John looked at me with a kind of incredulous joy and asked, "Is that the school's one-year international exchange program? Did you apply? But didn't you say before that you weren't going to apply?
"Why didn't you tell me in advance? To surprise me?"
He asked a lot of questions, and instantly pushed the recent unpleasantness out of mind.
I looked at him with his excited expression and nodded, "Yes."
This was originally supposed to be a birthday surprise for him.
Unfortunately, not anymore.
John hugged me excitedly, with his voice trembling slightly.
He said, "I really like it, Della. This is the best birthday present I've ever received!
I didn't respond.
Feeling his arms around me, almost trying to fuse me into his flesh and blood.
So naturally, he didn't see the message from my p
