Chapter 8: waiting for one message!

A month. A month of echoing "little sister" and the quiet, bittersweet "gēgē." A month of emptiness, stretching out like an endless, silent corridor. A month since I'd truly seen him. Yichen had returned to his university city, swallowed whole by the demands of his final year. And I… I was left here, suspended in a strange, uneasy limbo.

My life had resumed its familiar rhythm, a steady, predictable flow of days that felt utterly devoid of color. I went through the motions, a ghost in my own existence, waiting for a presence that felt increasingly distant. Waiting for him. Waiting for a sign that my unspoken feelings, my long-held crush, were anything more than a one-sided dream.

And now, my birthday. Tomorrow.

A bitter irony. A day that had always been filled with warmth and laughter, a day he had never failed to acknowledge, even as just a friendly gesture, now loomed like a lonely, empty promise. I couldn't shake the feeling that he'd forgotten. That this year, the weight of his studies, the distance between us, would finally erase the tradition.

The thought sent a sharp, painful pang through my chest. He had always remembered. Even when he was busy, even when he was far away, a message, a call, a small gift would arrive, a tangible reminder that he saw me as a part of his life. But this time... this time felt different.

Dinner was a quiet affair. My mother's gentle inquiries about my upcoming birthday were met with forced smiles and vague replies. I couldn't bring myself to voice the unspoken wish that hung heavy in the air – that he would be here. That he would remember, not just as a formality, but because he genuinely cared.

The silence between us, the unspoken words, had become a constant, suffocating presence. It was more than just physical distance; it was an emotional chasm, a vast, empty space that seemed to grow wider with each passing day. He saw me as a younger sister, a childhood friend, nothing more. And I... I was trapped in this awkward position, my feelings a secret I couldn't, wouldn't, dare to reveal.

I tried to convince myself that it didn't matter, that it was just another birthday. But the truth was, it did matter. It mattered more than I cared to admit. It mattered because it was a reminder of a time when we were close, when the bond between us felt unbreakable, a bond I foolishly hoped could become something more.

I stared at my reflection in the darkened window, the image blurred and indistinct. Was I foolish to hope? Was I clinging to a memory, a ghost of a relationship that never truly existed, except in my own heart?

The city where he lived, the city that held him captive, felt impossibly far away. It was a place of late-night study sessions and looming deadlines, a place where he was building a future that seemed to have no room for my unspoken desires.

Tomorrow, my birthday. A day that should be filled with joy and celebration. But all I felt was a hollow ache, a quiet, desperate longing for a presence that seemed destined to remain absent. And I didn't know how to bridge the gap, how to reach across the miles and the silence, how to remind him that I was still here, waiting, hoping against hope, for something that might never be.

Chapter 9: A Day of Empty Wishes

The first rays of dawn crept through her window, painting the room in a soft, golden light. It was her birthday, a day that should have been filled with joy, but instead, carried a heavy weight of unspoken expectations. Xiaoyu forced herself out of bed, a hollow ache in her chest.

Downstairs, the aroma of her mother's cooking filled the air, a familiar comfort. Her mother, her face bright with a warm smile, greeted her with a hug and a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" The table was laden with her favorite dishes, a small attempt to brighten the day.

"Happy Birthday, my dear," her mother said, her eyes filled with gentle concern. "I hope you have a wonderful day."

Xiaoyu managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Mom."

The walk to school was a blur. Her best friend, Li Mei, practically bounced with excitement, showering her with hugs and a beautifully wrapped present. "Happy Birthday!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "You have to come home with me after school! My parents want to wish you a happy birthday too!"

Throughout the day, the well-wishes continued. Teachers, classmates, even the grumpy old librarian offered their greetings. Each kind word, each thoughtful gesture, was a bittersweet reminder of the one person who remained silent.

The hours ticked by, each one a painful reminder of his absence. Li Mei's family welcomed her with open arms, their warmth and genuine affection a stark contrast to the cold silence of her phone. She tried to lose herself in their laughter, to pretend that everything was normal, but the gnawing emptiness persisted.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, and the city lights began to twinkle, Xiaoyu returned home, the weight of the day settling heavily on her shoulders. Dinner was quiet, her mother's attempts at cheerful conversation falling flat.

Finally, after a long, drawn-out evening, her mother, sensing her daughter’s quiet sadness, gave her a gentle hug and wished her goodnight. "Try to get some sleep, dear," she said softly.

Xiaoyu nodded, her throat tight. She went to her room, the silence amplifying the emptiness within her. She changed into her pajamas, her gaze fixed on her phone, which lay silent on the bedside table.

She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t shake the feeling that any moment, a message would appear, a simple "Happy Birthday," a small gesture that would ease the ache in her heart. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying memories of past birthdays, of his warm smile and thoughtful words.

The hours ticked by, the silence growing heavier with each passing minute. The city outside her window fell quiet, the last vestiges of life fading into the stillness of the night. Her eyes grew heavy, but sleep refused to come. She was trapped in a limbo of hope and disappointment, waiting for a message that never arrived.

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