Chapter 1999: Fall Head Over Heels for Him
Lucian's suggestion seemed serious. Roxanne was stunned by his offer, but her naivetรฉ prevented her from considering the possibility of someone seeing her writing. She readily agreed, rummaging in her bag for her diary. Tearing out a page, she swiftly folded it. The diary pages were purple.
"Is that it? Aren't you going to write anything else?" Lucian asked curiously.
Roxanne shook her head. "Yes, that's all. All my wishes are on that page. I have many wishes; I wonder if they'll ever come true."
"Okay. Put it in then." As Lucian leaned closer, a breeze carried his pleasant scent, intensifying the intimacy and coloring her cheeks red. She carefully slid the paper into the wish bottle.
Lucian immediately corked it. "I'll bury your wishes now. The earth represents endless hope, so I believe burying them will make them come true."
In an instant, Roxanne's expression froze. She would never forget that scene. Lucian's slightly tilted head and charming smile, bathed in sunlight, stole her breath away.
His exchange student program ended soon after. He left and never returned to her high school. Their two encounters, when she was fifteen, were deeply etched in her memory and haunted her dreams. She never even asked if he'd buried the bottle, and, in fact, he didn't even know her name.
Their next meeting came near her university graduation. That year, her father arranged her marriage to Lucian for a price. She was confident he'd recognize her, but he remained cold throughout their three-year marriage, never treating her as his wife. Ultimately, she pursued him passionately, fueled by immature but fervent feelings. Becoming pregnant with his children was entirely unexpected.
Jonathan and Madilyn were shocked by Roxanne's story.
"So, you fell head over heels for Lucian when you were fifteen?" Madilyn asked, inexplicably moved. "No wonder you still love him despite the hurt."
Roxanne smiled nonchalantly, acknowledging her feelings. "Those details match my memory. Lucian did sprain his ankle that year and missed a few days of school. Afterward, he seemed preoccupied and kept returning to the high school."
Consulting his memory, Jonathan confirmed Roxanne's presence in Lucian's life during that period. "Looks like this bottle with the purple paper is indeed yours." He handed it to her.
The wooden cork was loose; Roxanne easily removed it and unfolded the purple paper. Madilyn leaned closer, curious about her best friend's past wishes. The neat handwriting filled the page with numerous wishes. Her most significant wish read: "I hope to get into the same university as Lucian." She also wished to study medicine, earn a lot of money, and have a successful career. The wishes of a fifteen-year-old were simple, though perhaps overly descriptive.
Madilyn laughed. "I never knew you were so poetic!"
Roxanne, unfazed, admitted, "Many girls in my class asked me to help with their love letters back then."