I Hope This Doesn’t Find You

by Ann Liang

Her reply had come two days later: your score is 89.5% Sent from my iPhone

“I thought we’d retired that nickname already. It makes no sense. Why would I be called a tangerine in Chinese?”

“Because,” he says quietly, a curious expression on his face. I’ve never seen him so serious. So sincere. “You’re the only person worth paying attention to.”

After ten minutes of this, I lose my patience. “Are you here to select bread or a future wife? What’s taking so long?” His smile is sharp, taunting. “The latter.”

If I think about him again— If I so much as look at him, then I deserve to be pelted with ice. • • • I deserve to be pelted with ice.

I want to kiss him again, until all his doubts dissipate to nothing. I want to take away everything that’s ever hurt him.