We took a Grab from the school to the shopping mall.
The kids were laughing and teasing each other, while I sat quietly, watching them.
Everything felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Until—
"Anna?"
I froze.
No…
It couldn't be.
Maybe I heard it wrong.
But then—
"An?"
My heart stopped.
That voice…
The one I hadn't heard in six years.
Slowly… I turned around.
And there he was.
Yushen.
Standing with Nic, Ying, and Aaron.
For a moment, the world around me went silent.
He looked the same.
Maybe a little more tired.
A little more serious.
But still… him.
I couldn't ignore them.
So I forced a small smile and walked over.
"OMG! It's been so long—we haven't seen you in five or six years!" – Nic said. "How are you? And… are these your kids?"
"Hi, Nic… Ying, Aaron… long time no see," I replied. "Yeah, I'm good. And yes… these are my kids."
"Hi, Uncle, Aunty! I'm Xia, and this is my Gege, Xayden. We are six years old!" – Xia said cheerfully.
"Hi…" – Xayden added calmly.
I didn't look at him.
I couldn't.
Not yet.
"After you left, we never heard from you," – Ying said.
"I got busy… with work and the kids," I replied.
"Even your social media disappeared," – Aaron added.
"I just needed some space," I smiled lightly.
"Jie jie!"
That voice—
I turned quickly.
"Xavier?"
Before I could react, he ran towards me and hugged me.
"Jie jie! Long time no see! I miss you!"
My heart softened instantly.
"I miss you too… you've grown so much," I said, gently patting his head.
Six years ago, he was still so small.
Now… he was already a big boy.
"Jie jie, these your kids?"
"Yeah. This is Xia and Xayden," I said softly.
"Hi, Gege Xavier!" – Xia waved. "Mom, we want to play!"
I glanced up.
And for the first time—
My eyes met his.
Yushen was already looking at me.
Watching everything.
Quietly.
There was something in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not coldness.
But… questions.
Too many questions.
"Then let them play," – Nic said.
The kids ran off happily with Xavier.
Laughing like they had known each other forever.
I stayed where I was.
Trying to act normal.
Trying not to feel anything.
"I just moved back last month," I said. "They just got their school placement."
"Ohh, which school?" – Ying asked.
"An international school near my house. I stay in City M."
"Wow… that's expensive," – Aaron said.
"I just want them to adapt well first," I replied softly.
Then—
Silence.
The kind that only exists between two people who once meant everything to each other.
"You came back…"
His voice was calm.
But heavy.
"…without telling me?"
I slowly looked at him.
"I didn't think I needed to," I said quietly.
His gaze didn't move.
"You left without telling me anything, Anna."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"you know the reason."
He let out a small breath.
Not angry.
Before the conversation could go deeper—
"Mom! Look at me!" – Xia shouted.
I turned instantly.
Grateful.
Because I didn't know what else to say.
But even as I smiled at my kids…
I could feel it.
His gaze.
Still on me.
Still trying to understand.
And maybe…
Sooner or later…
He will know about us.