Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

Ronald's words stirred all sorts of feelings in Jean.

'Am I supposed to be happy by what he just said? What did he really mean when he said that?

Is it a good thing to not have your appearance changed even a wee bit in the last fifteen years?' wondered Jean. Probing her feelings to understand whether she felt pleased or bittersweet at Ronald's supposed flattery, Jean soon forgot that Ronald was still standing in front of her.

"I'm telling the truth..." uttered Ronald hastily as he saw Jean's lips curl into a wry smile. From what he had known about her since their childhood, he knew that her half-smile was never about happiness. This made Ronald afraid that he might have said something wrong, which might have led to a misunderstanding. Anxiously, he felt the urge to explain that he meant to praise her beauty and innocence. But, the cat had got his tongue. Red in the face, a nervous Ronald was sweating profusely.

"I know," replied Jean reading the anxiety clearly written on Ronald's face. In her bid to console him, she even uttered, "I believe you."

'I believe you,' repeated Ronald in his mind again.

After these simple words from Jean, his face suddenly lit up with a childlike smile. He was still shy and did not know what to say next. Eyes fixed on her, he scratched his head to dissolve the tension between them. Jean's mind was rather clouded by the memories of her childhood.

The image of a chubby Ronald came in front of her eyes. His features seemed so crowded on his face and his body was as plump as a traditional Chinese rice-pudding. He always moved slow when compared to others kids. At that time, children often teased and bullied him because of this.

What was worse, he was also isolated by most. On such ocassions, Jean had found him hiding in a corner crying.

Anyhow, Jean wasn't much better off than Ronald.

Her mother had died when Jean was still too young, which left her unexposed to Joy and Shirley's bullying. Overcome by grief and loneliness, Jean soon withdrew into herself.

Feeling no love at 'home', she got what Ronald was putting up with.

With no friends and no desire to play or socialise, Jean didn't talk too much and mostly stayed at the back, out of everyobody's sight.

One of the worst times she saw Ronald facing was when he got beaten by several even-aged children. Seeing him lying there on the ground, surrounded by a group of bullies, Shirley and Winner's beating her up came to her mind. Anger rose inside her against the group kicking Ronald, for she felt as if she was the one getting beaten by them.

The young Jean decided that she would report these playground bullies to her teacher. So, she walked up to them and warned them in clear, stern words. The group of little bullies ran in fear of the teacher's punishment, leaving a bruised Ronald. Beaming with courage, she gave her hand to Ronald to stand up and never felt that horrible fear again.

Ronald was clearly thankful that he had Jean to look after him. Soon, he started tailing her from classes to lunch time to stay in her shadows.

Since, Ronald was doing this all the time, it got on Jean's nerves. She told him off and asked him to be on his own because according to her, all that she had done for him was a little favour. She didn't look herself as his protector and found it bizarre that Ronald felt safer in her presence.

But Ronald was determined to be her friend no matter how many times she scolded him. He just kept going everywhere she went.

With time, she gradually got used to him following her.

Once, they started doing everything that friends did, shared lessons, played in the ground, and ate lunches together. She realized that he loved eating greasy octopus balls. Then of course, she didn't let the golden chance go. She began teasing him by calling him 'Octopus Ball*, 'which got stuck as his nickname between them.

(*TN: In the Chinese version, Ronald's Chinese name had the similar pronunciation as octopus ball.)

"I never thought that time would pass so quickly. It's been fifteen years since we last saw each other," said Jean as she was jolted out of her reminiscing. She looked at Ronald and smiled.

"Yes, time flies," replied Ronald smilingly.

'For fifteen years, I've been waiting to see you again.

As a matter of fact, time felt so slow. I have been eagerly waiting for this day to come, 'thought Ronald to himself.

But somehow he knew what Jean meant. He thought she was right about everything, just like it used to be back in their childhood. Indeed, he felt those fifteen years was worth waiting for now when he finally met her, it felt fulfilling. 'I am filled with joy to meet you again, Jean.

Although it has been over a decade,' said Ronald internally.

"When did you come back?" asked Jean looking at him. With a smile on her face, she thought of the childhood days when they were doing everything together as friends.

'Wow, that once-chubby boy is now handsome.

If any of the bullies from school were to look at Ronald now, their jaws would drop to see what a striking figure he has become today, 'thought Jean to herself.

"It's been three days since I got back," replied Ronald.

What he didn't tell Jean was that he had asked a lot of people for help to look her up in H City. Ever since he left the country with his parents, he was eager to get in touch with her on his return.

But luck was not on his side. Everyone that he thought could help had turned up with no leads. He had lost the meagre information he had on her.

But on his third day in H City, lady luck had finally decided to smile on him. It was only chance that he saw her sitting in the corridor, drinking a beverage quietly.

What an unexpected surprise!

Though both, Ronald and Jean looked a tad different than the last time they met, the comfort and ease with which their conversations flowed was still the same.

"You are not going away this time, are you?" asked Jean in a neutral tone.

What she was feeling right now was that, Ronald seemed not to be as active as she did in their conversation. He wasn't like the talkative boy in front of her as he used to be.

Jean noticed that the atmosphere between them was getting awkward. She was thinking of something to talk about but was really unsure of what.

"Well, I'll stay here for a while. But I'll leave when I finish the task I am here for," replied Ronald looking slightly helpless.

'It has taken me so long to summon my courage and come see you again, Jean.

I'll be sorry for the rest of my life if I don't say these words to you. I've been practising them for years in my head. No matter what you say, it's time I utter them out loud, 'Ronald told himself to pluck some courage. "Oh, I almost forget that you and your family have emigrated to Canada," said Jean quickly and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, my family business is in Canada. So, I can't stay here for long," replied Ronald with a trace of bitterness in his voice. And then it flashed an eagerness in his eyes as he locked his eyes with Jean's. 'Will you come to Canada with me if I ask?

What will your answer be?'

asked Ronald eagerly in his mind. After several tries he moved his lips in his attempt to say it out loud, but no noise came from his mouth.

"Are you trying to tell me something?" asked Jean concernedly. Obviously she had noticed his hesitation.

"Yes, I..." replied Ronald and stopped suddenly. He looked at her sheepishly and added, "I hear that you have had a tough time all these years. Are they still not treating you right?"

Jean's eyes widened at this. She was touched by his concern after all these years.

'His thoughts for me are always genuine, just like before.

But what he knows is a little too far from the truth.

After getting married to Zed, despite the difficulties, my life is not as painful as before. I'm really thankful to have Zed as my husband.

Of course, my friendship with Ronald is treasure-worthy too,' thought Jean.

"Thanks for caring for me, Ronald," replied Jean with a smile on her face. She added, "Many things have happened to the Wen family in the past six months. Winner died, and Shirley has been suspected of murder. And she will be locked up in prison for the rest of her life. And Henry has suffered a stroke and is now in hospital. As for Joy, after what she had gone through, which is too much for her, she fell ill..."

said Jean. She kept Joy's real illness a secret because she could not find the right way to describe the Wen family.

Although the information of Joy's illness would soon be announced to the public, still, Jean did not want to say anything right now. She did not want others to know this from her, not even Ronald.

After all, the Wen family had been through too many ups and downs. It was karma. But she just did not feel right to say this herself.

And she could not bear to tell others about Joy's tragic situation at this moment.

Meanwhile, Ronald was looking at Jean in silence.

"You must have been through a lot. Perhaps you would not have suffered so much if I had come back earlier," said Ronald in a sorry tone, with regret written all over his face.

"It's all right. I'm all right now," uttered Jean amazed. She was surprised at his words and added, "I've got someone here to protect me, so I'm fine."

"What? Did you mean that you have a boyfriend now?"

asked Ronald surprisedly. His eyes were eagerly watching her, waiting for an answer.

Noticing Ronald's surprised look, Jean could not help but be amused as she wanted to share the news of her happy marriage. She laughed and replied, "Well, actually, I'm already..." "Jean..." someone else's surprised voice interrupted her mid-sentence.

She could only pause and looked at where this voice came from. With an amazed look on her face, she asked, "Maranda, why are you here?"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐