If You Still Remember Yesterday - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Sunny sat down next to Dylan, her eyes full of expectation.

— Do you want to... rewrite your life?

— What do you mean? — Sunny tilted her head.

— Meaning, write a story about yourself. About your stumbles, and how you proudly stand back up?

— I'm terrible at writing... — Sunny pulled a long face.

— Oh no. — Dylan waved his hand. — Don't worry about phrasing or style; write with your emotions, just like you're writing a diary. Maybe this won't help you forget completely, but it will make you feel so much lighter...

— Okay!

Sunny smiled faintly.

— Oh right, I almost forgot. Give me your phone number...

Over the past few days, Sunny's state of mind had shown clear, marked progress. She no longer dragged a funeral-like expression to class, and she would dive right back into lively gossip with the chatterboxes at the desk behind hers. When night fell, she would clatter away on her keyboard, chatting online with Dylan. Dylan always managed to surprise and delight her. Once, Dylan asked her:

— Hey Sunny...

— Yes?

— Do you love me? Hehe... ;)

— No! — Sunny retorted mischievously. >:)

— If you don't love me, then... the dogs love me... :-<

— Oh! Then I suppose there are quite a lot of dogs in this world! X-(

— Where? — Dylan grinned broadly. — What I meant was, if you don't love me, then... the dogs love me. :"> :))

— Hahahahahahahaha...

Sunny laughed until she was doubled over. It had been so long since she had felt this happy.

Every single day, right on schedule, Sunny would be at the library by 5:00 PM waiting for Dylan. Dylan would arrive to study alongside her, helping her solve difficult math problems in just a few minutes. And their familiar spot by the tightly shut window never changed. Once, Dylan wondered aloud:

— Why do you always choose this seat? Is there anything special about it?

Sunny stared off, lost in thought for a long while, before she replied:

— Because this is the place... where the sunlight doesn't reach...

Dylan sighed in exasperation:

— Are you that used to living in the dark?

— Yes, I am.

— Sooner or later, I'm going to have to drag you out into the light.

— I dare you.

— Don't tempt a poor guy into sucking his thumb... [a playful idiom for daring someone when you're determined]

— That's so gross, Dylan!

Sunny burst into fits of laughter. Time had brought her and Dylan closer together, leaving no distance between them. Dylan was at once an older brother, a friend, a counseling center, and something else entirely to Sunny—something very different...

Two months later, right near the day both Sunny and Dylan had to prepare for the grueling university entrance exams, Sunny called to invite him out:

— Dylan-Dylan! Wanna go get coffee?

— Don't call me Dylan-Dylan... It sounds so fake.

— Too bad! So, are you going or not?

— Yes.

— If so, then let's go right this instant.