The next day, Cayden's flight was very early. By the time Mikayla woke up, he was already gone. A sticky note on the fridge bore his bold handwriting: "Breakfast is in the microwave. Remember to heat the milk."
Mikayla took it down and looked at it for a while before putting it back. She ate breakfast absentmindedly.
When she arrived at the office, Annie and Cannon were overjoyed. "Great! The big boss and team leader are both away this week!"
Mikayla chatted and laughed with them, when suddenly her phone buzzed with a message.
"6 dietary mistakes that can aggravate gout! Don't make these mistakes..."
Ever since reconnecting with Cassius, he occasionally sent her educational articles, making Mikayla suspect he was using her as a personal reminder.
She slowly typed a question mark in response.
He replied instantly, "It's good information, okay?" Then another message came through: "Are you coming to the class reunion next week?"
Mikayla frowned deeply. She never liked such gatherings and always avoided them. She hadn't attended one since graduation.
"No," she replied curtly.
"Really? Are you busier than me?"
"What's the point? Nothing to talk about, and you can't even eat properly."
"Okay. I saw Mrs. Walker at the hospital a while ago. She said she hasn't seen you in years and would like to catch up."
"Is Mrs. Walker ill? Is it serious?" Mikayla's high school homeroom teacher was Mr. Walker, and Mikayla had been her math class representative.
"Everyone gets sick eventually, especially as they get older. She has some chronic conditions."
The typing indicator on the screen didn't stop, "How about we visit her at school?"
Mr. Walker had always been very caring toward her in high school, and Mikayla felt a bit guilty for not visiting her in all these years.
After some hesitation, she replied, "Add Linda."
"Okay."
Meanwhile, Cassius was smiling at his phone. A colleague teased, "What's making you so happy?"
"Chasing after my girlfriend."
They picked a day right after the college entrance exams ended. When Mikayla got off work and took a cab to the entrance of No. 7 High School, Cassius, dressed in a white T-shirt and black pants, was waiting for her. The sunlight cast a halo around him.
Leaning casually against the wall, he was idly playing with a lighter. Hearing footsteps, he looked up to see Mikayla standing before him in a light green dress, holding a bouquet of flowers.
The warm summer breeze carried a pleasant citrus scent, stirring feelings within. Mikayla was slightly startled, noticing the lighter in Cassius's hand, "Since when did you start smoking?"
Cassius felt inexplicably nervous, as if being reprimanded by Mikayla for doing something wrong.
"Just picked it up when I was stressed."
"You send me all those health articles, yet you smoke? Don't smoke in front of the school; it sets a bad example."
Cassius walked up to her, bending down to meet her gaze, "Do I still look like a student? Are you saying I look young?"
Indeed, he was dressed like a high school student. With a uniform, he could easily get into the school in the disguise of a student.
With the sunset behind him and his fringe partially covering his eyes, Mikayla felt her face heat up. She took a step back, looking down to check her phone, wondering where Linda was.
Just then, her phone rang, and she quickly answered, "Hello? Where are you?"
"Mikayla, I'm sorry! I can't make it today! I'm photographing a client, and something just came up. Please forgive me this time. I'll treat you to a meal next time!"
Mikayla sighed, "Fine, you owe me a big meal!"
Turning to Cassius, who was smiling, she said, "She can't make it. She has a last-minute job."
"Let's go then"
No. 7 High School wasn't a test site, and it was just after class, so the students from lower grades were still active on the playground. A middle-aged female teacher hurried to the gate, "Cassius, Mikayla."
"Hello, Mrs. Walker." They both bowed and handed her the flowers.
"It's been years!" Mrs. Walker laughed as she explained the situation to the security guard and led them into the school.
"The school hasn't changed much over the years." They strolled leisurely through the campus.
"It's been years. Why haven't you two come to see me?" Mrs. Walker suddenly stopped and looked at them.
"Well, here we are now." Cassius replied with a smile.
"You still look the same, but Mikayla has matured a lot."
Mikayla shyly tucked her hair behind her ear, "Cassius mentioned you were ill. Are you okay?"
Mr. Walker sighed, "Getting older brings health problems. I was recently diagnosed with diabetes when I met Cassius at the hospital. Other than that, I'm fine."
Cassius gave Mrs. Walker some advice about managing diabetes.
Mr. Walker nodded, "Enough about me. How are you doing, Mikayla?"
"I'm doing okay, just a regular office worker." Cassius stifled a laugh beside her.
Occasionally, students passing by greeted Mrs. Walker. Suddenly, she smiled and asked them, "Did you come back this time to give me an invitation to your wedding?"
