When Love Has Been Forgotten

I met up with Rio at a suburban park's basketball court.

When I arrived, he was jumping up, airborne, and shot a three-pointer.

Then, like a wild horse that had broken free, he ran towards me.

"How is it? Am I cool or what?"

I threw a bottle of Joy Water to him. "You're all sweaty, stay away."

"Oh, you're being picky now. I've lost a lot for this meet-up, one bottle of Joy Water won't cut it."

I looked around the basketball court, slowly approaching Rio Cooper and looking up at him. "This place isn't suitable for sex."

Rio lowered his head hastily, his face suddenly blushing, just like a girl whose secrets had been revealed. It was as if he had gulped down a whole bottle of strong liquor.

"Weren't you quite bold in the WhatsApp? Why are you shy now?"

"Who, who's shy? I was just thinking about how many times I want you."

The park is adjacent to the Sapphire Serpent River.

Rio and I picked a secluded path and walked along the river.

We just kept going.

I really wanted to keep going like this.

The cool night breeze dispelled the heat of the day and blew away the black hair on Rio's forehead.

His clean and handsome face was fully revealed in the night.

I have to admit, he is really handsome.

Despite his efforts to hide it, I saw his nervousness from his throat bobbing up and down.

He glanced at his wristwatch. "You have ten minutes to back out."

Ten minutes later, I would turn eighteen.

"Stop nagging."

The clock struck twelve on time, a young boy and girl began their first reckless adventure in life.

He entered her body.

The process was awkward, nervous, and exciting.

I put my head on Rio's chest, feeling his heartbeat.

We lay on the grass, looking up at the Milky Way, lost in it, forgetting all the troubles of the world.

"Talia, after the results come out, let's apply to the same school. I'll take care of you for the rest of my life."

His voice was deep and magnetic, with a touch of seductive recklessness.

It was hard to refuse.

"Okay."

He took out a red bracelet from his pocket and put it on my wrist, "I prayed for it in the church. It's for safety and health. Happy birthday, Talia."

"Since you've agreed, you can't back out."

My body was getting worse day by day.

I was so tired that I could hardly walk a few steps, and I couldn't eat much.

In just over half a month, I had lost more than ten pounds.

The bones on my face were clearly visible.

I thought I would be an invisible person in this house until the day I died, without saying a word to them.

But one noon, my dad knocked on my door.

"Talia, your mom has cooked a meal herself. Come out and eat, it's all your favorite food."

The phrase "your mom has cooked" was indeed tempting to me.

I hadn't tasted her cooking in many years.

So, I decided to have a taste.

Just a bite.

The dishes were served, each spicier than the last.

Just looking at them, I felt a fire burning in my stomach.

This was what Nicole liked to eat, not me.

Nicole brought out a small cake with a big smile on her face.

"Cousin, you didn't attend this year's birthday party. Aunt said she would make up for you today."

I noticed her gaze lingering on my wrist.

The red bracelet.

I picked up my fork and really didn't know which dish to pick.

In my hesitation, my mom knocked my fork away.

"Eat your meal openly, I get angry when I see you dawdling."

"It's too spicy, I can't eat it."

My mom got even angrier, she slammed the fork on the table.

"Nicole can eat it, why can't you, why are you so pretentious?"

"And your hair, go cut it immediately, covering your face, looking like you want to die, it's bad luck just looking at it."

As long as she finds a fault with me, my shortcomings in her heart will be infinitely magnified.

Then she lost control.

Just like then, she didn't like my hair, so she got up to get scissors.

She lifts my hair to cut it, but stops in place, her pupils trembling slightly.

I think she might be scared by my emaciated face.

Her look now should be one of concern, after all, blood is thicker than water, and I am flesh from her flesh.

But now, she looked so strange.

I was wondering how to explain to her.

Fortunately, the next second, the familiar her came back.

"Are you trying to die, losing weight to this extent? It's really disgusting."

"You're killing yourself, I won't stop you; the cake is personally bought by Nicole, you must eat it."

My dad hurriedly came out to make peace. "Talia, be sensible, don't anger your mom, quickly eat the cake, you can't push yourself too hard when dieting."

I saw Nicole's slightly curved eyes.

I saw the satisfaction of a cuckoo bird after it has taken over everything from its original owner.

She was admiring her work.

"Okay, let's eat together."

I grabbed a handful of cake and smeared it all over Nicole's face.

When my mom saw it, she rushed over like a madwoman, punching my chest.

She was so strong.

The punches almost took my breath away.

Then my stomach cramped, and I vomited.

The greenish-yellow bile mixed with blood, vomited onto my mom's clothes.