Jasmine replied nonchalantly, âWhatâs the point of the future for me if I lose the one I love? Will I be able to have a happy life despite graduating college and having a good job?â
Boyce glanced at Jasmine. The sunlight was shining on her back and she looked like a frame silhouette standing by the door.
He couldnât see her expression. All he saw was a slender figure in front of him.
âDo you want to spend the rest of your life here?â he asked her clenching his fists.
Jasmine turned her body, turning her back to him, sat down by the door and looked away. âIâm not sure, maybe Iâll marry someone and leaveâ¦â
âWho are you going to marry?â interrupted Boyce suddenly.
Sheâs getting married, to who, that guy?
âDonât get married.â He was stunned at his own words, what right did he have to stop her?
âI meanâ¦â he tried to find an excuse, âI mean youâre still young.â
âI know, thank you for your concern, Iâll make my decision.â Jasmine rested her chin on her hands, âThis is a good place, the people here are kind and pure, itâs a quiet place.â
Boyce was speechless.
âAre you getting married?â asked Jasmine.
Boyce couldnât see her face, only her back. âYes,â he answered truthfully.
Jasmine knew Boyce couldnât be single for life, he was such a good man that women liked him. If he wasnât so naive about a romantic relationship, he could have been a husband or a father by now. It pained her to think of him getting married.
She wiped away the tear as she stroked her hair and asked quietly, âNot bad, with Wendy?â
Boyce looked down and said yes.
Jasmine clasped her hands together, holding back tears, then said in a calm voice, âThatâs nice, she has a good family background, sheâs beautiful and about your age, she can even help you with your career, the two of you are a match made in heaven, youâll be happy.â
âHappy?â Boyce thought he was a long way from this word, he didnât know its meaning.
âDo you think Iâll be happy?â asked Boyce.
Jasmine turned to him, âArenât you showing me your happiness?â
He said he would marry Wendy, but she asked him if he would be happy.
Boyce smiled helplessly, âDo you think Iâm showing off?â he continued, âJasmine, Iâ¦â
Iâm not happy, it wasnât love that brought Wendy and him together, he wanted to say this.
But their conversation was interrupted by a small child.
âMiss Burkeâ¦â A little boy came running up.
âWhatâs wrong, Kirk Lester?â Kirk Lester was a second grader.
âChris fell and hurt his leg, heâs bleeding.â
âWhere is he now?â Jasmine immediately stood up.
âIn the classroom.â
Jasmine hurried to the classroom. Chris was inside with his knee bleeding.
Jasmine walked over and was surprised by the open wound on his knee.
âHow did it happen?â asked Jasmine as she knelt down.
âI fell on a rock during the chicken wrestling game.â Chris was good academically but he was also naughty. The chicken fight he mentioned was not a real chicken fight, but a type of game the students played.
It could be individual or in teams, where the player hopped on one foot, tucked his hands in and tried to knock his opponent down with his knee, the one who fell or dropped the tucked leg lost.
It was a favorite game among the boys.
âKirk, please get my first aid kit.â He prepared some basic medications and medical tools at home knowing the boys were naughty.
Kirk ran out as Boyce followed and stopped at the window, taking a look inside.
The classroom was plain, the red paint on the desk was faded and the floor was constructed of bricks. There was a huge blackboard at the front with a small wooden desk, the chalks and duster were perfectly aligned.
One boy decorated the room using a plastic bottle cut in half as a vase of flowers and placed it on the front desk.
Although simple, it was harmonious.
Kirk returned with the first aid kit, Jasmine took out the betadine and cotton swab, but seemed afraid to apply it to Chrisâs knee because she didnât want him to feel pain. But the weather was hot, the wound could get worse if left unattended.
âIt might be painful, but hang in there.â
âWill you leave us, Miss Burke? We donât want you to leave,â Chris said, sobbing.
âWho said Iâm leaving?â Jasmine frowned.
âMr. Weeks said youâre a prestigious college student and youâre more talented than he is, it will be a waste if you stay here.â Chris asked as she sobbed, âMs. Burke, are you leaving?â
âHeâs lying. Iâm going to start now, be a man and stay strong.â Jasmine poured some betadine on the cotton swab and began to clean his wound.
Chris lifted his head, looked away from her knee and diverted her attention by speaking to Jasmine, âMiss Burke, who is the man you saved, are you close to him? You were anxious and almost crying, it was also the first time you raised your voice to me.â
Boyceâs gaze to Jasmine darkened, he was too intent on Jasmineâs response.
âHe⦠heâs someone I know, like a friend. Iâm sorry, I wonât be raising my voice to you again in the future.â Jasmine concentrated on cleaning her wound.
Boyce felt slightly disappointed, she mentioned they were âlike a friendâ, so was he just a friend?
Who am I to her, a stranger? Boyce felt complicated.
âIf youâre not friends, why do you care so much about him?â asked Chris.
âYou asked too many questions for a young boy,â Jasmine frowned.
âPlease tell me, Iâm hurt.â Chris gave her a look, smiling.
âItâs something beyond my control, do you understand?â she said.
Her situation didnât match his. His father was a gambler, his mother was an assassin, while Boyce was a high-ranking police officer.
Her appearance would only affect him negatively.
She thought she could help him if he worked hard, but it was a joke.
He was already successful, but she needed another ten years to keep up with him.
Help? Only someone with a clean and powerful background could help him.
âWhat does that mean?â asked Chris, who didnât understand.
Jasmine gave him a look, âIt means something one canât control.â
Like she couldnât control her biological family.
âIf one cannot control something related to oneself, who controls it?â Chris was curious.
Jasmine touched his head, smiling, âYouâll understand when youâre older.â
âI think talking can divert my attention, I donât feel any pain.â
âThatâs because Iâm not touching your woundâ¦â
âOw!â
Jasmine dusted his wound and wrapped it as she spoke.
âHold still.â She reminded him.
Chris nodded.
Jasmine saw Keith standing in the doorway as she returned with the first aid kit. âDid you bring the clothes?â
Keith nodded. âHeâs taking a shower, letâs go sit outside.â
âOkay,â Jasmine said.
There was a huge tree by the window and a cement chair under the tree.
They sat next to each other under the tree.
Boyce came out after the shower and watched them from the window. He frowned at the sight of Jasmine and Keith sitting next to each other, he disliked Keith getting close to Jasmine.
He stepped out and wanted to call Jasmineâ¦..
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