Ice and Fire

At first, Cherry hesitated to knock on Stephen's door. Five years had passed since their last meeting, and she wondered if he had changed.

Finally, she mustered up her courage, and lightly knocked on the door.

When she heard Stephen's familiar voice, she opened the door, and entered the office.

Stephen initially thought that one of his staff members had come in; he didn't even raise his head, and instead kept on being busy with his documents. He indifferently asked, "What's up?"

As soon as she saw Stephen, she knew that he hadn't changed a bit. She tenderly greeted him, "Hello, Stephen."

'The voice is so familiar', thought Stephen. When he raised his head, he couldn't believe his eyes.

'How is she standing in my office and greeting me? Isn't she staying abroad? Has she come back?'

He called out her name, with complicated feelings, and too many questions rambling in his head. "Cherry?" Bewildered, Stephen dropped all of his documents from his hands, instantly stood up, and came to her.

Cherry gave him a wide grin, and said, "Stephen, have you forgotten me since our last meeting five years ago?"

Stephen looked at Cherry up and down, and thought that although five years had passed, she still looked as innocent, uncomplicated and beautiful as ever. She had barely changed, although she did seem to be a little more thinner. Was it because she had been living a hard life abroad?

Stephen came closer to her and warmly embraced her.

He had always missed her during her years of absence. Five years ago, on their last meeting when she had insisted on leaving, he had to respect her wishes, but now she was standing right in front of him. How couldn't he be touched by her sudden appearance as well as the long-expected meeting?

Cherry was a bit taken aback by Stephen's embrace, but after she recovered, she thought that it was a common act when you haven't seen your friend in such a long period of time. She recalled Stephen's help, and to her embarrassment, she hadn't shown him any gratitude.

carefully looked at her. Then, with an obvious excitement in his voice, he asked, "You don't

now on, and I won't leave. My brother,

arrangement. He grinned, and thought that from now on he

wonderful, " hastily answered Stephen. He gestured towards a chair, and

of water is fine with me, " answered Cherry.

a glass of water and handed it to Cherry. Both of them then

the life good for you when

by my

because as long as she was happy,

kid?" added Stephen.

her face, she answered, "Joe has grown up, and now he's at school. He's such a thoughtful and smart kid, and during the past five years, I've

Astonished, Stephen asked, "Joe?"

is my son, "

and added, "Well, I

you, me, and Joe. We should thank you for your

it has always been my pleasure to help you. I should be the one to buy you and Joe a

soon, or if she refused him

and sincerely asked him, "Stephen, has

and I'm doing it well. Don't worry about me, " cheerfully answered Stephen. For him, the only things that mattered were the ones that regarded Cherry. He didn't care about

a moment of hesitation, Cherry opened her mouth, and asked, "Stephen, did Jackson ever make trouble for you

he heard that Jackson's name was mentioned, Stephen's expression slightly changed and twitched. Although a long time had passed, he had never forgotten what Jackson

the embarrassing silence, and continued, "A few days ago I met John when I came to visit Emily's grave. He told me this and that, and I know that Jackson is still being hostile to

reluctantly smiled, and said, "Before I knew you, me and Jackson had already had a bad relationship. After you left, it only deteriorated and