This was the first time that Clara had seen Darren ever after she returned. She suddenly felt complicated.
Darren hadn't changed much except that he looked more mature now. His dark blue customized suit made him look even more upright. Her aura had become stronger, and more intimidating.
At the moment of seeing Darren, Clara felt the old-time was rushing toward her. And then, as his face became clearer, the memories slowly spalled like the surface of an old wall.
She seemed to have seen herself at college and herself five years ago smiling at the present. It was the simplest and most beautiful relationship she had.
But then she thought of Darren's dilemma. However, all that seemed to have vanished along with Ashlee's death.
Was this the magic of time? While retaining the original faces of each person, it profoundly changes each person. Darren had changed, and so was her.
Now she can smile when she thought about the past and face it.
Darren saw Clara the moment he came in. He was as amazed as the crowd just now. He couldn't hold back his attachment for her anymore.
How many times, he woke up from the dream and stepped into the darkness. Clara's figure was still imprinted in his mind. Her image at school, as well as at work.
But his consciousness told him that she was no longer here with him.
She was no longer his.
Seeing her was already a blessing, let alone touching.
Five years later, after such a long time, she finally stood in front of him alive again. She was no longer an illusion. She would no longer disappear.
Taking a step straight toward Clara, Darren felt that his heart was beating uncontrollably. Was it as excited as him to see her again?
However, his classmates came to him at this time and stood between him and Clara. He could only greet them one by one.
Darren didn't know what he was talking about. He felt that his body and soul were separated at this moment. His body was greeting people, but her soul had flown to Clara, looking greedily at the person whom he missed day and night.
He wanted to go over and asked Clara how she had been doing.
Finishing the greetings, Darren couldn't wait to meet his soul.
Clara was a little flustered to see Darren coming toward her, she wasn't mentally ready to meet him. She avoided looking at him subconsciously, yet finally, chose to face him.
They'll need to face each other sooner or later.
Clara was no longer the cowardly girl she was then, she had to learn to face everything.
"It's been a while." Staring into Clara's eyes, Darren whispered as if afraid that a slight noise would scare her away.
God knows why, his heart was racing but now in front of her, he calmed down. He spoke like they had separated only yesterday.
"Yes, it's been a long time." Clara replied, with a slight smile, "How have you been all these years?"
"What about you? Are you alright?" Darren asked rhetorically without answering. He looked concerned.
As expected, after Clara and Darren left, people started to gossip.
"Isn't Clara married? Why did she go out with her ex-boyfriend? Is she trying to cheat?"
"You need to update your information, she divorced five years ago. I don't think she is cheating. She is just going back to her old lover."
"Darren isn't married right now, right? Would he like a divorced woman?"
"Enough, they are just taking a walk. Do you have to be so mean? Also, she is divorced, so what? Is it against the law?" Sammy exclaimed. She couldn't stand the sarcasm.
The people who were gossiping all looked at Sammy with shame and anger. Sammy glared back. They dared to gossip no more.
Outside, Clara and Darren walked to the school playground. Being there again, they became kind of emotional.
"Remember this place? We used to jog here. Once, we met a girl confessing to her crush, but..."
Halfway through, Darren couldn't help but laugh. It was really funny.
Clara laughed too when she heard it, "How could I forget? I remember that the girl was wearing a wedding dress, but when she finished her confession and nervously waited for the boy's response, she found that her dress was lit by the candles around her. She didn't even notice it. I remember the boy..."
The two men smiled and looked at each other without saying anything else.
After a moment of silence, Darren turned to Clara and asked, "Clara, are you still in contact with Horace?"
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