Chapter 305 Antonio's Challenge
"Daddy, Daddy, Mommy is working late. When will you be home? Harper is so bored!" The plaintive voice echoed in Antonio's ears, increasing the guilt that was already gnawing at his heart.
"Sweet Harper," Antonio replied, his voice soft with regret, "since Mommy is working late, Daddy must do the same, to keep her company. Once we're done, we'll come home and spend quality time with you, alright?"
"I understand… Then Daddy and Mommy, please do your best, and Harper will wait patiently for your return."
"Absolutely, we'll be back as soon as we can."
Antonio's heart ached as he heard the disappointment in his daughter's voice. The popcorn he held in his hands suddenly felt like a heavy burden.
After the call ended, Antonio exchanged a helpless smile with Sarah. Who would have thought that a simple movie date would turn into such an emotional ordeal? Little did they know, their children were secretly thrilled at the prospect of their delayed return. It meant that Ethan could join in the fun too!
However, the eagerly anticipated fifth installment of their favorite movie series proved to be a massive letdown. The actors had changed, and even the protagonist was unrecognizable. The production and dialogue failed to evoke the same emotions as before.
Halfway through the movie, Sarah could bear it no longer. She pulled a similarly disappointed Antonio out of the theater.
As they aimlessly wandered through the mall, neither spoke. Yet, both were lost in thoughts of the past decade.
Their silent reverie was interrupted when they noticed an ice rink on the third floor. "Sarah," Antonio broke the silence, "we still have some time. How about we go ice skating?"
"Sure, it's been a while since we did any exercise," Sarah agreed, her interest piqued.
The ice rink was sparsely populated. Antonio and Sarah laced up their skates and, hand in hand, glided around the rink. They moved in harmony with the music, their speed fluctuating perfectly in sync with the rhythm. They even executed figure skating moves flawlessly in the designated area.
Antonio reached the finish line first, turned, and extended a gentlemanly hand to Sarah. It was as if they were not in an ice rink but on an elegant ballet stage. Sarah laughed and joined him, the disappointment from the movie long forgotten.
Suddenly, a voice of admiration rang out. "Oh, he's so handsome! How can there be such a handsome man? Goodness!" Sarah turned to see a young girl in a middle school uniform, standing next to a boy of a similar age. They appeared to be a young couple, experiencing the first flush of love.
The boy, clearly unhappy with his girlfriend's praise for Antonio, skated towards Antonio, his jealousy evident. "Yo, I saw your moves just now, they were so smooth. How about we have a little competition? Let's see who can skate to the finish line the fastest."
Initially, Antonio was reluctant to accept the challenge. But the sight of the boy reminded him of his younger self, eager to impress Sarah at every opportunity. "Alright, I'll compete with you."
The girl, who had been watching in awe, suddenly interrupted. "Hey handsome, he's the captain of our school's ice skating team and has won many awards for our school." Even in her infatuation, she didn't forget to praise her boyfriend.
Antonio smiled at the boy, understanding his need to impress his girlfriend. As an adult, he knew that winning or losing wasn't the point. But Sarah's encouraging gesture and the curious gleam in her eyes made him reconsider.
"He's the captain? Nice to meet you then." Antonio lightly touched Sarah's face before preparing for the race. The boy had no idea what he was up against.
"Ready, set, go!" The girl, acting as the referee, shouted, and the two men, one young and one mature, took off like the wind.
The boy put in a valiant effort, his face turning red as he swung his arms like windmills. But Antonio, despite spending most of his time in an office, had not neglected his physical fitness. The small ice rink was no match for him.
"You’ve won!" Sarah cheered as Antonio skated towards her, high-fiving him at the finish line.
The girl, seeing her boyfriend lose, was momentarily disappointed but quickly comforted him. "It's okay. You're still young. When you grow up to be as big as him, you'll be even better at skating. You'll be an Olympian in the future."
"Yes, I'll definitely work hard from now on." The boy, although a little upset, nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Antonio handed them a diamond card for the rink. The boy's eyes lit up. "Wow, you're so rich!"
This was an upscale venue, and the diamond card was beyond the reach of ordinary people. For these students, it was already a luxury to afford the skating fee, let alone a diamond card.
Antonio nodded, "I want to make the person you like happy. In the future, not only do you have to skate faster than me, but you also have to buy expensive stuff with the card."
"Yes, I'll definitely earn a lot of money in the future, give her the best life, and let her have membership cards from all over the world!"
The girl blushed, lowered her head, and said shyly, "Stop talking nonsense, you're so annoying!"
Antonio and Sarah exchanged smiles, seeing in the young couple a reflection of their own past. Despite the many ups and downs they had faced over the years, they would never forget that bittersweet and beautiful time. It was a shared journey they had embarked on together.
The passage of time, those were the days they could never return to. Antonio suddenly gripped Sarah's hand tighter, a silent promise of their shared past and future.
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