Scott trembled slightly. He couldn’t believe it. He moved a few steps towards the girl, then stopped. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he didn’t utter a sound.
Is she Sol? I’ve looked for her worldwide for so many years, and I couldn’t find her, but she’s now right here with Chris Butler?
Brianna watched silently. Her eyes were teary. She felt a fear so intense that she couldn’t move. She stood still and watched.
Chris said he had found Sol Keaton. This girl here is... is she? Is she Sol Keaton? Scott has always been so calm, but he seems to be so emotional now. She must be then! How does it happen all so fast? Everything was just so sweet and perfect then!
She admitted to herself that lately, she had started hoping that Scott would grow to love her one day and they could love each other and live together as normal couples did.
There’s no more hope...
“Scott...” the girl spoke softly, her voice trembling. She had to pluck up the courage to call his name as she wasn’t sure if Scott still cared about her or if he cared more about Brianna than her.
The familiar voice startled him. It was a voice that he had heard only in dreams in the past years, yet now, it was calling his name right in front of him.
He suddenly marched over, took off her mask to reveal a pale and familiar face that he had dreamed of so many times.
“So...” he was trembling. He was too surprised to speak.
“Scott, it’s me.” Sol looked at him into his eyes. She looked sad and worried. “Don’t you remember me anymore?”
Of course, I do! I think about you every day! Scott heard his own thoughts speaking. In a trembling voice, he said, “Sol... it’s you.”
“Yes, Scott. It’s me.” Sol gazed at him, and tears ran down her cheeks. “Three years. It’s been three years, and there hasn’t been a single day when I don’t miss you, but I, I was scared to come back. I don’t want to be a burden to you again...”
Scott put his hand on her shoulder as if to hold her still, watched her quietly for a while before he could calm down a bit to speak.
“Sol, where have you been? Where have you been hiding? How have you been?”
“I’m good. Scott. I’ve been receiving treatments. What about you? How’s your neck pain? I remember you used to have terrible neck pain.” Tears were streaming down her face.
“I’ve recovered well. Send me the records of your treatments in the past years. I will find the best doctor for you.”
“Thanks, Scott.” Sol nodded. She extended her hands, wanting to hug him, but she hesitated and took a look at Brianna standing by the car a few meters away.
Scott had completely forgotten about Brianna and was oblivious to anyone around. He embraced Sol. “I’m so glad that you are back, Sol. I’m so happy. Please, don’t leave me again...” He said emotionally. It was the very first time Brianna had seen Scott so emotional. He had always been so economical with words and rarely showed his emotions.
“I didn’t want to...” Sol cried in his embrace. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to leave you and how much I’ve missed you.” Feeling the warmth of his body and hearing his heartbeat, Sol slowly regained confidence, and she felt more certain. “Scott, I’ve missed you terribly.” She added.
“I know.” Scott nodded.
“Scott, I, I love you.”
Scott was a bit startled. Then he nodded.
“Do you, do you love me? Do you still love me?” Sol insisted.
Scott hesitated.
She glanced at Brianna over Scott’s shoulder, then looked up at Scott and awaited.
He noticed the disappointment growing in her eyes, and quickly he nodded. “Yes, of course, I do. You are the person that I care about the most. Of course, I love you.”
Brianna staggered and leaned on the car to balance herself. She felt as if someone had gripped her throat, and she could not breathe. She had tried so many times for so long just to hear him tell her that he loved her, but he never did. And now, he said it to another girl right in front of her.
Of course, she’s the one he loves. She is his only love. She’s back now, and I... I should leave... Brianna thought to herself, her heart aching badly.
Scott gazed at Sol with a smile. She had not changed, her eyes, her face, the way she looked at him, except that she looked a bit more fragile and paler. Suddenly, the face of Brianna popped up in his head, and it startled him. Why am I thinking about her?! Sol is the girl that I love. Brianna is just a replacement. Now that Sol is back, Brianna should...leave... The thought saddened him, and the realization that he was upset about it irritated him. He knitted his brows slightly.
Sensitive as she was, Sol noticed the subtle change on his face. Tentatively, she stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips close to his.
Scott was a bit startled, and he, to his own surprise, recalled the scenes and feelings when he kissed Brianna and when they were having sex passionately. I’m with the girl that I should love, but I’m thinking about someone else! He felt guilty for having such thoughts and thus accepted Sol’s kiss.
Sol felt excited and even ecstatic. They spent three years together, from when she was seventeen to twenty, yet they were rarely as intimate as normal couples were. Scott would hug her, stroke her, pat her, kiss her on her cheeks, but never had he kissed her on her lips, let alone sleeping with her. Many times, she had questioned about their relationship.
Brianna closed her eyes the moment they kissed and turned around. She couldn’t bear it anymore.
Sensing that Scott was being receptive, Sol hugged him tighter and slipped her tongue into his mouth daringly. Scott hesitated for a second, then he put one hand on the back of her head and the other around her waist and returned with a French kiss. Just then, he heard Brianna sobbing and running away.