even read what was in it before he turned away.

And followed her out.

I knelt on the cold floor, blood seeping from my knees, water dripping from my hair and hitting the tile.

Drop by drop. Like all the years of my heart I'd given him for nothing.

I didn't dare go home.

If Dad saw me looking like this, he'd worry himself sick.

I found a hotel and checked into a room.

I stood under the hot water for a long time before the warmth finally sank in.

When I came out, there were several messages on my phone.

From Alvin.

Your dad called asking when you'd be back. I told him you were with me. Go home soon.

Where are you? Are you safe?

Then a video call request.

I hesitated, then picked up.

His face filled the screen, still impossibly handsome, a dimly lit hallway behind him.

He frowned. "You're at a hotel?"

"Yeah."

"Which one?"

"None of your business."

A few seconds of silence. Then:

"Then stay put. I don't want to have to explain to your dad."

"Alvin."

I looked straight at him. "You really gave her the lucky jade charm?"

He said nothing.

"When we were kids, you said it was our pledge. That we'd exchange them on our wedding day."

"…"

"You gave yours to Freya. So what about me?"

His mouth opened, closed, and the only thing that came out was:

"It's not like it was worth anything."

I laughed.

"Yeah. Not worth anything."

"Just like me, right."

"Letitia—"

I hung up.

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

A delivery.

A tube of ointment for scrapes, and a bowl of hot porridge.

I sat on the hotel bed. The class group chat wouldn't stop buzzing.

People were sharing videos.

Freya and Alvin, singing a duet at KTV.

Her head resting on his shoulder, both of them holding microphones, singing some love song I'd never heard.

The chat blew up underneath:

"Alvin, the way you look at Freya is so sweet it hurts!"

"Please, I'm begging you two—just kiss already, do it for the rest of us!"