Six years ago, on a fateful night, Hamish had an unexpected accident and fell into the water. He had a fatal flaw – a natural fear of water and inability to swim. In blunt terms, he was a “land duck.”
That night, he believed he would meet his end in the water until a blurry figure also plunged into the depths and pulled him out with great force. It was a bitterly cold December night, and a thin layer of ice covered the surface of the lake, sending shivers through his body. It felt as if his skin was being scraped by a knife, and his blood seemed to contain fragments of ice.
As Hamish’s thoughts returned to that night six years ago, his expression became incredibly complex. The room was illuminated by the soft orange light of a single desk lamp, casting its glow into every corner.
Unbeknownst to Hamish, Elisa was nestled in his arms, her face unconsciously stained with tears. Fortunately, she had turned away, concealing her tear-streaked face.
“When exactly was it, six years ago?” Elisa asked.
“It was around midnight on December 25th, in the northern suburbs…” As Hamish’s words slowly fell, his once blurry memories suddenly became clear in his mind.
Elisa covered her mouth, her voice hoarse as she spoke, “Hamish, why do you believe it was Lila who saved you back then?”
Elisa had never delved so deeply into a matter before, and Hamish replied, “When I woke up in the hospital, she was the one I saw. Lila also claimed that she had saved me.”
“She said she saved you?”
“She said it was partly her, and also because of the pearl earrings she was wearing. That night in the water, I saw a pair of pearl earrings. I remember she reached out and touched them. When I woke up, Lila was leaning over my bedside, and the pearl earrings were exactly what I saw on her ears.”
“Hamish, have you ever considered that many people have similar pearl earrings? Have you ever thought that Lila might have deceived you?” The tears vanished from Elisa’s eyes, leaving behind a profound desolation.
Hamish’s expression slightly changed. As Elisa’s words fell, she felt her heart being squeezed. He suddenly sat up and leaned over, peering down at Elisa’s profile. “What do you mean?”
Elisa turned her head, meeting his gaze with pitch-black eyes. He was smiling, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. It was sinister, sending a chill down one’s spine.
“It means nothing, just a passing comment,” Elisa said, unable to suppress a low laughter. She bowed her body slightly, trembling on her frail shoulders.
“Hahaha… Haha… So, that’s how it is…” So, it was Hamish whom she saved six years ago. So, she had long since repaid her debt to Hamish…
Hamish had a fear of water from birth, while Elisa was naturally sensitive to the cold. After pulling him ashore, she lost consciousness. She was taken to the hospital and remained comatose for an entire week, suffering from a persistent high fever.
Elisa raised her chin slightly, the smile at the corner of her lips tinged with irony but quickly fading away. Her pitch-black eyes were fixed on Hamish, and she pursed her lips, ultimately saying nothing, only uttering faintly, “I’m thirsty.”
As she descended into a fit of manic laughter, a sudden chill crept into Hamish’s heart. “Elisa, what’s wrong with you?”
He reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Elisa’s eyes, but she stood up before him, making the first move. “It’s nothing. I just find you quite affectionate.”
Hamish detected the sarcasm in her words. If Elisa hadn’t suddenly asked him, he might never have spoken of it. Hamish changed the subject, saying, “I’ll get you some water.”
There was a water dispenser in the living room outside the bedroom. As Hamish walked away, Elisa sat back on the bed and pinched her earring, revealing a faint scar.
In the water, Hamish struggled and grasped her earring, exerting too much force, which tore her earlobe. It was stitched at the time and now the scar had faded. It was difficult to notice unless one looked closely.
Hamish returned with the water, but Elisa continued to laugh incessantly. She laughed at Hamish, and she laughed at herself. It turned out that Hamish had always been out of her league.
Deep affection was utterly worthless. The most despicable emotion in this world was when someone who treated you poorly suddenly showed tenderness, fierce like a storm that couldn’t be avoided. But delayed affection was cheaper than grass, dirtier than mud, like maggots in the sewer.
Elisa wouldn’t reveal this truth to Hamish. She wanted him to live in the lie…