It was just that once, I had shared a piece of Ferrero Rocher with Luna.
Luna said she wanted to buy me candy too.
My notebook had a strawberry pattern, and Luna pointed at it and asked me: “Rachel, do you like strawberries the most?”
I casually said yes.
Actually, that notebook was just randomly bought, I didn’t even look at the inside at the time, I had no idea it had a strawberry print.
Mrs. Li said that the small shop at the entrance of the village rarely stocked lollipops, so Luna would go check every day, and whenever she saw strawberry–flavored ones, she would buy them.
Luna was still holding several banknotes in her hand, which she hadn’t let go of even in death.
I took them out and counted, it was exactly thirty yuan.
On the way home holding the box, I noticed a cute candy store next to the bus stop.
The array of candies inside enticed me to walk in.
The store wasn’t big, and the owner was a friendly middle–aged lady.
My attention was drawn to a strawberry lollipop on the counter.
It was made into a large strawberry shape, even with white chocolate bits sprinkled on top to look like strawberry seeds.
“I want this one.”
But the lady shook her head: “I’m sorry, little one, this one’s not for sale. I promised it to someone else, a girl who said she wanted it as a birthday gift for her friend.”
I was stunned by her words.
“That girl had mentioned wanting it before, but keeping candy for too long might make it melt, so I told her to come get it on the day.”
“Did she say when she would come?”
“Today, actually. She said it was her friend’s birthday today, but she hasn’t shown up yet.”
I didn’t cry when I saw Luna’s body, nor when I collected her belongings.
But tears gushed out like a flood the moment I saw the price tag.
Because its price was exactly thirty yuan.
19
The day Mrs. Li went to confront the culprit, my mother and I accompanied her.
8:48 AM
<
And that culprit, because he was still young, only had to go to a juvenile detention center.
But his family wouldn’t even let him go there.
The culprit’s mother clung to his pants, wailing:
“My son is still young, what’s wrong with making a mistake?”
And his sister cried on the side:
“She was just a fool, so what if she died? Why should my brother be punished?”
My mother supported Mrs. Li, who was crying so hard she was about to faint.
I took out a strawberry lollipop from my pocket.
The moment I tore open the ugly packaging and put the candy in my mouth, the taste of cheap industrial sugar spread in my mouth.
I lowered my eyes, memorizing the faces of these people, and also remembering the culprit’s name – Felix Fung.
20
20
After Felix was released, due to his parents‘ divorce, he followed his father to the city.
At that time, our class happened to have a quota for a poor student.
I registered a new email address and sent an invitation to Felix.
As expected, Felix took the bait and submitted an application.
After all, this school was full of rich and powerful students. If he could make friends with one or two classmates, it would be beneficial for his future work and life.
I responded to Felix’s application for financial aid, but anonymously.
Before he entered school, I sent him a pair of Air Jordans as his sponsor.
I didn’t buy ones that were too expensive, fearing he might actually treasure them.
Air Jordans weren’t that expensive, but they were certainly not something he could afford.
And on the day he entered school, he indeed wore those Air Jordans.
I sat by the window.
