Never Loved Forever

Chapter 4

It was unusually quiet in the early morning, with raindrops falling slantingly outside the window. In the empty classroom, there was only a small figure, bowing her head and diligently wiping the desk.

After a while, Skyler stopped her busy work and proudly admired her achievement. The desk in front of her, Jason's seat, was now clean and shining. There was no reason for it, she just wanted to do something for him.

Rainy days had always been Skyler's favorite weather, so she was in a good mood today. Humming a tune, she lightly twirled the cloth, about to leave, when she accidentally caught a glimpse of something shiny inside Jason's desk. She paused, bent down curiously, and picked up the bottle.

The transparent crystal bottle was filled with lucky stars, colorful and beautiful, surprising Skyler with its brilliance.

"What are you doing?"

A familiar voice came from the door, it was Jason, his voice filled with loud anger. Startled, Skyler couldn't help but shrink back, loosening her grip on the bottle, which then fell to the ground and shattered with a crisp sound.

The classroom fell silent again, even quieter than when she was alone earlier. Skyler lowered her head, looking at the shattered pieces on the floor, along with the scattered lucky stars. Even though they lay on the ground, covered in dust, they still sparkled and remained beautiful.

Jason's footsteps gradually approached, and Skyler dared not lift her head, only cursing herself in her heart: "So stupid, causing trouble again."

"Damn it, what do you think you're doing? Who gave you permission to touch my things!" Jason's angry voice resounded, his words filled with unreserved anger, his resentful eyes glaring at Skyler. "Get lost, don't come near here again!"

If only she had known, no matter how troublesome it was yesterday, he wouldn't have left the bottle of lucky stars behind. Jason turned his head, gritting his teeth fiercely, looking at the mess on the floor.

Suddenly, something else came to his mind, and he raised his head sharply, his eyes shining with a sinister light. "You're so petty, are you seeking revenge for that string of bracelets from yesterday? Coming to the classroom so early, you must have planned it!"

More classmates started pouring into the classroom, and Skyler couldn't respond to such accusations, only swallowing her words. She didn't mean it, really, she just wanted to come early and help him clean the desk.

Skyler lowered her head, biting her lip hard, until her once pink lower lip turned pale, unaware of the many speculative looks around her. She bent down carefully, picking up the lucky stars one by one. Even if the shards cut her hands, she endured without shedding a tear. She could bear the pain of her heart, so what were a few physical pains?

That back again, Jason's boiling anger instantly extinguished upon seeing this scene. He stared blankly, his palms clenching tighter and tighter, as if longing for her to suddenly turn around, carrying a bright smile and using a voice so sweet it would penetrate his heart, calling him "Jason."

Trembling lips, Jason struggled for a long time before finally uttering, "Eleasya..." His voice was thin and small, like the sound of raindrops falling on glass, not needing anyone else to hear, just calling out to himself.

Wendy, who had just entered the classroom, looked coldly at this scene, casually took her seat, and ignored it. She turned her gaze to the rain curtain outside the window, but after a long while, she reluctantly stood up and joined in on this foolish act with the clumsy girl.

Wendy's sudden intrusion disrupted the harmony of the scene and made Jason suddenly realize. She wasn't Eleasya, she wasn't... A wave of disappointment washed over him. Defeated, he sat down, perhaps the loss of the lucky stars was destined, as if a reminder, reminding him that everything had passed and couldn't be brought back.

I don't know how long has passed, but when Skyler and Wendy finished picking up the lucky stars, the classroom was already bustling with people, and the morning incident was being talked about everywhere.

Skyler didn't care and didn't mind how others looked at her. Because they didn't know, no matter how Jason treated her, he was still Joshua, the one who had given her beautiful memories. So nothing else mattered.

"Wendy, how many do you have?" After returning to their seats, Skyler asked seriously while pointing at the stars.

"They're all here," Wendy said, pushing the desk full of lucky stars. "203 of them."

How could it be? Lucky stars are usually supposed to be 1000 in number, but Wendy's, plus the 796 here... Why is one missing? Skyler frowned and wondered to herself. The lucky bracelet she picked up yesterday was also missing one. Could it be fate? Does it mean that once the agreement expires, it will become incomplete? Does this mean that they can't go back anymore...

Seeing Skyler pouting and looking confused, Wendy didn't know what to say. She hesitated for a while before reaching out to pat Skyler's shoulder and finally spoke, "These stars were given to Jason by Eleasya. They were a famous couple in high school, and everyone was envious of them. That's why he treasures this jar of lucky stars."

"Eleasya?" This name was unfamiliar to Skyler.

"She was the girl Jason liked. We were classmates in high school, and in our sophomore year, Jason transferred to our class with Eleasya." Wendy explained, lowering her voice deliberately. "But half a year ago, Eleasya passed away from leukemia, and since then, Jason has changed. Although we rarely spoke before, I could still see his tenderness towards Eleasya."

These words struck Skyler like a bolt of lightning, freezing her in place. She couldn't help but look at Jason.

He was still looking out the window, his eyes deep and unusually calm. The incident just now felt like a farce that she alone was acting out.

How could she not know how gentle he was? Even though that summer only lasted for two short months, she had experienced his tenderness completely. She still remembered their first meeting, with Joshua surrounded by a group of bodyguards. She thought he would be arrogant, but unexpectedly, Joshua took the initiative to talk to her, and they became best friends who could talk about anything. They were only 14 years old that year, and they thought they would be together forever.

But... it was all gone. Everything had changed. It turned out that she was the only one foolishly holding on. Joshua was gone, and all that was left was Jason, who had already forgotten her and fallen in love with someone else. Her dream shattered in an instant, just like the glass jar in the morning, falling to the ground and breaking into pieces!

The rain today was different from before, each drop hitting her heart, causing pain.

Skyler didn't want to believe it. She stood up, ignoring Wendy's astonishment, and ran out of the classroom. There was no familiar Joshua here, only a stranger and cruel Jason. She couldn't stay here any longer.

Jason slightly raised his head and looked at the panicked figure, his dim eyes swaying with uncertainty, revealing the complexity in his heart.

The continuous drizzle was fine, drifting coolly on the body, making people nostalgic.

Skyler stumbled into the rain, like a stray cat on the large playground, holding herself tightly, wandering alone.

At this moment, a clear image flashed in her mind from three years ago:

In the fragrant pink strawberry field, Joshua was wearing a snow-white shirt, clean and transparent, earnestly drawing with his head lowered. Every stroke was smooth and clear. The breeze brushed past, carrying floating cotton, and also brushed open the beautiful arc of his lips.

"Wow, such a beautiful outfit, just like a princess! Not at all like me," Skyler snatched the drawing and exclaimed in admiration, then looked down at herself and couldn't help but pout.

Joshua chuckled, extremely doting, "You are already my princess, the girl I will always love."

Princess... Every girl harbors such infatuation deep in her heart. Skyler smiled innocently, guessing that she must be the happiest girl in the world at this moment.

Lost in her thoughts, suddenly a strawberry flew towards her. Joshua mischievously smiled and threw the strawberry he had just picked at her, saying, "Haha... Strawberry rain... Princess... It's only for you..."

Yes, the happiness from back then still vividly remained, but the strawberry rain from that day would never happen again. He changed, and the past affection, like the strawberries from that day, one by one, were thrown by him, fell to the ground, scattered, withered.

The rain blurred her vision. Skyler smiled, her lips slightly curled; she also cried, tears rolling down her face.

In this moment, she finally understood that the hardest thing was to recall the happiest days during times of pain, causing her heart to twist into a knot, fermenting and causing a sour ache.

The rain grew heavier, diluting Joshua's promises but unable to fade Skyler's memories.

These memories burned and carved into her heart.