Ice and Fire

The call was quickly connected, and she heard John's voice. He said, "Hello, Cherry!"

"Hi, John! Why did you call me earlier?" promptly asked Cherry.

"Yes, " replied John. He continued, "I heard that you're going back to the military's residential compound to meet with Great-Grandpa."

Cherry was a little surprised, and asked, "How did you know that?"

"Great-Grandpa called me today and also asked me to come together with my family on Saturday; he said that you'll also be there with Joe." John felt somehow bitter when he mentioned Joe.

"Yes, " calmly replied Cherry. "I haven't seen Grandfather yet since I returned to the city, and I was planning on taking Joe to meet him this weekend."

John's tone was very calm, with no sort of impulsiveness in it whatsoever. He said, "Well, I'll see you on Saturday then. I also haven't seen you in quite a while either."

"Okay, " said Cherry.

After she hung up the phone, Cherry felt somehow complex in her mind. She had no feelings anymore for the person whom she had once loved with all her heart and soul, but his calmness and understanding made her feel that he had learned a lot over the years. She thought, 'Is he more open minded? Did he experience something in these past years that drove him to be like this?' She let bygones be bygones, because the past would never come back.

Cherry then dialled Jackson's number.

The call was soon connected, and Jackson anxiously answered her, "Baby, why didn't you answer my phone?"

"I was busy at work today, but I just finished, " said Cherry.

"You were busy all day? Ask Selina to give you less work." Jackson was a little worried about Cherry, because if she was too tired, then he would be sad.

"No, I'm Selina's secretary, and this is my job!" said Cherry. She asked him, "Where are you now?"

"I'm at the barracks, " said Jackson, "I told Bill to pick you up from the JS Group after work."

"Okay, I knew that you would do that, " said Cherry. She then continued to ask, "Will you be coming home tonight?"

"Yes, but I'll be late. Eat with Joe first, don't wait for me, " said Jackson.

"Okay."

After Cherry arrived back home she saw that Joe was watching cartoons in the living room. With a bright smile on her face, she said, "Joe, Mommy's back!"

"Oh!" said Joe in a low voice.

heard his dull reply. She went over to him, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you talking to Mommy like

Mommy. He looked at her, and with a serious look

suddenly left Cherry speechless, and she didn't know how to reply to

that?" said Cherry. She wanted to know

another one about Daddy today, "

also heard many rumors about Jackson,

put her hands on her son's shoulders, and as she looked at him, she

hesitation, and seriously said,

nodded Cherry. She continued, "Then we need to

those rumors. You're your Daddy's son, and

mood then seemed to become

when she saw that her son was happy again.

then asked, "Mommy, if things keep going on like this, are you going to make up

red because her son was

"If Daddy doesn't treat you well, we'll leave the Chu Family and this house! I can't let

she heard her son's kind words. She touched his head and gently said, "My silly Joe,

as he smiled

to do his homework as she usually did until ten. After she tucked him in bed and saw him fall asleep, she left his

her room, and after

two in the morning, Cherry faintly heard someone coming upstairs, and then heard

none other than Jackson, and then she saw him walking towards her bed

called out his name.

already walked up to Cheery's bed, and whispered to her,

come back so late?" Cherry reached out with her

was worried about you, so I decided that I better should, " said Jackson as he laid beside his wife in bed after he

felt satisfied

to drive at night." Although she said this, Cherry actually felt very

to be with you every moment of my life, " said Jackson slyly, while

Cherry, and after she smiled and moved aside, she said to Jackson, "Okay, stop

He was about to turn off the

phone on the bedside table, and because he

at John's name, his heart throbbed wildly in his chest. He thought, 'Does she still keep in touch with John? I wonder what they talked about... Does she still love John? Hasn't she forgotten him after all these years?

so many questions, and with each one of them he felt more and more angry and frustrated. He continued his train of thought, 'What does my nephew want to do? Why can't he let go of my wife? Cherry is my woman now! No, I won't forgive anyone who

said Cherry, when she felt that Jackson hadn't turned off the bedside lamp yet.