Memories are another name of expectations. And expectations are the name of disappointment. But disappointment is torturous.
Therefore, one way to describe memories is torture. The good, the bad, or just a plain memory, all bring unbearable torture with it.
But we often ignore the reality we are living in for the memories we hold dear of the past. And then one day, the same reality turns into another memory we hope to live again. The endless cycle doesn't end. Because we don't stop looking back and time doesn't stop looking forward.
He Jian was living that torture of memories.
Seeing him leave abruptly, Xu Mey got up intending to follow. Ye Jie held her wrist with a questioning gaze. She rummaged out her cell phone, clicked a few times and gave it to Ye Jie before following He Jian.
Ye Jie looked at her cell phone screen with a frown. Not knowing what she was intending to do. But his frown was instantly smoothened out when the screen displayed the beautiful scene.
The sun was setting in the horizon leaving an orange warm glow behind. The scene was from the exact amusement park they came to visit today. The difference lied in the pathway decorated with faux blue orchids. At the end of the pathway stood a wan and sallow but still an exquisitely beautiful girl. She looked so frail that it felt a simple breeze would topple her down.
She was wearing a beautiful yellow sundress with a leather belt around her waist and a big hat on her head. On the other end of the pathway was a small fountain. A group of orchestra players was behind the fountain and in front of the fountain, a handsome young man was standing with a bouquet of 99 red roses in his hand.
The girl took slow steps towards the young man with a beautiful smile on her face. As if nature was in cahoots with the young man, at the last step she took, the dim darkness engulfed the earth. But almost instantly, a million fairy lights lit up not just on the pathway but around where the frail girl was standing with her hand in the young man's huge ones.
The young man passed the bouquet to her, which she accepted with gratitude and reddened eyes. The orchestra played softly in the background. The young man went on his one knee and held her slender, frail hand in his and looked up into her eyes.
"Weiwei! I know all of this is very cheesy, " He pointed around at the decorations and laughed at himself. "I really never thought that I'd do something like this for anyone. But you, " He rubbed her fingers with his calloused thumb. "You made me a cheesy person. You always wanted to have a proposal at an amusement park between hundreds of people. Today, I'm here on my knee with all my heart. But I know my heart won't be enough. So, I gave you my soul as well. You can play with it all you want. Just don't leave me." His throat felt constricted at the end of the speech.
"Ah Jian! You know I can't accompany you for the rest of your lif-" The young man got up and placed his fingers on her lips, not letting her complete her sentence.
"If you can't accompany me for all of my life. Just be with me for the rest of your life." He said with tender filled eyes. "I gave you 99 roses. Do you know why?"
She shook her head as the tears trickled down her face. He wiped her tears with his hand saying, "The last rose, I'm keeping it for the day we get married. I want to give it to you when you rightfully becomes mine."
Her silent sobs got louder as she buried her face in his chest. "So, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" She nodded softly. "What did you say?" She nodded vigorously this time. "I can't hear it." He said in a teasing manner.
Her soft frail hands punched his chest and her tears mixed smile face looked at him. "How can I give you the honor? I'm the one honored to have someone like you, Ah Jian. You gave me love when I needed it, you gave me your time when I needed it, you even gave me support when I most needed it. I'm scared that if one day I asked for your life, you might even give that to me as well."
"I can't give my life to you, Weiwei, " He looked aggrieved. She was surprised to hear it. He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and said, "Because it's already yours." Her eyes widened. It was a huge thing to say that his life already belonged to her, she didn't need to ask for it. She sobbed again leaning into his palm. "I love you the most in this world, Weiwei. Please be mine."
"I love you more than life itself, Ah Jian. What are you asking for? I'm already yours." He Jian pulled her in his embrace as a roar of applause rang out from around them.
And then, the fireworks painted the sky with beautiful colors making it even more enchanting.
Watching this scene play in the video, Ye Jie didn't realize that he was on the verge of crying himself. He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It was surprising to see a stoic person like He Jian to have such a soft and beautiful side to him.