85: REUNION (PART 9)

REUNION (PART 9)

Xue Lin visited the places Ge Chen chose for her. Her last trip was in high school, the one she chose to work at. 'This school hasn't changed a bit.' Looking at the mango tree close to the school gate made her remember the past. 'So nostalgic…'1

"Hey, aren't you Xiao Lin?" A voice asked from behind.

Xue Lin looked at the direction and saw a beautiful woman with a slim body. She looked surprised to see Xue Lin. "You are… Puja." Puja was the only Indian girl who studied in high school. She was also her classmate. She is half Chinese and half Indian. Her Indian mother married a Chinese man here and settled down.

Puja's face brightened up seeing that she didn't make a mistake. "Xiao Lin, I knew it's you!" She jumped and hugged Xue Lin. She squeezed her tiny body tightly.

"Are you planning to crush my body?" Xue Lin could hardly speak.

"I'm so glad! I'm so happy to see you! I can't express it with words!" Puja gazed at her face.

"Even if you don't tell me I can understand from seeing your face." Xue Lin looked livelier than usual.

"But why are you so thin? Are you suffering from malnutrition or something?" Puja looked at her in concern.

Xue Lin smiled. She couldn't keep her poker face when she saw her pure, friendly smile. "Wow! You are quick to catch. I had a hard time after going abroad but I can manage well."

"Oh, you did… I remember… when did you come back?" Puja was literarily dragging her to the nearest café.

"A few weeks ago." Xue Lin answered. It has been a few weeks but it seemed that a year had passed. Series of events happened in her life after coming back.

"So, how long are you staying here? Or are you back permanently?" Puja's questioning didn't stop.

"I'm not sure. I might stay here forever or for a couple of years." Xue Lin replied casually. She doesn't even know what her future holds. She can't tell anything for sure.

They went to a café and Puja ordered for both of them. She said, "I know you still like sweet food. The one I ordered for you is the best one in this café. It's my treat."

Xue Lin smiled. She didn't know if she should take it for free. They were just classmates. They didn't even interact much in three years of high school. She didn't know why Puja was suddenly getting so chummy with her.

Puja said, "So, we are having a reunion on Saturday. Why don't you join? I'll let others know that you are coming." She took out her cell phone from the bag and started typing.

Xue Lin was startled. "Hey, wait, I don't want to-"

Puja grinned. "Too bad, I already told them."

Xue Lin paused. She didn't like pushy people. She didn't want to meet her classmates soon. She wasn't ready. But she had to meet them sooner or later. So, she calmed down.

While eating, Puja said, "I've never seen you wearing a skirt before except for our school uniform. It's good to see you in a skirt."

She was right about that. Xue Lin was the tomboy in their class. Even boys used to tease her for that and got kicked by her. Xue Lin replied, "Things change, don't they?"

"They do and I'm married." Puja acted to move her hair behind her ear and showed her huge diamond ring to Xue Lin.

Xue Lin could only smile. "Congratulations!" Diamonds or ornaments don't interest her. Even if she does, she has too much jewelry now. She wonders if she will ever finish wearing all of them.

The pastries and lattes were served. While they were eating, Puja suddenly asked, "You don't have a party gown, do you?"

Xue Lin looked up. "Why do I need a party gown?"

Puja gasped, "Why do you ask? We are going to a fancy hotel for the reunion. Everyone will show off their wealth. But you never cared about appearance. That's why I'm asking." She acted as if she told her beforehand that the reunion would be held at a luxurious hotel.

Xue Lin's expression changed. "What a pain! I don't want to wear fancy dresses. That's not like me." She thought she didn't have to wear fancy clothes for a while. Her wedding dress was heavy and especially that vermilion bird tiara. Thinking of that made her shiver.

Puja said, "Oh, come on! How long do you wish to act like a tomboy? Don't worry. I'll take you to a good shopping mall."

Xue Lin shook her head. "I won't waste my money on a dress. And I think I have lots of clothes in my closet." She thought about the luxurious clothes in her closet. She thinks that she will never be able to wear them all in this lifetime.

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