Part 1A Cherry Blossom Promise

My boyfriend, William, was famous in our social circle for being a "central heating" type of guy – warm to everyone.

At group dinners, he'd smile and help order for ten female friends at the table:

"Chloe loves the Shrimp Scampi with Garlic, Mia prefers the Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, and Emily absolutely has to have the Spicy Jambalaya…"

Ten people, ten dishes, all their favorites.

Everyone envied me: "You found a great guy that's impossible to find."

But I broke up with him.

He asked why, his eyes red.

I said, "I don't want to live with a central air conditioner anymore."

Later, we ran into each other at a party. He had his new girlfriend in his arms, and his eyes mocked me:

"Heard your new boyfriend's pretty cold? Doesn't even let you order your own food."

I looked at the silent man beside me.

He opened the menu and ordered only three dishes.

All of them were my favorites.

Then he closed the menu, not glancing at anyone else.

Someone tentatively asked, "Aren't you going to ask what we want?"

He didn't even look up, "What other people like to eat, what does that have to do with me?"

My ex-boyfriend's face stiffened, inch by agonizing inch.

* * *

Once the dishes were all served, William suddenly raised his hand and called for the waiter.

“Add a mug of Cinnamon Ginger Tea.”

My hand, midway to picking up a piece of Roast Chicken, paused.

The tightness in my chest, which had been there all evening, eased a little.

After such a late night, he still remembered I wasn't feeling well.

The tea arrived quickly, and William got up to pour a cup.

I was just about to reach for it.

The lazy Susan was already turning.

The mug of tea rotated to the hand of Tara, a colleague from the club.

Tara’s eyes lit up…

“Wow, William, you’re so thoughtful! How did you know I’m on my period?”

William smiled casually, a hint of nonchalance:

“You usually crave spicy food, but tonight you haven’t touched anything hot. How could I not notice?”

Everyone at the table exclaimed.

“William, are your eyes like a measuring tape or something?”

“Where do you find a good man like this?”

“Only Olivia is lucky enough to have such a considerate boyfriend.”

William waved a hand:

“Alright, alright, stop teasing me.”

Then he got up, walked to the wall, and turned the air conditioning up two degrees. He turned back to Tara with a smile:

“You get stomachaches and still don’t wear enough layers.”

I was wrapped snugly in a high-neck sweater, the collar hiding the marks he'd insisted on leaving last night, and fine beads of sweat trickled down my forehead.

The air conditioning was already warm enough.

But I still felt cold.

The entire table of delicious food tasted like sawdust.

As the dinner ended, William picked up his car keys:

“I’ll drive you girls home; it’s not safe late at night.”

I tugged at his sleeve, whispering:

“It’s not even nine yet. Let’s just go home; I’m not feeling well today.”

Sweat had been pouring off me in the stuffy private room, and now the evening breeze made my temples throb.

William looked down, took my hand, and said gently:

“How can I let girls go home alone when it’s dark? Be good, just a little longer.”

Another one of his perfectly warm, unblemished statements.

A wave of helplessness washed over me.

Was William not good to me?

Quite the opposite.

Everyone in our circle knew he was incredibly attentive, the perfect boyfriend who did everything for me.

But his kindness was like the breeze from an air conditioner, evenly distributed to everyone in the room, without favor.

And what I wanted was, just once, his undivided attention.

I let go of his hand.

“I’m only asking you once.”

“Can you take me home first today?”

William frowned, his tone laced with exasperation:

“Don’t be difficult, it won’t take long, you can rest in the car just the same—”

“Fine.”

I stopped arguing, turned, and hailed a taxi.

William froze for a moment, then chased after me, grabbing the car door:

“Jasmine! What are you doing?”

I pushed his hand away and closed the door.

“Drive.”