Gardenias in May are beautiful, their fragrance intoxicating. From afar, they look like tiny white balls dotting a green carpet, absolutely adorable.
Su Xun loved gardenias. Every year when they bloomed, she would gaze at them for a long, long time, greedily inhaling their fragrance. But this year, she had no heart for them; they were about to graduate.
Six years used to feel like an eternity, as if it would never end. Back then, they always longed for time to pass quickly, wanting to grow up fast and do what they wanted. But now that the time has truly come, they feel mostly fear and reluctance. Sometimes, watching the younger children playing and frolicking on the playground, Su Xun wonders when she stopped playing games and jumping rope with her friends. She used to play carefree like that too, but now she faces the unknown, and she really doesn't want to graduate.
It's raining again. The rain in early summer is more intense than ever before. Large raindrops pelt the white petals, making one worry that the flowers won't withstand such force. But to one's delight, they are all blooming tenaciously.
Su Xun was gazing absently at the drizzling rain outside the window, completely unaware of his deskmate's arrival.
"What are you thinking about so intently?" Pei Ke patted the table in front of Su Xun.
"Um, ah? Nothing, just thinking about some things for the future." Su Xun was a little confused when his thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and he opened his mouth as if to answer the question.
"Later? You mean after graduation?"
"Yes, I'm about to leave this place, and I'm a little reluctant to go. Also, I don't know what will happen to me in the future."
“Su Xun, you always worry too much. It’s very annoying.” Pei Ke knew his deskmate well. Although he was young, he always seemed to think more than others. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong with him, but he just felt that it must be very tiring.
"Honestly, I don't want to leave here."
"You can't stay in one place forever. You'll go to farther places and meet more people. You'll feel more reluctant to leave, but once you adapt, you'll also find new joy."
Is that what you think?
"Yes, I feel that there are many unknown things waiting for me to discover in the future, so I don't feel anything about leaving. I'm always looking forward to the future. Just like in the TV series, people always have to look forward."
The first half of his statement sounded quite plausible, but the second half started mimicking the way middle-aged men in TV dramas give advice, speaking earnestly and earnestly.
Su Xun was amused and giggled.
“Pei Ke, don’t speak like an old man.”
"Hehe, now you're all better, aren't you? Once you've done what you're supposed to do, you won't be afraid anymore."
"Yes, thank you."
June arrived quickly, followed by final exams and receiving graduation certificates. These things came one after another, as if they had been preordained.
The elementary school graduation ceremony was very simple. At this moment, everyone finally felt a sense of parting. Good friends all agreed to go to the same school together, exchange gifts, and remind each other not to forget each other.
It was raining again that day, a heavy rain. A gray, misty atmosphere enveloped the entire world, making it extremely oppressive and almost suffocating.
All day, Su Xun searched for Pei Ke among the graduates.
Su Xun would never forget their two-year-long friendship as deskmates. Pei Ke had always been a dazzling star, shining brightly in the night sky, unaware that his unconscious actions had given Su Xun immense encouragement. Su Xun made him a postcard herself, featuring a picture of drizzling rain and a boy and girl sitting by a window; she wanted to give it to him.
Pei Ke did not come.
This disappointed Su Xun for the entire summer vacation. She thought that if she saw him again, she would never speak to him. They parted without saying a word.
This summer vacation was also the longest summer vacation Su Xun had ever had. There was no homework, no need to do exercises, and no need to get up early for class.
Later, Su Xun's mother still took her to No. 2 Middle School for the exam. No. 2 Middle School's exam papers were always tricky, and as expected, she didn't pass. In the end, she decided to go to a school with a lower reputation but higher teaching quality - Rossi Middle School.
This school also has an entrance exam. Su Xun performed well this time and was admitted to the top class, which made the whole family very happy.
Later, while browsing the internet, she accidentally discovered something that was great for passing the time: online novels. In these novels, she could forget the bad things in real life and see a new world.
Seeing that Su Xun was doing nothing at home, and since the neighbor's children were all learning Latin dance, Su's mother enrolled her in a dance class as well, saying that girls need to cultivate their temperament as they grow up.
Su Xun didn't like it at first. She had never been good at expressing herself in front of others, and dancing was a huge challenge for her. But after two months of learning, she gradually came to like this passionate and unrestrained dance, and it seemed that she could find another version of herself in it.
She celebrated her twelfth birthday this summer. Her family prepared a delicious meal for her and told her that she was no longer a child. She agreed, feeling that at twelve years old, she should learn to be an adult, stop being childish, and take responsibility for herself.
She began to look forward to what the next three years would be like, and whether she would be as she imagined. But it was a good thing that she started to look forward to it.
She occasionally thinks of Pei Ke; he was the one who taught her to look forward to the future, instead of just fearing it. But seeing him again would be difficult, since they hadn't even exchanged contact information. That postcard still lies quietly in a corner of the drawer.
But who can say for sure what will happen in the future?
This summer, accompanied by the rhythm of dance, the world of fictional novels, and a touch of regret, has come to an end.
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