Chapter 107
Brandon said, “Yolanda’s history.”
Sophia gave him a puzzled look.
He had said the same thing two years ago, but she thought he was just blowing off steam back then.
Without looking at her, Brandon calmly steered the wheel. “And don’t bring her up in front of me again.”
“Marian.” She tried to mention that Marian had also come back, but before she could finish, Brandon cut her off, “I don’t know this person.”
He clearly didn’t want to
go
there.
After a soft “hmm” from Sophia, the conversation died.
The traffic police arrived swiftly, and Brandon accompanied Sophia over.
The results of the accident investigation were ready, and they were about to call the family to deal with it.
The accident was deemed mainly the other party’s fault; a dashcam from a passing car caught the whole thing. The other driver had deliberately swerved into the lane, causing the rear car to crash into the front one, resulting in the accident.
Seeing the results, Sophia breathed a sigh of relief, snapped a photo of the outcome, and sent it to the family group chat to put their minds at ease.
Aaron sent back a big [gritting teeth] emoji with a message saying [All good now.] He claimed he was relieved, but Sophia didn’t see him at the hospital today, and even though he was there last night, he was just off to the side, engrossed in his games. Sophia didn’t respond but put her phone away, smiled, and thanked the traffic cop, ready to leave when someone entered and called out uncertainly, “Sophia?”
She looked up at the sound and saw a young man in riding gear, tall and skinny, looking slightly familiar, but she couldn’t place him.
Seeing that Sophia didn’t remember him, he pointed at her with a laugh, “Drawing a blank, huh?”
Sophia offered an awkward smile.
“It’s me, Baron, the guy who sat behind you in senior year.” He introduced himself with a grin, not minding her lapse of memory. With that clue, Sophia suddenly remembered.
Brandon’s desk-mate, always sitting behind her, tall and lanky like a monkey, and just as lively, always bouncing around, chatty, but a genuinely easy-going guy.
She couldn’t help but glance back at Brandon.
Brandon stood with his arms crossed, watching Baron with an impassive gaze, not uttering a word.
Noticing Sophia’s look, he gave her a brief glance.
Baron finally noticed Brandon standing next to Sophia, points at him uncertainly, and asked, “Brandon?”
Brandon greeted him coolly, “Long time no see.”
“Wow, it really is you.” Baron was visibly excited. “Haven’t seen you in years.”
After the greeting, his gaze curiously shifted between the two, “You guys together now?”
Sophia knew there was a misunderstanding and clarified with a smile, “No, just bumped into each other on the road.”
Baron laughed it off, “I thought so, you two don’t look like an item.”
Sophia gave another awkward smile.
Brandon glanced at Sophia and then checked his watch, “I should head back, got to swing by the office.”
Sophia nodded and said goodbye to Baron with a smile, “I’ve got to go, too. Let’s catch up some other time.”
Baron was already pulling out his phone, “Hey, what’s your WhatsApp? I’ll add you.”
Sophia hesitated but opened WhatsApp to let Baron scan it.
Baron immediately sent her a friend request.
“Accept it,” he said with a grin. “You’re not in our class group, and we can never find you for reunions. Now that I’ve got your
contact, we can include you next time. The teacher has mentioned you a bunch of times, always wanted to see you.”
Sophia had always been grateful for her teacher’s care, especially when she transferred schools and needed support and
encouragement.
She accepted the request.
A delighted Baron then turned to Brandon, “Hey Brandon, let’s add each other on WhatsApp, yeah?”
Brandon declined flatly, “No need.”
Baron looked a bit awkward for a moment.
Sophia instinctively tried to smooth things over, “He didn’t bring his phone today. I’ll connect you two later.”
Brandon looked at her, silent.
Baron quickly got back to his cheery self, “That works.”
Without delaying them further, he gestured behind him, “Got some stuff to handle here, you guys go ahead.”
Sophia nodded, “Sure.”
As he walked away, she turned to Brandon, “Shall we go?”
Brandon nodded without a word.
As they approached the car, Brandon glanced at Baron busy inside, then looked at Sophia.
Sophia was engrossed in her phone, chatting with someone.
Without saying anything, Brandon pulled out his phone, brought up the WhatsApp QR code, and handed it over to her, “Scan this.”
Sophia looked at him, puzzled.
Brandon was still watching her, “Weren’t you going to connect me with Baron?”
Sophia was speechless.
She was just being polite.
But Brandon continued to look at her, “I remember you deleted me.”
Sophia didn’t know what to say.
