Love at first sight
On the supermarket shelf, only one can of that brand of tomato mackerel was left. Both of them saw it at the same time and reached out to grab it simultaneously. His hand grasped the can while her hand grabbed his. He smiled apologetically, and she blushed.
He handed the can to her, suddenly acting like a gentleman, “It’s yours.” She said, “No, you got it first; it’s yours.” They kept insisting on giving it to each other until a supermarket clerk came over.
The clerk said, “Wait a bit; maybe more of this brand will be restocked in five minutes.” At that moment, the can was in her hands. He said, “You can leave first; I’ll wait a bit longer.” She agreed but didn’t leave, staying to keep him company. They started chatting and suddenly realized they lived in the same neighborhood!
“Do you like fish?” he asked. “Yes, like a cat.” Later, she thought the latter part was unnecessary: what did it matter to him what she was like? Thinking this, she blushed again.
In the end, no new cans arrived. They walked home together, entering the neighborhood gate side by side. She suddenly said, “How about we eat together?” “Is that convenient?” “Yes, I’m alone anyway.” Saying this, she blushed again, thinking: What do I mean by ‘I’m alone anyway’? How do I know he’s alone too?
They shared that can of fish. It was served on a delicate plate, but he barely touched it. She said, “Eat more; there’s enough.” He replied, “You’re like a cat; you should eat more.” Her face reddened once again. She felt embarrassed, wondering if such a boy was worth her blushing over.
That day, she believed in love at first sight.
They often went on dates afterward, sometimes at her place, sometimes at his. He cooked red-braised eel, yellow croaker with pickled vegetables, five-spice crispy fish… She felt they had really turned into two greedy cats. They rarely went to the supermarket for canned fish anymore. She suddenly realized that as long as she was with him, she didn’t need any canned fish. Canned fish could be preserved, but now, she lived a fresh life every day.
One day, he suddenly had to leave the city. His company was transferring him to a distant city for business. Watching him pack silently, she realized they had never said “I love you” to each other. She tried to remember but found it to be true, which made her sad. She asked, “Will you come back?” He said, “Of course, it’s only a year and a half.” She smiled and thought, when he comes back, she would shout “I love you” into his ear. He would surely be scared silly by her.
Thinking this, she blushed again.
She went to see him off and bought mineral water and cigarettes for him at the supermarket where they met. Passing by the shelf with the tomato mackerel cans, he said, “You’ll start eating canned fish again, won’t you?” She smiled. He picked up a can, looked at it, and said, “I’ll be back before this can expires.” “Will you still cook different fish dishes for me?” “Of course,” he replied.
She secretly bought that can and put it in the fridge’s fresh-keeping section. Every time she opened the fridge, she could see it. She counted the days until his return, nervously counting down. During this period, she ate many cans of tomato mackerel but dared not touch the one in the fridge.
They talked on the phone often, each call lasting a long time. Each time, she wanted to say “I love you,” but always regretted not saying it after hanging up. She thought it didn’t matter; there was still time, just a year and a half. Then she would open the fridge again, touching that can and a corner of her heart. Only a few days left. She thought happiness was coming, but then he suddenly called and said he wasn’t coming back. At that moment, her world spun, and tears uncontrollably flowed out. He asked, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing, why aren’t you coming back?” “I got a promotion and am getting married. I plan to settle down here. Do you have a boyfriend?” She hung up the phone with a “snap” and never said another word.
Could she blame him for not keeping his promise? Could she blame him for being unfaithful? Of course not. Later, she finally understood: whether it was his insensitivity or her own timidity, a crush is like a sealed can; if you don’t open it, it will always slowly expire.
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