Because of those words, my tears instantly broke through the dam.
I cried until the sky darkened and the doctor was getting ready to leave, only then realizing I didn't have my wallet.
Orion paid for me.
I noted down his phone number, added him as a friend in social medai when I got home, and transferred the money to him.
But he didn't accept it for a long time, returning the money the next day.
I sent a question mark tentatively.
He replied immediately: "What's wrong?"
"Why didn't you accept it?"
"Let's call it a debt for now. We can settle it over dinner after your exam."
I held my phone, the corners of my mouth involuntarily curving upward.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
After the exam, Orion vanished without a trace.
All the messages I sent him sank into the depths without a reply.
We met again during the Christmas Eve of my sophomore year in college, a night for family reunions.
My parents had already started living apart, leaving me alone in our large house.
Chant sounded downstairs while I huddled in my room, watching the program alone.
The hour hand reached midnight, and my phone suddenly vibrated.
OD:"Merry Christmas!"
I froze.
My heart seemed to skip a beat, and my fingers trembled as I typed.
"Orion, is that you?"
"Or has your account been hacked?"
The text box showed: typing...
I waited for about five minutes, finally receiving his reply.
It was very brief, just three characters:
"It's me."
"Where have you been these past two years? Why—"
Didn't you contact me?
I couldn't bring myself to say the second half of the sentence.
But the person on the other end seemed to sense my thoughts and called me back via voice call.
I picked up.
Caught off guard by the familiar yet distant clear voice, I was momentarily at a loss for words.
It was Orion who broke the silence first.
He asked me to go to the balcony and face the direction of two o'clock.
Confused but obedient, I did as he said.
A few seconds later, there was a loud boom.
Brilliant fireworks blossomed in the quiet night sky, petals falling like rain, almost within reach.
I kept the phone to my ear, looking up for a long time.
A deep male voice came from the other end:
"Sorry, I was on a mission and had to hand over my phone."
"I missed a lot of your messages."
My breath caught.
Suddenly remembering, Orion had attended a police academy.
"Last year today, you wished me a merry Christmas. This year, it's my turn."
After hanging up the phone, I saw the replies from my parents.
— "Merry Christmas, Dad."
— "Got it."
— "Merry Christmas, Mom."
— "Busy."
None of them wished me a Merry Christmas, except for Orion.
Only Orion.
The only one who, after two years of no contact, set off fireworks for me and wished me a Merry Christmas on Christmas Eve.
As I've said before, I don't cry easily.
But tears just wouldn't behave.
Those two years in my junior and senior years were some of the happiest times I had.
After Orion was reassigned to our city, we met more frequently and became closer.
My roommate asked me: "The handsome guy waiting downstairs for you again, is he your boyfriend?"
I denied it: "No, just an older brother."
After answering, my face felt hot.
Would an older brother take his younger sister to a couple's restaurant every week?
Would an older brother look at you when playing truth or dare and being asked if there was a girl he liked present?
Would an older brother carry his younger sister to the hospital at two in the morning because she had menstrual cramps and stay awake all night rubbing her stomach?
No.
But I didn't dare ask more.
To me, Orion was like a traveler in the desert who suddenly sees a distant oasis.
One could only gaze longingly from afar.
For fear that getting too close would shatter the beautiful dream.
At the end of May, nearing graduation, I was worn out by my thesis project every day.
Orion drove us to the seaside to relax.
On the way, several couples invited us to join them in kayaking.
This seemed to be a competition organized by a company that needed more participants at the last minute.
"Hey, miss, your boyfriend is so fit and strong, right? If you win first place, there's a prize."
My ears turned red: "Ah, he's not—"
"Okay."
Orion interrupted me, and I looked at him, unsure if it was my imagination.
His lips seemed to curve slightly.
It wasn't until we were seated in the kayak and just a few seconds before the race began that I belatedly asked:
"So what's the prize for first place?"
Orion's eyes wandered, and he answered somewhat awkwardly: "A very exquisite Swiss Army knife."
Very exquisite?
Judging by his tone, Orion must really like it.
Driven by the desire to win first place, even though neither Orion nor I had much experience, we gradually made it to the top three.
But the first-place team seemed to be at a truly elite level.
In the end, even Orion, who was very fit, gritted his teeth and pushed through.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the veins bulging on his arm and the cold sweat on his forehead.
I really wanted to tell him that it was okay if we didn't win.
I would give him an even more exquisite knife tonight.
While pondering this, our kayak was slowly overtaking the first-place team.
As we passed them, the man suddenly let go and said to Orion with a smile:
"Dude, you're working too hard. My wife is shy; she'd never kiss in front of so many people. You can have first place."
I was stunned.
What kiss?
Wasn't it supposed to be a Swiss Army knife?
Looking back at Orion's smiling eyes, I realized I had been deceived.
"Sorry, I had ulterior motives."
Orion held my hand, standing by the beautiful seaside at sunset, apologizing softly.
The prize for first place was never a Swiss Army knife.
It was two tickets to abroad, and—
kissing your loved one.
My mind buzzed.
Pretending to be dumb would be pointless now.
"Orion, actually, you didn't need to work so hard."
You didn't need to try so hard; I would still be with you.
He looked at me quietly and spoke slowly:
"Elara."
"I wanted to win."
"I want to be with you."
"And I want to—" He pursed his lips, gently cupping my face. "Kiss you."
Thump thump thump.
My heart was pounding so hard it nearly leaped out of my chest.
Orion tilted his head and kissed my forehead reverently.
The moment was frozen in time.
"Elara, I've taken your hand."
