Beautiful and Touching Love Story
In my second year of high school, we were faced with choosing between arts and science streams. Most of my close friends chose science, but I resolutely chose arts. During the early days of the new term, I felt isolated, like a lone wolf lost in the wilderness. Silent and introverted, I often stared blankly at my textbooks, seeking solace in the lifeless words.
During that time, I repeatedly listened to Pu Shu’s song “Train to Winter.” The sorrowful melody, hoarse voice, and indistinct lyrics overwhelmed me. In those bleak days, I likened myself to “a train heading towards winter.”
On the tracks of youth, I dreamed of a green train carrying me. At the end of the journey, I hoped to meet a girl as lovely as lilac flowers. In my imagination, a girl with a pink scarf would walk gracefully towards me in the train carriage, and I would embrace her, stepping off the train together towards a bright future. The more lonely I felt, the more these far-fetched thoughts occupied my mind. At night, my emotions surged like waves, drifting on the boundless sea cliffs.
I remember the lyrics of “Train to Winter”: “Tomorrow is a town without love / I will quietly pick up my winter / The weary train / The unfamiliar crowd / Where is the field I once grazed?” Love seemed too distant and extravagant for young me.
Coming from a poor background, my clothes were always dull, and my small frame could never hold its head high. Back then, I was filled with inferiority, finding only a bit of comfort in my academic achievements. Love was merely a fleeting fantasy that I never dared to hope would be bestowed upon a poor child like me.
I continued to listen to Pu Shu’s melancholic songs, imagining myself as that dilapidated train heading towards a loveless town. Unexpectedly, one day, the girl from my dreams quietly appeared beside me, sweetly calling my name. Bit by bit, she began to tear apart my long-standing sadness, and I unhesitatingly embarked on a journey of fruitless fantasies.
I still remember that evening when the beautiful class leader, Shali, approached me unexpectedly and asked, “Are you Xue Chenyu?” I responded in a voice so soft only I could hear it. Out of shyness and inferiority, I didn’t dare look at Shali, keeping my head down and scribbling on my workbook.
However, Shali’s breath was so close to me. As the class beauty, she was stunning, intelligent, and had a lovely voice. Her lips, like two pure lemons, emitted a faint fragrance.
Perhaps to ease the atmosphere, Shali smiled and said, “Your name sounds so nice.” Shali, a mysterious girl with short ear-length hair, had become the most popular host at school events with her sweet voice. It was said that a truckload of boys couldn’t match her admirers.
At that moment, I gratefully watched Shali leave my seat. No girl had ever said my name sounded nice; no girl had ever smiled so sweetly at me. All along, I thought my name was rustic, as plain as a straw bag. Shali’s inadvertent praise gave me a bit more confidence.
In a daze, I remembered Shali had come to collect the league fees, so I quickly handed over the prepared fee. When Shali recorded it in her notebook, her delicate face was very close to me, and an almost suffocating temptation seeped into my nostrils, making my body tremble unnaturally.
After the evening study session, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep, repeatedly savoring Shali’s words. Her proximity, beauty, smile, and the moment she turned to leave replayed like a movie in my mind, attacking my nerves countless times.
From then on, unrequited love accompanied me through many long nights. I constantly fantasized about Shali becoming my girlfriend. In my dreams and reality, I saw Shali’s beautiful eyes. I gently stroked her hair, offering her flowers again and again. Her slight smile was worth a thousand words, erasing all my worries and inferiority. That period of secret love was so beautiful and so long.
Occasionally, Shali would ask me for help with some very simple math problems. She would call my name and walk quickly towards me. In fact, those math problems were straightforward, some even examples from the textbook, but Shali claimed she didn’t understand and asked me to work them out for her.
Each time, I restrained myself, only explaining the problems without saying a single extra word. But Shali didn’t know the waves in my heart, thinking of her again and again. This girl, loved by everyone, made me fall into a long-lasting secret love.
Shali asking me about such simple math problems made me think she was intentionally trying to get close to me. Why? She was so beautiful, from a wealthy family, and so pure. Could she have fallen in love with me? Was she sent by God to save me?
I thought wildly, loving Shali silently without telling anyone. I couldn’t believe Shali would like me because we were so different. She was a princess, and I was a farmer. How could we possibly be together?
On one side were sweet fantasies, on the other, desperate destruction. Missing Shali for half a year, I began to numb myself with decadence. I aimlessly entered a gaming arcade, immersing myself in the horse racing machine, losing all the money in my pocket, fantasizing about Shali turning into an angel to save me from the mire.
One night, it started raining heavily. After losing a month’s worth of living expenses, I walked despondently down the street, nervously entering a phone booth, using my last fifty cents to call Shali’s home.
It was Shali who answered the phone. She politely asked, “Hello, who is this?” I tightly gripped the phone, unable to utter a word. The rain pounded on the street, and I dared not say my name, choking with emotion. After Shali hung up, I clutched the phone, madly saying, “I am a train heading towards winter.”
When I sobered up, I realized that some loves are just products of youth. Who hasn’t had a secret crush in their youth? Even a train heading towards winter can let out the cries of youth.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
