If You Still Remember Yesterday - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Startled, Sunny flushed shyly:

— Oh, my mistake... Sunny. Linh Sunny.

— Your name doesn't match you at all. — Dylan smiled smugly.

— Hey! — Sunny stared wide-eyed. — Mind your own business. How does it not match?

— Such a pretty name, but the face...

— What's wrong with my face? — Sunny snapped.

— Your face looks just like... the "Hot Girl of Fruit Mountain" [a playful reference to Sun Wukong's Mountain of Flowers and Fruit]...

Sunny widened her eyes:

— Are you saying I look like a monkey?

— You said it yourself. Gotta admit, you're quite smart.

Sunny mumbled:

— Look who's talking, criticizing other people.

Dylan grinned:

— Smile for me, let me see. — As he spoke, he pulled the corners of Sunny's mouth all the way back to her ears. — There, you look more like a human now.

— Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah! — Sunny shrieked. — It hurts! Are you crazy?

Dylan let go and stuck out his tongue:

— I'd have to be crazy to be talking to you in the first place, wouldn't I?

— Sure. — Sunny pouted. — It's been ages since I met a lunatic like you!

Dylan burst out laughing:

— Being as crazy as me? Even if you strive for another 10 years, you still won't make it!

Seeing Sunny fall silent, Dylan struck up a conversation again:

— What are you doing here?

— Well, what are you doing here? — Sunny retorted.

— I'm looking for some study materials. I'm retaking the university entrance exams this year...

— Oh, I see. — Sunny said sarcastically. — And here I thought you were so smart, only to find out you "flopped" last year.

— No. Last year I went to study abroad.

— Why didn't you just stay over there? Why come back?

— Heh... I just felt like it.

— You really are crazy!

Dylan grew pensive:

— Actually... Last year, while I was halfway through my studies in France, my dad got into an accident and... passed away...

Sunny turned to look at Dylan, her eyes wide. Seeing Dylan look away, she grew flustered:

— I'm sorry...

— Yeah, it's fine. — Dylan said softly. — I came back to Vietnam to study so I could be there to help my mom. Plus, "Vietnamese people use Vietnamese goods" [supporting the home country].

Dylan was able to joke around again right away. Sunny smiled—a rare smile she hadn't had in two weeks:

— You're something else!

Dylan changed the subject:

— Oh, by the way... It looks like you've got something weighing on your heart, don't you?

— Yeah... How did you know? — She sighed.

— Just a guess. — Dylan winked.

— A spot-on guess, then. — Sunny smiled bitterly.

— Where's your boyfriend? Why aren't you confiding in him instead of making a fuss?

— He died...

— How did he die?

— Climbed a chili tree, fell, and died...

— What a happy ending! — Dylan burst out laughing.

— I'm kidding... — Sunny lowered her gaze.

— So what's making you sad? Go ahead and spill the beans boldly. If I can't help, I'll still help...

Sunny winced:

— I really am sad.

— Why?

— I got... dumped.

— Does it hurt?

— It hurts. — Sunny let out a heavy sigh.

Mentioning it made Sunny's heart ache again. She kept her head bowed down, and Dylan gently asked:

— Do you still love him?

— Yes... — Sunny replied timidly.

— Hold on to him, pull him back...

— He slipped away, someone else picked him up... Heh...

— Demand him back.

— I'm too thin-skinned...

— What does that mean?

— I'm not pretty, but I still have my self-respect... — Sunny choked back.