I blanked out for a few seconds, and stared into the crowd, but couldn’t find that guy.

Somebody patted my shoulders.

“Nana, what are you looking at?”

“Lan, you scare me!” I squeaked like a chipmunk.

“Why look so shocked?” Lan gave me a curious and naughty look. “Hmm…I know, you must be looking for our school hunk Mingche and want to confess to him on this last day? I sincerely support your idea, considering that we would be headed toward different paths after today. Why not use this timing and confess to him and leave no regrets in life. Humans learn from failures, right? After today, you will never see him anyways, who will remember your failure, this is the moment to learn to stand up straighter than ever!”

I frowned and flushed at the same time. “Lan, you are really my best friend ever, so honest and nonsensical.”

“Your face is turning red, can’t hide it from me, hehe. I know you have had a crush on Mingche since Day one. He is indeed very good looking, but there is a line of girls as long as Earth’s equator chasing after him everyday, there is really no chance for average girls like us, but it’s worth trying though. ”

As I looked into the crowd and saw Mingche’s back far away, I recalled the first time seeing him. He was very tall and his eyes sparkled like the night stars. Unlike those dark cold eyes, his smile was super warm like summer heat. I was such a coward though, confession would never happen.

I did not dare to allow it to happen.

“That’s not it, did you see that tall schoolmate? He gave me this graduation gift, but I have no idea who he is, and did not even get a chance to say thank you.”

Lan looked confused. “What schoolmate? I did not see anyone close to you.”

Then she smirked. “Wait a second, that is definitely not a graduation gift, but a first confession gift! What did he look like? Is he handsome, how does he look compared to our school hunk? Which class is he in?”

She asked so many questions that I felt a bit dizzy. “I already told you that I don’t know him, then how in the world would I know which class he is in.”

“Well, are you sure you can’t even recall any of his features?”

I hesitated, surprisingly did not even remember anything at all. That was a little creepy, because he was just here a few minutes ago. How could I already forget about everything?

“I can’t recall at all……”

“Nana, I always say you are heartless, and you really are sometimes. You just saw him not long ago. How could you already forget what he looks like?”

I stared at the little gift in my hands, and looked rather dumbfounded.

“Oh that poor boy, confessed to someone who doesn’t even remember his appearance and name.”

I uttered with annoyance. “It is not a confession gift, just a normal present. He must have known me somehow.”

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“That wouldn’t be hard with all the social media today. By the way, let’s hurry up and get changed for karaoke. Our class leader has already reserved a place to celebrate graduation. We better not be late. ”

Lan was right, I almost forgot about it.

“Mom, Dad, I will be home before seven o’clock tonight!” I took off my graduation gown and hat and handed them to Mom in a hurry.

Mom looked a bit worried, “Nana, where are you going?”

“Karaoke! See you tonight!”

I waved at them, and held onto Lan’s arm to join the group. I faintly heard my mom say: I still can’t believe she will be an adult soon. Look at the way she runs, just like a kid, when is she going to behave like a grown up?

We took the bus to the karaoke bistro. While riding the bus, Lan was so curious about my little “confession” gift and nagged me to open it. I took the little gift out from my handbag, and put it on my lap, loosen the red ribbon, and slowly unwrapped the paper. It was a white gift box. I took off the cap, and hesitated.

Lan was surprised, “Wow, it’s a vintage pocket watch necklace!?”

She took it from my hand and looked closer at the details, “Now I believe you that it is definitely not a first confession gift. Who the hell would give a watch as a gift, I bet he really hates you, and wants to curse you to death!”

That was probably really true, because the pronunciation for “watch” is very similar to “attending upon one’s death.” I wouldn’t have the nerve to give a watch to someone as a present. For the seventeen years of my life, no one has ever confessed to me, therefore I never gave it a second thought that it was a confession gift in the first place.

Now it was not even a normal present, but a plain curse.

“Although this pocket watch was given in bad timing, it looks quite amazing. Nana, see these crazy details here, look so real and intriguing. I have never seen anything like this before. Maybe it’s from one of the local antique shops. Oh mine, it’s even ticking! Let me try to read it, right now it is 4:12 pm?” Lan said.

I took a glance at my smartphone, exactly at 4:12 pm. “That’s actually pretty accurate.”

“I still can’t get over how small this thing is, just the size of a coin! What kind of master craftsman can create something like this? Look at the pair of wings on the watch, don’t they look real?”

Lan was super curious, but somehow I felt a bit uneasy, like something bad was about to happen. It was rare for me to feel this way since I am a relatively optimistic person. Oh well, maybe it was one of those weird days?

The bus traveled through the busy city. I sat close to the window, and gazed at the busy traffic and streets. Far away, the sunset was so beautiful and full of colors: orange as mandarin orange, yellow as lemon, and pink as dragon fruit. I guessed I was a bit hungry now since I forgot to eat lunch today. The street was full of people. It was dinner time, which was the busiest time of the day where most people came out for food and took walks in the night market. Although I did want to go for a walk in the night market after karaoke, it would be more important to go home for that celebration party.

What did Mom and Dad have for presents? Hopefully not some watches again….

While thinking about all the possibilities for presents, we finally reached the destination. The bus driver kindly stared at the group of young boys and girls as they got off the bus. Everyone hurried and headed toward the karaoke bistro.

“LiNa, come on, you are so slow. Are you a turtle?” One of my classmates nudged me.

“It’s not even a race, no need to be the first one.”

He grinned with evilness. “You are always the last one in everything, remember the last school race?”

I frowned at that brat and kept silent.

Lan laughed at us. “Hey, don’t bully my best friend, or I will bite!”

“Just a joke!”

He made a funny face and then walked inside the bistro.

Lan giggled. “Gee, all of a sudden I have this feeling that I will miss that brat’s jokes, so ignorant and annoying. There must be something wrong with me.”

As I walked toward the karaoke bistro, the little vintage watch fell out of my hand. My heart skipped a beat, and bent down to pick it up. As I stood back up to check if it was broken or not, I heard this terrifying scream.

“Nana--------------------”