The question from her sister touched something deep inside the younger girl. The word “like” seemed both beautiful and heavy. Smiling, the girl looked up tenderly at her sister, “I’m not sure if it counts.”
Summer suddenly closed her book and sat up straight, intrigued, “Who? What do you mean by ‘if it counts’? Can’t you tell if you like him or not?”
Agnes felt uneasy facing this question herself. Confronted by her sister’s probing, she was at a loss for words, “No.”
Then, smiling and shaking her head, she said, “Let’s not talk about me.” She pulled out her phone, leaning happily towards Summer, “Look, I just took a proposal video for you guys!”
With that, as the video played, she suppressed the topic about herself.
In the video, the warm yellow light tinted the flowers on the shelf with a misty glow. Spencer knelt on one knee before her, holding a ring and speaking sweet nothings…
Agnes couldn’t help but remark, “I thought men like him would never marry. I didn’t expect my older sister to tame him! Sis, I need to learn from you, how do you make a man so devoted?”
After watching the entire video with a smile, Summer turned off the phone and playfully tapped her sister’s nose, saying seriously, “Tell me, who is this man you like?”
“Which man?” Agnes pretended to misunderstand and emphasized again with a laugh, “I don’t like anyone else.”
Summer gently touched her finger to where her sister’s heart was, “Who is hidden in here that I don’t know about?”
Her sister had completely seen through her thoughts.
“He…” Agnes remembered that cat and smiled though she felt a bit sad because she didn’t know how to start telling that story. “He was like a beam of light that brightened my entire youth. He made me feel that the world was incredibly beautiful.”
Her sister looked forward eagerly to what she would say next, but suddenly Agnes decided not to continue.
“And then?” Summer asked. “Did you guys date in high school?”
“No,” Agnes answered. “We never dated; we haven’t even met.”
“What kind of relationship is this?” Summer couldn’t understand. “An online romance?”
“Not romance, just online,” Agnes said helplessly and then sighed lightly. She told her sister about how she met the cat online during her sophomore year of high school and how he appreciated her comics and gave her many pertinent suggestions that significantly improved her drawing skills. That year she won many awards and gained some fame in her circle.
Summer listened intently but was genuinely worried for her sister. “Agnes, have you ever considered one thing?”
“What?” Her sister looked at her earnestly.
Summer pondered for a moment before speaking very seriously, “Have you considered that he might not be young? Maybe he’s a middle-aged man? Or even an old man? A university professor in the fine arts department? Or could it be possible that he is a woman?”
The girl was stunned.
Her sister continued analyzing, “Think about it. Because his level is far above yours, he can give you guidance and advice.”
She added, “And your own level is not low; you are exceptionally talented in drawing among your peers. There aren’t many more talented than you. I think his experience has accumulated over time; otherwise, you wouldn’t admire him so much. The comfort he brings in your communications shows he’s not just some young guy; he must be at least 40 years old.”
Agnes felt a tightness in her chest followed by disappointment…
Actually, she had thought about this before but didn’t want to delve deeper into it; that’s why she never arranged to meet him offline back then-she was afraid of shattering her illusions.
Who would have thought that after all these years it would turn into an obsession?