Third person's POV
They shared a laugh, and for a moment, it seemed as if time had reversed, bringing them back to the carefree and beautiful days of the past.
However, deep down, they both knew that the past was gone and could never be returned to.
Tabitha frowned, puzzled. "You always liked iced coffee, right? Why are you drinking hot tea now?"
Gloria scratched her head, a bit embarrassed.
"Well, I was a bit too indulgent in my early years, always drinking iced coffee even in the dead of winter. The pain during my periods was unbearable. Now that I'm older, I've come to understand the importance of health. Look, I carry a thermos with me whenever I go out."
"You should have done that long ago. I told you not to drink so much. As they say, people can't teach people. Experience teaches them in one go," Tabitha shook her head helplessly, speaking with a heavy heart.
Gloria subconsciously touched her lower abdomen.
A flicker of complexity crossed her eyes as she whispered, "I won't make the same mistake again. I'll definitely listen from now on."
The two seemed to have returned to the old days, holding drinks in their hands as they leisurely strolled through the streets and alleys, entering the cinema to watch a movie together.
They cherished every moment of their reunion, enjoying each second of their hard-earned time together.
Unconsciously, the movie ended, and Ayla was yawning incessantly, her head nodding, struggling to keep her eyes open.
At that moment, Forrest drove up in an Audi A8 and stopped in front of them.
He rolled down the window, leaned out, and asked politely, "Ms. Hartley, are you ready to go back now?"
Tabitha couldn't help but frown, her eyes full of suspicion as she scrutinized the car. "Where did you get this car from?"
"I rented it," Forrest explained with a smile, his face full of enthusiasm. "This car is great, and the rental is very cheap. Look, Ayla is so tired she's about to fall asleep. I thought it might be inconvenient for you to take other transportation. Hurry up and get in. The snow is getting heavier outside."
Tabitha found his words reasonable, so she held Ayla, who had already fallen asleep in her arms, and called Gloria to get in the car.
Forrest quickly got out of the car, picked up the bags they had bought, and put them in the trunk.
Then he returned to the driver's seat and asked Gloria, "Excuse me, where is the destination?"
"I..." Gloria hesitated, biting her lip, her eyes evasive as she debated whether to reveal her address.
Tabitha, noticing her behavior, found it strange and asked, "Do you still live in the same place?"
"Mm-hmm," Gloria nodded, speaking, "The old place."
"Alright, everyone, buckle up," Forrest responded, starting the car and driving away.
Outside the window, the snowstorm was getting more violent.
The wind swirled with large snowflakes, and the number of pedestrians on the road decreased, the once bustling streets gradually becoming desolate.
During the trip, Tabitha noticed several times that Gloria seemed lost in thought, her eyes empty as if she was deep in contemplation.
She asked her if something was on her mind, but each time Gloria just forced a smile and shook her head, saying she was fine.
The more Tabitha saw this, the more certain she became that Gloria must have encountered some issue.
After all, they had been together since high school and knew each other very well.
For Gloria, who was usually outspoken and straightforward, to become so silent and avoid discussing her troubles, and to be frequently distracted in conversation, Tabitha guessed that it was most likely related to a man.
Perhaps this man had some exceptional circumstances. Either he was someone who couldn't be exposed to light, or their relationship was something that others couldn't know.
Back in the day when Gloria pursued her ex, it was quite a spectacle.
She wanted to announce their love to the whole world. She wouldn't be as secretive as she is now.
But since Gloria didn't want to talk about it, Tabitha understood that she couldn't force her and could only keep her worries to herself.
Before long, the car pulled up to the building where Gloria lived.
Gloria tried to make her smile look natural and said casually, "Just drop me off here. Ayla is asleep, and you should go back early too."
"Christmas is coming up in a few days. How about we get together?" Tabitha suggested with a smile, looking forward to spending the holiday with Gloria again.
A flash of disappointment crossed Gloria's face, and she lowered her head.
Avoiding Tabitha's gaze, she hesitated and said, "We'll see. I might be too busy to make time."
"Alright, save my new number then, and contact me when you're free," Tabitha said, trying to hide her disappointment with a smile.
"Okay, bye," Gloria responded, preparing to get out of the car.