Crossed path

Erika brought Sam into her apartment and helped him settle down in the guestroom. After dinner, Erika went to the guest room to put some medicine on his body. Erika could see Sam was in pain so to distract him she decided to talk to him.

"Sam, what do you want to do with your life?" Erika already knew he was unemployed and Oliver also ordered each and every educational institute not to hire Sam.

"Actually, I wanted to go back to work in Beijing No. 4 High School and help those children to prepare for their graduation and college entrance examination. They are my first students and I have been working closely with them for a few years now, I know how to guide them properly. Now they are in the senior year and I had to leave them." Sam said sadly.

Hearing that Erika immediately made up her mind to help him out to get his job back at the school. He was wrongly sacked from the job anyway, so she must right the wrong.

Erika was done applying ointment on Sam so she closed the lid of the ointment and sat there quietly for a while then she asked hesitatingly, "Sam, are you still in love with her?"

"Yes," Sam said without any hesitation then he saw the hurt in Erika's eyes. He said softly, "Erika, love doesn't have an on and off switch, if it did then I would have already turned it off and stop loving her. But If she is really happy with Oliver then I am willing to let her go. I might not be able to forget her right away but maybe someday I will move on. But she will always be my first love?" Sam wanted to make Erika understand how he really felt, maybe that way this girl will finally give up on him.

"I understand but I really like you Sam and I am willing to wait for you." Erika understood Sam's love for Ava and she didn't get jealous hearing this at all, instead, she decided to wait for Sam to give up on Ava completely and accept her wholeheartedly.

Sam laughed bitterly these were the exact words he once said to Ava. He should be moved to hear Erika say the same thing, 'I'll wait for you' is more precious than 'I love you' but Sam knew Erika didn't really love him if she did, Sam would give this a chance.

He looked at Erika and said seriously, "Rika You are still very young you have so many options, why are you so persistent about me? You haven't grown up yet to understand this is infatuation, not love. You need to recognize your feelings for me."

"Why do you doubt my feelings for you? Sam, I really like you, and don't treat me as a little girl." Erika got a little excited.

"You see, the moment I said something you didn't want to hear you started to react like a child. That's why I said you haven't grown up yet." Sam said making his point.

Erika fell silent and thought about what Sam had said, then she asked lightly, "Then can you tell me, what is love?"

Samuel sat up on the bed and said quietly: "To me, love is actually a very selfish act, you hope the person you love will love you back. The more you love her, the more you want her." He was looking at a distance and there was helplessness in his tone, but it was obvious that he really loved Ava.

"But doesn't it also mean, letting go? Love doesn't have to be obtained, it's not about chasing or possessing." Erika also looked at the distance and said quietly. She was actually thinking of Arvin. Didn't she loved him and let him go? Then why can't Sam do the same?

"Maybe, but Erika you don't know me long enough to fall in love with me. That's why I told you it's infatuation, not love. Love develops over time little by little." Sam said with a smile.

Erika understood this well, her and Arvin's love also developed over time but they were not destined to be with each other just like Sam and Ava. So in a sense Sam and Erika were in the same place, then shouldn't they hold onto each other and take care of each other's heart?

"Actually Sam, our destiny has crossed a long time ago, so maybe we are fated to be together," Erika said softly.

Sam looked at her puzzled, he couldn't think of when their path crossed in the past, "What do you mean?"

Seeing Sam's confused face Erika laughed out loud and said, "Do you remember, when you were ten years old, you accompanied a lost little girl at the corner of the street downtown and bought her a Mickey Mouse balloon?"

Sam's eyes lit up and he said smiling, "That little girl is you?"

"Yes, it's me." Erika didn't expect Sam to remember instantly, so she got a little excited.

"That is really unexpected." Sam smiled, thinking about that day.

"Yes, actually I found it out myself when I went to your apartment to look for you. After that day we looked for you but I didn't know your name so we couldn't find you. It's really fate that brought you again in front of me after all these years." Erika said smiling sweetly, showing her dimples.

"Wow, I still remember, you were so little and standing alone in your princess dress, you wouldn't even talk to me. Now you are all grown up and even became a star, a lot of people loves you now." Sam got a little nostalgic.

"And you?" Erika looked at him with expectant eyes.

"Perhaps, one day maybe. Who knows the future?" Sam said lightly. After knowing their past Sam started to change his views. Is it really possible that they met after all these years because they were fated? He didn't know but he knew he was not fated with Ava so maybe he should give this a chance. Maybe they were at the same place in life and needed each other.

Erika smiled brightly, Sam's words gave her hope that there was a possibility between them. For now, that was enough for her. She got up from the bed happily and said softly with a smile, "It's late, you should get some rest. Good night, Sam."

"Good night."