So, did “SilentStorm” turn out to be Sam Noah?
“That’s not right, he was clearly an older man. I saw his profile; he was already in his forties back then.”
Sam Noah said, “You really believe in the information people fill out casually?”
Thelma: “……”
Thelma recalled the day she first added him as a friend on Whatsapp. At that time, she found this thing incredibly novel; two strangers, so far apart, could communicate so conveniently and quickly.
Whenever she had free time, she would chat with him. She remembered he seemed to have fallen seriously ill, on the brink of death. She even encouraged him, thinking he might die, and she cried for him. Later, when she found out he had recovered, she was happier than anyone else.
For a long time, her emotions were tied to this online friend. She would tell him almost everything, even trivial matters at home. However, he seemed quite aloof; every time she sent a long message, he would take ages to reply with just an “oh” or “mm.” Although his indifference made her heart feel cold, she still couldn’t help but share her life with him.
Later, as her studies became more demanding, especially with music requiring a lot of time, her contact with her online friend “SilentStorm” decreased. During her senior year, she was so busy that she hardly had time to eat or sleep, and they almost lost touch. After entering university, her social circle expanded, and her former online friend SilentStorm was buried among a pile of friends, becoming just a memory—a memory of her novelty in using social media to chat with strangers.
Thelma could hardly believe that Sam Noah was her former online friend. Just now, Dennis mentioned that he had been seriously injured, which seemed to match up with the time he was bedridden and close to death.
She stared blankly at Sam Noah, feeling that this world was simply too fantastical.
Sam Noah added, “Back then, I was injured and it was hard to type, so I could only reply with simple words. It wasn’t because I was aloof.”
Thelma: “……”
Thelma remembered that she had complained to him back then.
“Uncle, why are you so aloof? I sent you so much, and you only replied with one word.”
“Oh.”
“……”
At that time, she thought he was an older man, the kind who was in his forties or fifties, unmarried, and pitifully sick without anyone to care for him. She had learned about his situation; he had said he was not married and had never had a girlfriend. She thought he was simply pathetic.
“So, are we in an online romance that has turned real?” Thelma asked.
“Sort of.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me when I asked how we met?”
“It doesn’t make much difference; whether it’s an online romance that turned real or a chance meeting, it doesn’t matter to you.”
Thelma: “……”
That seemed to be true; she had no real impression of her online friend SilentStorm. If he hadn’t specifically reminded her, she wouldn’t have thought of it at all, so what was the difference from a chance meeting?
Thelma suddenly felt a bit flustered. She looked around, trying to find something to do. Turning her head, she saw Tyler sitting beside her, not knowing when he had come. He was holding a chicken leg, glancing at her and then at his dad, with a curious expression like a bystander watching a gossip.
Thelma picked him up and placed him on her lap, using a tissue to wipe the greasy mouth.
“Today is my birthday. Mom, can you fulfill one of my wishes?”
His bright, sparkling eyes looked at her with longing, and the grease from the chicken leg on his mouth made him look innocent. With him looking at her like that, Thelma couldn’t bear to refuse.
“Of course, what do you want Mom to fulfill for you?”
“Can you and Dad sleep together tonight?”
“……”
“Jaylen told me that only if Mom and Dad sleep together can I have a little sister. I really, really want a little sister. I’ve saved all my pocket money, and when I have a sister, I’ll buy her little dresses. Otherwise, I have nowhere to spend my pocket money.”
Thelma’s cheeks flushed. She was caught off guard by this little kid. She looked at Sam Noah, silently asking for his help.
However, Sam Noah gestured to Tyler, as if telling him to hold on for a moment.
Thelma then said, “Okay, Mom agrees to you.”
Hearing her response, Tyler was overjoyed and urged them to go to bed as soon as it was bedtime.
He pushed Thelma and Sam Noah out of Sam Noah’s room, smiling brightly, “Goodnight, Dad and Mom.”
Thelma realized her son was really quite stubborn; once he set his mind on something, he had to see it through. For this little supervisor, Thelma couldn’t find a loophole, so she could only say goodnight and entered the room with Sam Noah.