Popper

An advertisement was playing on the high-speed train. A handsome man flashed into the screen from time to time.

"Woah! He's so handsome." "Murphy!" "He's the male star who just got a ticket to Hollywood." "My friend met him before. She said that he was so handsome and sweet!"

In a trance-like state, Nora Su lowered her head and tried her best not to listen to their ongoing chatter. However, she couldn't help but feel heavy inside. Although her heart ached at the sound of his name, she knew that she had absolutely nothing to do with him – at least, not anymore.

The little boy in her arms began to cry, as if hearing the sorrow of her heart. He was just about two to three years old with dark eyes and long eyelashes. He was a pitiful sight.

Nora Su patted the boy on his thigh, coaxing him to quiet down. He later followed suit.

She closed her eyes, feeling her head pounding more deliberately. It was because of the cold. She could already feel her eyes drooping, but she forced herself to stay awake, worried about the baby in her arms.

After a while, Nora Su let her mind wander to what had happened two years ago.

In the four years when they were together, he would always buy her breakfast in cold winter mornings and wait for her downstairs in her dormitory building. He would stay up all night to study with her when she failed her exams. He would accompany her to the activities she liked to participate in, even if he had no interest in them. And if she was jealous, he would do his best to put an end to those gossips and assure her that he was hers.

She would never forget the night on the rooftop. In a night of drifting snow, he held her hand and asked, "Nora, I've always wanted to be with you. Would you be my girlfriend?"

That night, she felt like a princess who finally found her prince. At that time, they thought it was them against the world.

"The train is about to reach Beijing. Please get ready." The steward's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Nora Su rubbed her eyes sleepily, shaking her head.

'Time had really changed us. Fortunately, even if I'm still struggling here, you're turning brighter and brighter. It's better like this... It's better that we forget about each other.'

Outside the window, it felt as if she was in another world covered in snow. Although it was still October, the city had experienced few bouts of snow along the month.

As soon as she got off the train, a gust of wind blew on her face. She helped the child in her arms close his jacket before zipping up her own.

Nora Su quickly found the nearest bank and grabbed the only card in her wallet. She inserted it into the ATM. Staring at the miserable number on the screen, she couldn't help but sigh.

A chill rushed up her chest. She covered her mouth and coughed a few times.

"Ring!" Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and didn't answer.

When her phone rang again, she sighed and answered the phone.

"Nora, what are you doing? Why the hell didn't you tell me you're going to Beijing?" A woman's voice came from the other end of the line. It was her best friend, Grace Gao.