The boy I’ve once loved has the world’s most beautiful side-profile.

Her friends said she lived a life without roots.

The spring of her 26th year, her close friend Li Yun Wei got married. The bridegroom was her childhood friend. He Luo was working in Philadelphia and was unable to return to the country to attend the ceremony. A sudden storm struck the east coast of United States, from south to the north, all were covered with snow.

The snow finally stopped the next evening.

The town office’s snowplow rumbled past outside the window. When she opened the door, she saw her diligent neighbour shovelling the snow, creating an empty path from the door to the pathway. She had just moved here from the sunny California not too long ago. The thick snow, nearly as tall as her, made her childish side peek out. She returned to her house and put on her Northface windbreaker. She put up the hood and began her journey forward.

A group of brown-skinned Puerto Rican teens ran past her with excited shouts. The last teen accidentally crashed into He Luo, causing her to temporarily lose footing. The teen turned and smiled, “Sorry.” He emphasised on the “r” sound, betraying his Spanish tongue. His tone was warm and friendly.

“That’s alright.” He Luo sincerely smiled.

“There’s a nice restaurant ahead!” The teen pointed at the corner of the street, thumbs up.

Perhaps her appearance now looked pitiful. The night after the snow storm, a person walking by her lonesome on the streets like a lost jackdaw. While she was still thinking about this, her stomach grumbled.

The restaurant the teen pointed out had a very small storefront but once she entered, she realised it was an amazing discovery. Inside, a coffee shop was set-up in the left. The dense smell of Puerto Rican coffee infused every corner. On the right was a bar with a row of bar stools. Happy Hour has just passed but because it was a snow day, there were few customers. In the centre of the restaurant was a family-style bistro, carrying a menu with food that He Luo can’t pronounce.

“Ribs, please.” She ordered a plate of ribs. That was the only dish she could openly pronounce.

The boss enthusiastically served her a plate of reddish ribs with a side of warm rice covered in a thick sauce.

Carrying the plate, He Luo sat next to the window. A rooster model sat on the table. The walls were covered with illustrations of roosters and the Puerto Rican flag. This Caribbean island was small and despite carrying the title of a country, it was also United States’ independent nation(?).

Their relationship was ambiguous, like estranged lovers who sometimes loved and hated each other.

She watched the clock turned eight, it was time for unlimited local call time. She took out her phone and first complained for the 1,347th time that American’s heavy phone design before calling. The call got through and an unknown female voice answered. “Are you looking for Yun Wei? Today is her wedding. She’s currently putting on her makeup. If it’s work matters, can you call another day?”

“Oh, my name is He Luo. I’m her friend who’s in United States.”

There was no voice on the line, only white noise. When she put her phone from one hand to another, she accidentally lost grip and it crashed on the floor. A shocked He Luo thought her phone was a goner.

“C

ongrats, congrats. Your 26-year marathon has finally come to fruition,” she laughed.

“Hey! You might as well bring up the story of how we started in the womb,” Li Yun Wei snorted. She lowered her voice and said, “Today a certain someone has come.”

“Oh.” They were all old classmates. She had already expected this.

“He Luo … you, you’re still floating around without an aim.” Li Yun Wei paused. “Girls shouldn’t be so hard on themselves.”

“The moment you’re about to marry, you’ve changed your temperament,” He Luo ridiculed her. “You want to turn over a new leaf and become a good wife and mother? Remember our bet? We said that whoever got married first, the other person will not have to send a red packet.” She smiled slyly.

“Tsk, you’ve escaped to United States! You’re supposed to pay me in US dollars,” Li Yun Wei bashfully said.

“How can the bride hide in the corner talking on the phone, come out quick.” Someone yelled.

“Ay, this is an outstation call. Zhang Yuan, do you want to speak to her?” Li Yun Wei replied.

“No, I don’t want to talk to him.” He Luo’s thumb is already placed on the red button. “I send you my well wishes that you and Chang Feng will grow old together with your hearts entwined. Good bye.” She quickly finished her sentence and pressed down on the button.

Rather than getting rejected, it was better to first refuse. Since they were already separated, she at least wanted to preserve some dignity. Still, there was never any dignity in love. It was easier to run away.

Perhaps, Puerto Rico could be her next destination. He Luo continued eating the rice, hoping that there would be more than just meat dishes there.

After she left Zhang Yuan, she had forgotten how to love a person. She had never thought that she could love another person. Someone other than Zhang Yuan.

16-year-old He Luo fell in love with Zhang Yuan.

In the next ten years, her world only consisted of him.