So, this is it. We are finally, officially going back. At first, I couldn't believe that it was happening. Not until I was on board the plane back to the US. Not that my life was bad in Shanghai or anything. But it is so long since I last stepped foot on American soil. It feels strange yet oddly familiar after spending such a long time abroad.
Abroad... Funny thing to call the homeland of my parents abroad. But I lived in New York almost my entire life. I was even born there, so I cannot help it. And as beautiful and lively as Shanghai is, for the past few years, I just longed to go back to America. And now that I got accepted to a university there, I have an excuse to return to the place of my childhood. And above all else:
To where I met you.
I was wearing a pastel yellow dress with matching shoes and ribbon in my hair and I felt like a total princess as our driver opened the door for us and I got out of the car in front of your house. It was the first time I have been to your house. Well, the first time I can remember. My parents told me we have been there many times but I was probably too little then because I can't remember. But I do remember the ribbon dangling in my hair in the light summer wind and the taste of the freshly baked biscuits your mother gave me. She was smiling brightly at me and I thought to myself: wow, so beautiful. Her son cannot possibly be this beautiful. But I was wrong.
True, I have shamefully fallen for your looks but after getting to know you, I began to love you for who you are. A few years later, when I was old enough to understand, my parents told me they wish we would marry when we grow up. And my selfish heart couldn't be happier at the thought of that. I'm going to have an arranged marriage with someone I actually love. How lucky is that?
But your mother has already passed away by then and you suddenly became different. You were no longer the kid who asked me to get on his back after I fell over and my ankle hurt like hell, so I couldn't walk. You were the tall, handsome guy everyone envied me for when they saw you walking beside me. But I didn't want them to envy me. I just wanted you to be beside me. I was too shy to make a move on you and yet you didn't even make any attempt to kiss me, but I still held on to the hope that one day you will choose me. My selfish heart believed that if I don't see you being close with anyone besides me is because I am special to you in some way.
We just started high school when my parents decided to move to China. Before we left, our parents decided to spend some time together in Paris, since who knows when we will see each other again. It felt like a last hurray before the doom. But I still enjoyed every minute of it since I got to spend it with you. And when you suggested going to see a musical at the Palais des Congrès I thought you were only inviting me because you thought girls like these kinds of things. But you seemed to really enjoy watching the actors' performance, so I realized there's a side to you I didn't know about. I was happy beyond imagination that you weren't afraid to tell me you like musicals, even if indirectly. Although we had to part ways shortly after that I was still glad we could spend some time together. The photo my mother took of us standing next to each other that night is my treasure. I wouldn't give it away even for the brightest star in the sky.
However, everything was bound to end soon and soon the day came when I finally had to leave you. I still remember how I felt watching you waving at us with your father. And as sad as I was, I finally got the courage to run back to you and hug you as my way of saying goodbye. I didn't see your face though, I believe you were quite surprised but still stroked my back to console me. You even kissed my forehead which made me happy for the rest of the day. And even though my eyes were full of tears, I went back to my parents and waved goodbye to you. To be more optimistic, I didn't even consider it as a goodbye but rather a see you soon.
And now finally, I am really going to see you again. I hope those few years I didn't see you were all well spent and even if there were days of sadness they were only temporary. And I also hope you are not mad at me for not writing to you or calling you. You see if we were to keep in touch, it would have been harder to endure not seeing you. And I wanted to tell you in person how much I...
After the plane finally landed I checked my phone and to my surprise, a message from an unknown number was awaiting me:
Dear Ms. Chen,
I am the assistant to Mr. Jack Liu.
We were notified of your visit to the Liu residence.
As I believe you are probably keeping the Chinese tradition of bringing something with you upon your visit, I dare to advise you to bring a cat as a gift as I believe Mr. Liu would find that more than welcoming.
In the event you are to take my advice, I included an address where you can pick a suitable, well-trained cat.
Yours sincerely,
Asher Scott
Personal assistant
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