Perched Among the Trees

When did I first fall for her? Was it during introductions, in that unforgettable moment under the sun, when she confidently introduced herself to everyone: “Hi, everyone. I’m Lu Luoqi. The ‘Luo’ from the talented people of Luoyang, and the ‘qi’ from ‘mountain dwelling and ancient drinks.’”

Was it when I fell during the long jump and she stood up for me while everyone else laughed, saying firmly, “What are you laughing at? What’s so funny?”

Or perhaps it was after we became desk mates, when she cheerfully offered to buy me a grilled sausage and said with a smile, “Hey, deskmate, let me get you a sausage. I hope you’ll smile at me more and stop being so aloof.” At that moment, I felt her warmth. I thought our friendship would last forever, and maybe even grow into something more. But little by little, I realized my feelings for her had long since gone beyond friendship. Just as I began to wonder whether she might feel something special for me too, I discovered that she...