Chapter 2017 Introduction


    Soon, Sheryl and I finally arrived at the apartment, tired from the long day that they had. Pulling the


    key from her bag, Sheryl twisted it in the doorknob before pushing the door open.


    Shirley and rk were already sitting on the couch, ncing at the door every minute, knowing that


    their mother would arrive soon. When they heard the door click, they ran to the two figures who had


    entered, jumping around them excitedly. "Mom, Aunt I," they yelled. "Can we go to the cinema


    tonight?"


    "And where did this ideae from?" Sheryl raised an eyebrow, bending her knees to look her


    daughter in the eye, amused at the suggestion.


    "Mom," Shirley whined. "My ssmates said there''s this new movie out and that it''s great. I want to


    watch it too. Please, please, with cherries on top?" Shirley dangled Sheryl''s arms, pouting.


    Sherylughed, ruffling Shirley''s hair, much to her daughter''s protesting before turning to I. "Well?


    Want toe with us?" she offered.


    "Sure! I can''t remember thest time I went to the cinema." I shrugged.


    Sheryl nodded before turning to her son. "And you, rk?"


    "As long as Shirley wants to." After a look at his sister''s insisting face, he nodded in confirmation.


    "Okay, then. We''ll go after we finish dinner. Joan," Sheryl called, and the other woman appeared from


    the kitchen, wearing an apron as if she''d just started cooking. "Do you mind preparing our dinner a bit


    earlier? We''ll be heading out tonight."


    "Yes, Miss." Joan bowed her head in understanding before returning to the kitchen. After Sheryl and


    I had talked with the kids a bit more, Joan came back, signaling that she was already finished.


    Without another word, the two kids ran to the dining table with Sheryl and I following behind them.


    Much to the adults'' amusement, the kids were eating as if their lives depended on it, especially Shirley,


    who had finished her te before all of them did. Happily, she munched on herst spoonful of rice,


    smiling up at them. "I''m done," she said, and Sheryl chuckled at the sight. "Let''s go to the cinema!"


    On the way, the kids were talking excitedly with I, butting in teasingly. At these times, Sheryl almost


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    forgot what she was feeling. Almost. As they found their seats inside the theater, Sheryl couldn''t help


    but see the couples snuggling together as they waited for the movie to start. She couldn''t help but stare


    for a second, remembering the times she had spent with Charles. They were also like this once,


    snuggling together as they appreciated each other''s warmth.


    However, it wasn''t the same as it once was.


    "Sher, is something wrong?" I nudged Sheryl, knocking her out of her reverie.


    "Ah, what?" She smiled sheepishly.


    "You look distracted." Following Sheryl''s gaze to the couple, I couldn''t help but sigh. ''She must be


    thinking about Charles.''


    "This film is for kids. It''s hard for me to stay focused," Sheryl reasoned.


    "Mom, Aunt I, shh!" Shirley couldn''t help but turn to her noisypanions, putting a finger on her


    lips as she motioned the two of them to silence.


    Sheryl and I exchanged apologetic looks and mouthed "sorry" to Shirley.


    The film may havested for two hours, but it felt like it took an eternity. I had to stifle a yawn and


    sighed in relief when the show was nearing the end credits. If she had known this was for kids, I


    wouldn''t have agreed toe.


    On their way back, I dozed off, oblivious to the loud chatter that came from Shirley and rk as they


    discussed the events that had transpired in the film.


    "Mom, why is Aunt I so tired?" rk asked, ncing at I, who was already softly snoring.


    "She had a busy day. Let''s try to not wake her up, okay?" Sheryl exined.


    "Okay, Mom."


    "So, Mom, at school today, I...." rk and Shirley began telling Sheryl what happened in kindergarten.


    At times like these, Sheryl couldn''t help but listen attentively, grasping the little details that they had


    mentioned and drawled out. A part of her remembered when they were still toddlers, ying with toy


    blocks, but now, they were already attending school. It always seemed that time had really flown by too


    quickly.


    Soon, they arrived at their apartment.


    Sheryl nudged I awake before taking the kids back to their bedroom. I, still a bit dazed, trudged


    back to their room, like a zombie at its wake.


    After Sheryl had tucked the kids in, she lounged in her bedroom, before taking out her phone and


    logging into WeChat.


    She clicked on Charles'' homepage. Though it had been a long time since he hadst updated, Sheryl


    couldn''t help but check his page from time to time, a part of her hoping to get some updates. Deep


    down, she knew she still cared for him. However, she wanted, as much as possible, to bury that deep


    inside her, so that one day, she''d be able to convince herself to forget about him. But as she saw that


    couple tonight, she knew she was wrong to think so.


    As shey back on her bed, Sheryl tossed and turned, feeling her thoughts troubling her every minute.


    It was a restless night and one that Sheryl hated.


    "Sheryl, good morning," I sang out but stopped herself when Sheryl groaned and turned from her


    pillow, revealing dark circles below her eyes and a gaunt expression on her face.


    Seeing her like this, I immediately ced her hand on Sheryl''s forehead, before sighing in relief


    when she didn''t have a fever. ''If it wasn''t that, then what''s wrong with her?'' she thought.


    "Sheryl, you look exhausted. What did you dost night? Sneak out and drink the night away?" I


    teased, shaking her.


    Sheryl snorted into her pillow and sat up, shoving her yfully. "What the hell, I?"


    "So what did you do? You look...Dead," I said bluntly.


    Sheryl knew she had to tell I the truth now, or else the woman would be asking her this all day long.


    Sighing, she said, "Nothing...I just didn''t sleep wellst night. That''s it."


    "That''s it?" I studied Sheryl in disbelief. And when Sheryl avoided her gaze, I knew something


    was wrong. She pressed Sheryl, narrowing her eyes, "You''re still thinking about Charles, aren''t you?"


    "Yes, I am," Sheryl murmured, tired of arguing with her. I blinked. Though she was expecting it was


    Charles, she was surprised that Sheryl admitted it out loud, especially when pestering her for the past


    few days did absolutely nothing.


    Gaping, I looked like a fish out of water.


    Sheryl giggled. "I, I''m joking! I''m fine." She waved her hand dismissively. "Go wash your face and


    help me drive the kids to schoolter."


    "Okay." I took one long look at her friend before standing up to leave the room.


    I was lost in thought after the conversation she had with Sheryl. The woman just couldn''t believe the


    events had transpired as they had.


    Sheryl didn''t notice this until she dropped the kids off. Taking a look at I, she took a step closer and


    tapped her on the shoulder.


    "Jesus!" I shouted, gasped, and put her hand on her chest. Seeing that it was Sheryl, she shook her


    head.


    "What the hell, Sheryl? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I raised her voice, before bursting


    intoughter.


    "What were you thinking of?" Sheryl asked.


    I just shook her head.


    After getting no response, Sheryl moved closer. "Are you okay?"


    "Yes, I am," I reassured her. "Come on, let''s go back to thepany, or else we''d bete. Phoebe


    might be waiting for us." I walked Sheryl to the office.


    As I avoided her stare and questions, Sheryl sighed. She might as well try to ask another time.


    When they finally got to the office, Phoebe was indeed waiting for her outside of her office. Once she


    neared, Phoebe quickly handed the file over to Sheryl and asked for her signature. Once Sheryl was


    distracted, I left without saying goodbye.


    I didn''t leave the office to go shopping. She made an appointment with Nick and Cassie. Although


    she looked perfectly fine right now, she couldn''t help but be a bit worried about her friend.


    I called Nick once she left the Cloud Advertising Company.


    "I, where are you? Cassie and I are almost there,"


    Nick started once he picked up.


    "I''m almost there. See you soon." I hung up and stepped on the gas.


    Soon, all three of them had arrived in the coffee shop. Though the atmosphere was rich with coffee and


    peace, I still couldn''t help but feel a bit agitated over everything that had happened. Catching sight


    of Nick''s waving hand, she went over to sit opposite them, still lost in thought.


    "I, what''s happening? You sounded very worried," Nick questioned as she sat down.


    Cassie was staring questioningly at her too. I wasn''t normally this out of it.


    I emptied her ss of water to half in a single gulp before looking up at them. "I actually came here


    to ask for your opinion." She tapped on the table before looking up at them. "I''m thinking of introducing


    someone to Sher. Do you know anyone? It''s about time the woman starts dating again."


    "What?" Nick choked on his ss as he stared at her in disbelief.