The Apple of My Eye

"Okay, okay. I won't embarrass you. Don't worry."

Smiling, Sheryl hung up the phone. When she went downstairs, she saw Joan.

"Joan, I'm going to go out with Isla this afternoon. We'll be picking up the kids. So you don't have to go today."

Joan happily nodded.

"Just to remind you, Ms. Xia, you've only just recovered. Don't strain yourself too much, okay?" Joan reminded Sheryl with caring.

Sheryl understood and smiled approvingly. She then went back to her room to change her clothes. Standing in front of the mirror, she found her face looked more tired and wan than usual, so she put on some make-up to appear fresh.

Carrying her handbag, Sheryl was about to leave. Suddenly, she remembered that she had forgotten to take her phone. Finding her phone on the night table, she stood paralyzed, staring at her phone. There, shining brightly, was a message from Charles, saying, "Why did you 'like' my post and then take back the 'like."

Sheryl had no idea what she should say.

Should she say that it was just a mistake? It wasn't a big deal, and her finger had just slid. It was indeed the truth, but would anyone actually believe the truth? Would Charles even believe her?

Now Sheryl resented even her own fingers. Why were they so clumsy! She gazed at the screen for a long while without doing anything else. She continued to drag on until Isla gave her a call asking her whether she was ready or not.

"Yes, I am, sorry. I'm coming down now. One second." After Sheryl ended the call, she took one last glance at the message. Finally, she decided it was best not to respond with anything. Thus, sliding her phone into her pocket, she went downstairs.

The moment she showed up at the main entrance, Isla had conveniently arrived.

"It seems that half an hour isn't enough to put on make-up!" Isla said jokingly. When Sheryl got into the car, Isla nodded and commented, "You look much better! It's a good choice that you decided to rest at home."

"I..." Sheryl appeared that she wanted to say something, and she was intensely debating whether to say something or not, but eventually, she decided against it. "Why are you in such a hurry?" Sheryl asked. "Have you already bought the tickets? By the way, which movie are we watching?"

Isla smiled at the questions and answered, "You'll know when we get there."

'Isla seems a bit weird today,' Sheryl pondered. There was a part of Sheryl that found Isla's response too strange to not question. But, since Isla had already started the engine and was wearing an 'I-don't- want-to-tell-you-now look, ' Sheryl gave up asking.

In the cinema, while getting their tickets, Isla abruptly asked, "Do you want some popcorn and drinks?"

Sheryl quaintly smiled and said, "Isla, how old are you now? Those are for the kids. I don't want anything. I just want to watch the film, Isla."

"Oh, yes. Someone is gonna..." Isla suddenly came to a halt. She looked guilty. Something was going on.

Suspecting something, Sheryl asked, "What, Isla? Someone is gonna what?"

"Never mind about that, Sheryl. I was blurting stupid things out loud. The movie is starting soon. Let's go in first." Isla pulled Sheryl's hand and quickly switched the topic.

Casting a doubtful glance at Isla, Sheryl asked, "Did you buy the tickets? Where are they?"

'All this time Isla has been with me. When did she have any time to buy the tickets?' Sheryl wondered.

"I bought the tickets through a mobile app, so I don't have to go to the counter to buy them. Geez, Sheryl. Stop worrying," Isla answered, appearing annoyed.

"Then why didn't you tell me which movie we were going to watch when I asked you earlier?" Sheryl was still baffled.

Unconcerned with Sheryl's question, Isla continued to pull her forward without addressing her doubt.

The hottest movie was "Save the Earth." Everybody was watching it now. It was supposed to be a great movie since the rating for it was a 9.8 out of 10. Almost the best!

Sheryl had guessed Isla was going to take her to watch "Save the Earth." However, after they entered the cinema, Isla took her in the opposite direction of the theater playing "Save the Earth."

"I thought we were going to watch..." Sheryl was about to ask again when Isla exclaimed in excitement, "We're here!"

Sheryl raised her head. It was "Beyond Sorrow," nothing what she had expected. 'Isla doesn't like these types of movies. I don't understand. Why are we going to watch this?' Sheryl pondered. Before Sheryl could ask another question, Isla pulled Sheryl into the theater.

It was dark inside the room, except for a dim light, which Sheryl and Isla were bathed in.

Sheryl followed Isla as she walked to a seat that was near the back. Isla sat in her booked seat, leaving Sheryl's seat empty.

"There's no one else here. It seems the entire theater is ours, Isla." Sheryl couldn't help but grin. Who else would what to see a movie named "Beyond Sorrow?"

Isla, however, was focusing more on her phone, checking the screen from time to time. "Yeah, isn't it great?" she replied back. "I love it when there's no one else!"

Soon the movie was about to start. The light in the theater also dimmed until the only light left was the screen.

Sheryl noticed that another figure had walked in. Because of the darkness, she couldn't exactly see the figure's face. She could only see the outline of the person who looked to be tall of build. Once the movie started, Sheryl was fixed to it. She had a vague feeling that someone was sitting beside her, but she didn't turn to take a look.

Isla was still playing her phone, which annoyed Sheryl. She told Isla, "Stop playing with your phone. It's bad for your eye sight!"

Isla raised her head but kept her phone eye-level the whole time. Suddenly, she said, "Oops, I need to go to the washroom. I think it's urgent!"

Sheryl was quite surprised to hear that. 'Why hadn't she gone to the washroom before the movie began?' she wondered.

"Remember to come back soon. You chose the movie. You don't want to miss an important part of it," Sheryl told Isla.

Isla waved her hand as if she waving goodbye and left her seat.

Sheryl's attention was back onto the movie.

When the most touching scene was shown, tears welled up in Sheryl's eyes. She wanted to wipe the tears away but felt that it was better to use some tissue. When she fumbled for a tissue in her handbag, she discovered that she had forgotten to bring them.

Frustrated, Sheryl had no choice but to let the tears flow down her face. 'Anyway, no one is here, and the tears will evaporate. It's okay if I don't wipe them away,' she thought to herself.

"Here you go." All of a sudden, she heard a familiar voice. Soon a piece of tissue was passed to her.

Shocked, Sheryl gazed at the figure. Even though it was dark, Sheryl could still identify Damian's face.

"What... what are you doing here?" Sheryl asked, startled.

Raising the tissue in his hand, he said, "I'm here to give you a tissue."

His words were so warm and tender that Sheryl forgot to respond.

When she took the tissue from the man, she blamed Isla for her absence. 'Why are you still not back, Isla? I don't want to stay alone here with Damian! It'll be so embarrassing!' she thought to herself. "Why are you crying so much? Is it really that touching?" Damian asked.

A light bulb abruptly went on in Sheryl's mind. It was as if she had an epiphany! She immediately understood the whole situation, or one could say set-up.

'Isla, how dare you! I am so going to punish you once I see you again. Mark my words!' she roared in her heart.