The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Sophia put the container of cut fruits on the table and sat on the chair across from Jeremy. She then opened the container and
said with a smile, “Okay, it is boring here, but you’re here! I want to meet new friends and challenge myself in different areas to
make the most out of my life. I mean, isn’t that the point of living? Experiencing new stuff and stepping out of one’s comfort
zone?”
As she spoke, she picked up a piece of chilled watermelon with a fork and passed it to Jeremy.
Jeremy’s head was throbbing from the long meeting and the photos Tommy sent. He took the fork from Sophia’s hand and put
the chilled watermelon inside his mouth to allow the coldness to wash away his annoyance.
Sophia picked up a piece of watermelon and took a small bite. She then blinked and said curiously, “Jeremy, Miss Corinne
must’ve treated you very well in the past for you to like her this much, huh?”
Jeremy frowned at the mention of Corinne’s name. After a long while, he asked her back, “How well does she have to treat me to
be called treating me well?”
Sophia rested her chin on her hand while she continued to eat the watermelon. “Mm... Take me for example. I’d bring you some
cut fruits without you asking. Or call you to ask you when you’re coming home. Or cook your favorite food for dinner. Or...create
little surprises for you. Or show you how much I love you frequently.”
Jeremy’s face darkened, but then he suddenly smiled mockingly. ‘How laughable. That little rascal never did any of those things.
Heck, I don’t think she even knows what my favorite foods are.’
Sophia pretended to be shocked when she saw Jeremy being silent. “What? Don’t tell me she’s never done any of those things
for you. Sorry, Jeremy. I didn’t know it was a one-sided relationship on your part.”
Jeremy kept his eyes down. ‘One-sided relationship, huh? How apt of a phrase to describe my relationship with that little rascal.
From the beginning until the end, she’s never been serious about me. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left me without saying a
word.’
Jeremy laughed at himself. After all, he had never lost once in the 30 years he had been alive, yet Corinne managed to play him.
Sophia cleared her throat embarrassedly. “Jeremy, I’m sorry for bringing up something that makes you unhappy. Umm... How
about we change the topic? It’ll be my twenty-fifth birthday in a few days!”

Jeremy snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. “Oh. What would you like as a present? You just need to tell Tommy, and
he’ll arrange it.”
Sophia sighed secretly. ‘He’s still the same old Jeremy. He never takes my birthday present seriously. But this time, I’m not going
to ask him for a present.’
“You can give me whatever you want, Jeremy. But there’s something I want you to help me with.”
Jeremy looked up at her. “What?”
Sophia smiled innocently. “Well... This will be the first time I’ll be having my birthday here, so I want to have a birthday party.
But...I don’t have a lot of friends or family here, so can you ask some of your friends to come to the party? It’s my wish that I’ll
have lots of people to celebrate with me!”
‘Oh, that’s not too hard,’ thought Jeremy, so he nodded and said, “Sure. I’ll ask Zeke to invite all the people he knows.”
Sophia was really happy. She smiled and said, “Oh, thank you so much, Jeremy! Back in Molomia, my friends and I would party
till the morning! But I don’t have any friends here, and I’m not really that familiar with Zeke and your friends, so I feel somewhat
embarrassed to ask them. It’s great that you’re willing to help me out!”
Jeremy picked up his coffee and sipped it absent-mindedly.