The car slowly stopped at the school gate, and my brother got out from the passenger seat first.
He showed no hesitation, as if he had forgotten about me, his sister.
Dad sighed, "Well, Shirley Powers, just go on by yourself. Be careful on the way."
"Okay, Dad, drive safely and remember to rest when you get home."
Dad paused, staring at me blankly, and softly said, "Christine Powers..."
"Dad, I’m Shirley Powers," I corrected him.
I actually hated this feeling of being a substitute, as if I had never been loved.
Dad awkwardly smiled, "I must have mixed up the names. Shirley Powers, go on."
"Mm..."
When I learned that I got into this university, I was really happy because it meant I could see my brother.
But, my brother was very disdainful of me. At the start of the semester, I had a conflict with a socialite.
I was isolated by the whole class and couldn’t make friends.
My brother just looked at me with disgust and said, "You deserve it."
Yes, I deserved it. If it were my sister, it wouldn’t be like this.
She would have treated everyone well, and even if she didn’t get along with others, my brother would have protected her.
Not like me...
There were no classes today. As I walked along the street, I sent a message to Jack Fernandez, "I’m back. Let’s meet in front of the library later."
Jack Fernandez replied immediately, "Okay."
I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a lot less gloomy than before.
I quickened my pace, thinking about how happy I’d be when I saw Jack Fernandez soon.
Jack Fernandez was very handsome. When his photo appeared on the confession wall, he was quickly named the campus heartthrob.
I always wondered why he was interested in me.
But Jack Fernandez just smiled and said, "There’s no reason for love at first sight."
I once asked him, "When did you first see me?"
He pretended to think for a moment and then said, "It was at the freshman sports meet. I saw how hard you were running, like a sunflower facing the wind and sun."
But I remembered that at that time, my sweat had drenched my face, and strands of hair stuck to my skin. I looked anything but attractive.
Jack Fernandez must have been lying.
Yet his actions spoke otherwise. While it's often said that good-looking people are unreliable, Jack Fernandez was different—he genuinely loved me.
He remembered every holiday and prepared a gift for me. He said if others had something, Shirley Powers should have it too.
He would prepare brown sugar and heat packs in advance for when I had menstrual cramps.
He would tell jokes to cheer me up when I was down.
During university, I struggled with severe depression and often engaged in self-harm, wearing long sleeves and pants even in the hot summer.
Jack Fernandez was the first to notice my distress. He peeled away my outer shell and saw the wounded me.
So I stubbornly believed that Jack Fernandez was different.
He was the only one who didn’t see me as Christine Powers.
I was grateful to him.
Thank him for loving me and not seeing me as Christine Powers.
Perhaps love is mutual. During the times I found it hard to open my heart, I gradually fell in love with Jack Fernandez too.