Chapter 26
“Matteo is paralyzed.” His voice was very soft, as if afraid of shattering something fragile.[]
“Joannie pulled him down when she jumped. She died on the spot. I heard he’s now in a suburban nursing home, needing caregivers to help him even hold a water glass.“]
Yunia’s eyelashes trembled violently.
When she heard this familiar name again, it was news of his paralysis, and so sudden at that.[]
Although she had long let go of the past in her heart, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat melancholy.[]
After all, the person who had almost consumed her entire youth had suddenly met such an end–something she had never imagined.[]
In Yunia’s mind, Matteo was fickle with his affections. Even if she didn’t forgive him, he would quickly forget her completely.
He would probably inherit a large fortune and continue living his carefree life.[]
Until someone new appeared, just like Joannie had.[]
After all, someone like him wasn’t worth loving.[]
Much less worth remembering.
Her memory suddenly flashed back three years ago, when Matteo had cornered her in the study: “Yunia, don’t test my patience.“]]
And now, that once–arrogant man was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.]
“He wanted to see you. I refused.” Zayn paused, “I don’t want you to see him, simply don’t want to.“|
“Alright, then I won’t see him. I’ll listen to you.“[]
Those sleepless nights of the past, those design drafts soaked with tears, now turned into a gentle breeze in her palm.[]
“I didn’t want to see him anyway.“]
Yunia looked at the new wedding ring on her ring finger.[]
Some wounds heal better when left untouched.[]
Zayn tightened his arms, his chin gently nuzzling the top of her head.]
Suddenly, a loud bang erupted in the distance, and golden fireworks shot into the sky, dyeing half the sky like magnificent silk.
Yunia sat up straight abruptly, her eyes reflecting the continuously blooming streams of light–red like roses, purple like irises, finally transforming into delicate ribbons that scattered down onto the car roof.
“Do you like it?”
Zayn’s voice mixed with the roar of fireworks.
He opened the car’s sunroof, cold wind carrying the scent of gunpowder rushing in. He had already used his suit jacket to shield
Yunia’s exposed neck.[]
Yunia turned to look at him, her expression gentle.[]
“This is our first time watching fireworks together.” He held her hand against his chest, “From now on, every anniversary, every night when you’re happy or sad, I’ll watch them with you.“[]
Yunia suddenly remembered a phrase she had seen in a picture book in her youth: “True love is not tormenting each other, but healing each other.“[]
She suddenly felt very happy, thinking this might be the kind of life she had always been searching for.[]
Peaceful yet blissful.[]
The past might have brought pain, but her life still held infinite possibilities.[]
Especially with someone as interesting as Zayn.[]
What she didn’t tell him was that once, when she went to the study to find a book, she saw his notebook with a damaged ID photo tucked inside.[]
The girl in the photo had an innocent smile–it was seventeen–year–old Yunia.[]
He had been secretly in love with her all along, from very early on.[]
And she had noticed him too, that person who was always first in the entire school.[]
Her youth had actually included his shadow, but after he went abroad, they never saw each other again.[]
After going in circles, Zayn, who hadn’t had the courage to speak up at seventeen, finally grasped Yunia’s hand at twenty–seven.[] She felt very lucky.[]
The fireworks in the distance continued, projecting their shadows onto the car window, overlapping into a shape that would never separate.
As the wedding car slowly entered the villa driveway filled with a sea of rose lights, Yunia looked at the sky full of sparks and finally understood-
Some people appear to teach you to grow.
And some people arrive to tell you that love should be warm and bright.]
She looked up and kissed Zayn’s jaw, and as he began to deepen the kiss, she heard the final roar of fireworks blooming in the distance.
Like her final farewell to the old times.]
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