wedge
On April 25, 2015, the weather was fine and I arrived in Pokhara, the most beautiful city in Nepal, at 11:20 am local time.
My next stop is Phewa Lake. I heard that it has the clearest water and the purest sky in the world. I want to capture those gorgeous or fresh and simple beautiful scenery in my camera and then share it with the most unique person in my life.
That person’s name is Su Moli.
As if we were connected by telepathy, I received a text message from Jasmine at 11:45. The first message contained only three words:
"Chu Yubai."
Even though she didn't say anything and just called my name, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. That stubborn and somewhat clumsy 18-year-old girl always liked to call me seriously, even by my full name, Chu Yubai, for a long time in the past.
It seems that in this way, I can ignore the four-year age difference between us and become my equal.
I laughed secretly, and Jasmine's second text message came again. This time, in addition to the three words "Chu Yubai", there was also a string of ellipsis.
I was standing on the street in Pokhara, dragging my luggage, and imagining, thousands of kilometers away, that Jasmine, who was far away in a small town in the south of the Yangtze River, was holding her cell phone, pouting, taking a deep breath, and mustering up her courage.
Whenever she made an unreasonable request to me, she would always send me three words hesitantly: "Chu Yubai."
"Yes, I'm here." I replied quickly, really wanting to know what her "unreasonable" request was this time.
Five minutes later, Jasmine's text message came back: "Chu Yubai, can I apply for C University's photography major in the college entrance examination?"
A year ago, I graduated early from C University's photography program and entered Yale University to continue studying photography. It has been almost a year since I last saw Jasmine.
Does this little girl Jasmine want to follow in my footsteps and sing all the way to America?
In fact, she could have applied to an American university in her senior year of high school, so that we could meet again as soon as possible, but she insisted on following my steps, first entering C University and then Yale.
She is so stubborn and inflexible, but I actually admire this kind of Jasmine.
"So that's just this matter..." I was still typing when Jasmine's fourth text message came in.
I clicked on it and saw that she said frankly and directly in the text message: "Chu Yubai, when I get into college, can you be my boyfriend?"
I sniffed, the air smelled of fresh fruit, and the corners of my mouth curled up involuntarily. So, that's why she was so entangled before! What a fool!
"I'll wait for you at C University." Without thinking, I typed carefully word by word and pressed the send button solemnly.
I don’t know why, but my heart started to panic at that moment.
Will she understand what I mean?
Will she be happy?
How will she respond to me?
I stared at the phone, and after one minute, there was no response. After two minutes, there was still no response...
I quickly checked my cell phone signal and it was full. But I couldn't wait any longer and called Jasmine directly, asking, "Jasmine, didn't you receive it?"
"What?" Jasmine's slow voice came from the other end of the phone.
"I sent a text message."
"I haven't received it yet." Jasmine's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum. "What did you send?"
"I said, I'll wait for you at C University..." I suddenly realized that she did it on purpose, "Su Moli!"
"Ah, I have to go to class," Jasmine's voice was as light as a thrush, "Chu Yubai, goodbye."
The moment I hung up the phone, it seemed as if the sky in Pokhara became clearer. In the azure sky, cotton candy-like clouds floated. I hummed a song and walked towards the hotel I had booked long ago.
After quickly completing the check-in procedures, I threw my luggage in the guest room. I didn't even have time to take out my wallet and cell phone. I only took the change I got when I checked in, and went downstairs without stopping to send a postcard to Jasmine.
This moment is special for Jasmine and me, isn't it?
I want to use a postcard to remember this wonderful moment forever.
Two minutes later, I stood in front of the counter of a small souvenir shop on the corner of the street, carefully writing on the postcard: "To my dear Jasmine, Chu Yubai."
I always like the way Jasmine's name is so close to my name, and I don't want any sentence to separate us.
I put the stamp on the postcard and stuffed it into the mailbox in front of the store. I turned my head and glanced at the clock in the store. It was 11:56.
Suddenly, the ground shook and the earth seemed to be splitting apart. Dust flew in the distance. There was a loud bang, and a high-rise building nearby collapsed and pressed straight towards me...
There's an earthquake!
I subconsciously whispered, "Jasmine..."
Dear Jasmine, what are you doing now?
I am in Nepal right now and there is an earthquake going on here and I am thinking of you.
