Chapter 418 Childhood
Breakfast was a feast, packed with all my favorite dishes.
As I dug in, I couldn't help but think how awesome it was to be home; even the porridge tasted extra sweet.
I missed Brad even more. We'd had so many breakfasts together, and porridge was always his go-to.
Helen made some killer porridge, but sadly, Brad never got to try it.
Thinking about Brad made me want to cry, but I held it in so my parents wouldn't worry.
"You got home at five in the morning, before dawn, right?" Ronan asked, glancing out the window. Helen paused with her fork, looking at me expectantly.
I knew they wanted to ask about Brad but didn't want to upset me.
I was dying to know when Brad would be back too. I said, "Mom, Dad, I'm fine, don't worry. I had a video call with Brad on New Year's Day. He's a bit thinner, but he's doing okay. We're not sure if he can come back for the holidays, but Brad will figure something out."
My parents tried to comfort me, saying, "Good, as long as he's fine. Things are what they are, don't be sad. It's just two years; we'll get through it together, and time will fly by."
I rubbed my nose and mumbled a response, trying not to cry. I didn't say much more.
After breakfast, my mom sent me back to my room to catch up on sleep.
Helen opened the closet, grabbed a blanket, and covered me, patting me gently like she did when I was a kid. "Sleep now. Your dad and I are off today. We'll make your favorite lunch and call you when it's ready."
The blanket was freshly washed. I buried my face in it, breathing in the faint scent of laundry detergent, feeling warmth spread through every part of my body.
It was a blessing to be loved by parents.
The door to my room wasn't fully closed, and I could hear my parents in the living room, talking about Brad and me in low voices.
"Ronan, we've been honest and kind our whole lives. Why couldn't we accumulate some good fortune for our daughter? She's been through so much, and it breaks my heart. Every time I think about what Jane has gone through, I can't help but cry."
"I feel for her too. But what can I do? Brad was Jane's choice. It's good for her to face some hardships; if things come too easily, she won't appreciate them. Jane has been pampered since she was little; some challenges will do her good."
"Let's not talk about it. Let's change and go to the supermarket to buy some snacks Jane likes."
Soon, Ronan and Helen left, and I was alone in the quiet house.
How could I not know about Ronan and Helen's love and concern for me? I was their only daughter, and their lifelong wish was for my happiness. But I kept making them worry.
In the future, when everything was over, Brad and I would make sure to be good to them.
I spent this holiday being super lazy. Besides Ronan and Helen, I didn't want to see anyone or go out. I stayed home almost every day, working on my love story illustrations. Occasionally, I called Elliot to check on how our experiments were going.
Elliot's place was near National Capital University. While I was home, he handled everything in the lab, working tirelessly without a single complaint.
Back at home, many childhood memories resurfaced, becoming unusually clear. I realized that Brad had always been there for me, even more than Daniel.
Brad spoiled me, gave me all his best stuff, like a whole bar of chocolate, a new notebook, the latest doll, or new watercolor paints.
Back then, Brad was just a student and didn't have his own money. Everything he gave me was bought with his allowance.
I remembered several times seeing Brad right after he finished playing basketball, his head drenched in sweat. While other classmates bought cold drinks, Brad would wipe his forehead with his arm and drink the water he brought from home.
I once asked Brad why he didn't buy sweet cold drinks. While paying for my ice cream, he said he preferred the water he brought.
I was really naive then. I thought Brad genuinely didn't like ice cream and even teased him about it.
That summer, the day before I started first grade, Brad put the backpack I had wanted for so long on my shoulders and told me to study hard. I was so happy that I ran around the house with the backpack for a long time until Helen, dizzy from watching me, made me sit on the couch.
I used that backpack for two years. When I first got it, I told everyone it was from Brad. Later, when I had more books and needed a bigger bag, Helen got me a new one.
Looking back now, Brad drank his own water for a whole semester to save money and bought me the prettiest backpack.
I couldn't remember how many times Brad waited for me after school, took my backpack, and held my hand as we walked home.
Brad was really, really good to me back then.
And what Brad did for me was much more than just these little things.
Brad fought Daniel many times to avenge me when I was bullied.
Brad woke up before dawn to get me a hot layered cake.
Brad's eyes reddened when I casually said I only liked Daniel.
Brad gave up his own time to stay home with me so I could draw in peace.
It turned out Brad and I had so many intertwined memories, far more than I had with Daniel.
Maybe from the beginning, Helen and Emma chose the wrong person for me.
Brad and I were the ones who could truly be lifelong partners.
Emma found out from Daniel that I was back and called several times to invite me to her place, saying she would make something delicious for me, but I politely declined.
It wasn't that I held a grudge, but the memories were too painful. Without Brad, I never wanted to set foot in the Pitt family home again.
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