"No!" I let out a long sigh, my mood sinking low.
"Nothing to sigh about!" Alexander turned a page of the newspaper and kept reading.
"I'm going shopping with Charlie today!" I had to say it.
"Don't want to go?"
"No, I don't know how to tell Charlie!"
"What?" Alexander looked up at me.
"That we got married!" I said.
"Put on our wedding ring. When Charlie asks, just say it's a wedding ring. Problem solved!"
"It's not that simple. Charlie will skin me alive!"
"No, you have a husband now. Two against one. You have the advantage!" Alexander laughed.
"I'm about to be depressed to death, and you're still joking with me!" I pouted in protest.
"Alright, don't worry. I'll treat you to dinner tonight. I'll tell her myself." Alexander offered directly.
"No, no, no! Charlie will be terrified of you!" I quickly waved my hands to refuse.
"Your husband is that scary?" Alexander said with a smile.
"No, you're too powerful. You'll intimidate Charlie!"
Alexander looked at me, torn between tears and laughter. "It's up to you. Just call me if you can't figure it out!"
"I know!" I nodded and sighed again.
Alexander didn't go to the office to work overtime today. He had to report to his mother at the main house later.
I changed my clothes, grabbed my small bag, and headed out.
Charlie wasn't dressed as casually as the day she first came home. She wore a simple dress, perfect for the season. She was facing me now.
I crept up behind her, planning to cover her eyes and play a guessing game.
But just as I got close, Charlie suddenly turned sideways. She grabbed my arm and nearly flipped me over her shoulder. I screamed in fright.
Charlie let go and looked at me, speechless. "What are you doing sneaking up on me?"
"When did you learn martial arts?" I asked in surprise.
"What martial arts? It's just basic self-defense!" Charlie rolled her eyes.
"Self-defense? That's so cool! Teach me when you're free!" I said excitedly.
"No time. I'd have to teach you from scratch. Forget it, you wouldn't get it anyway!" Charlie stopped mid-sentence and walked ahead.
"Charlie, what's wrong with you today? You seem unhappy!" I followed and asked.
"Nothing. Maybe I haven't adjusted to the time difference yet."
"It's been a few days. You still haven't adjusted?"
"Don't you know the older you get, the harder it is to change?" Charlie replied sarcastically.
"Come on, anyone would think you're seventy or eighty!" I rolled my eyes.
"Where are we going?" Charlie asked.
"To eat, of course! You haven't been back in a long time. Don't you miss the food from home?"
"Yeah, but I'm more worried about my weight!"
"You can lose weight after you eat. If it's a big deal, you can practice some self-defense every day!" I replied with a smile.
Charlie rolled her eyes again. "If you want to be a punching bag, I'll practice more self-defense."
"I don't want that. I'm not a masochist!" I laughed.
Charlie leaned in close and sniffed me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, confused.
"Smelling the scent of a man!" Charlie replied.
I felt embarrassed.
Charlie looked at me, then walked on as if nothing had happened.
"Charlie, let's not walk. Let's take the bus!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Charlie came back.
We took a bus to the snack street. We stopped to eat whatever we wanted and shared everything, just like before.
"You know, with all this delicious food, why do so many people go abroad to torture themselves? Eating hamburgers and salad every day will turn you into a hamburger!" Charlie muttered while eating.
"Who told you to be lazy? You don't cook yourself!"
"Next time I cook, I'll burn down the kitchen. Who would dare let me in the kitchen?"
"It's not that hard. Next time, don't start with cooking. Start with washing and preparing the ingredients!" I suggested.
"I don't want to. I don't know how to cook. I just want an excuse not to do it!"
"You're the best!" I smiled.
"That's more like it!" Charlie raised her chin and replied triumphantly.
I looked at Charlie with a smile. After all these years, she hadn't changed at all.
"Don't just stare at me. Eat quickly. Don't think you can look slim by feeding me fat!" Charlie threatened.
I shook my head and said with some emotion, "No, I just suddenly feel that we haven't changed at all over the years. It's just like before!"
"Where haven't we changed? We've gotten older!" Charlie retorted.
I immediately laughed.
What Charlie said was true. The feeling hadn't changed, but we were both getting older.
And I was already married!
Halfway through our walk, Charlie answered a phone call. Then she turned to me and asked, "Evelyn, do you want to play tennis?"
"If you want to go, I'll join you!" I answered.
So Charlie said to the person on the phone, "Evelyn and I will be there in a moment!"
"Whose call was that?"
"My cousin! You've met him. Remember?" Charlie looked at me and asked.
"I know!" I nodded. The next second, I suddenly looked up at Charlie and asked, "Who else is coming?"
"Just his friends! Oh, and there's Alexander!" Charlie replied.
"Ah?" I froze.
"Ah, what? Let's go!" Charlie said, pulling me back.
"Can I not play?" I asked hesitantly.
I suspected this was Alexander's idea.
I thought maybe he couldn't tell her himself, so he arranged for us to play ball. That way, my relationship with Alexander would be exposed.
"Yes, you can just cheer me on!" Charlie replied with a smile.
"I mean, can I not go?" I replied awkwardly.
"No, I already promised them. Do you want me to break my promise?" Charlie directly rejected my request.
I felt like I was being forced into a corner.
After getting on the bus, I struggled the whole way, trying to find the right words to tell Charlie.
It was just one sentence, but it was so hard to say.
It was like being in love with someone for a long time.
You obviously like them, but you don't have the courage to speak.
We arrived at the tennis court gate and got out of the car.
"Charlie, I need to tell you something. Don't be angry!" I finally grabbed Charlie and said.
"That depends on what it is!" Charlie shrugged.
"Actually, I didn't mean for it to happen. I just didn't know how to tell you!" I said, embarrassed.
"Say it. I'm listening!" Charlie looked at me, waiting for my confession.
"Charlie, I... I'm married!" I swallowed and stammered.