Page 80 of From Drummer to Gamer

Some light dimmed from her eyes and her smile faded. But still, she nodded. “I understand.”

Thankfully, the awkwardness in the air didn’t last long after I praised her exceptional cooking. I’d never had a traditional Chinese breakfast before. While Sierra did announce to me this wasn’t really traditional like her mom made, it was still the most unbelievably delicious food I’d ever put inside my mouth.

Or maybe it was because of the fact that she made it for me

“You okay?” she asked as we put the last dish away.

“I am, actually,” I replied.

In all these years, I’d only ever mourned his loss rather than celebrating his memory, and I’d never been at peace with his death more than I was at this moment.

“And it’s all thanks to you and your mother’s amazing recipe. I’m grateful for your presence in my life, Sierra.”

Her lashes fluttered across her cheeks. “Thank you, but we should make all his favorite foods next time. That’s what most people do.” She slid her eyes to me, which soon widened. “I mean, you can make next year since I probably wouldn’t be here.”

“I could invite you.”

“You would?” she asked, surprised.

“Sure, why not? You would go to college in the city, right?”

“Ah, yes, I would. But it’s not like we would keep in touch.”

“You have my number, Sierra,” I said, leaning against the counter. “I just don’t give that to anyone.”

“So I can call you anytime?”

“Yes. You can call me anytime.”

She nodded, smiling.

“How are your classes going?”

“My classes, ugh.” A nervous laugh left her lips as her eyes darted around the room like laser beams. “Great, they’re going great. I mean, why wouldn’t they be going great? Cells, human bodies, blood, and whatnot. It’s just so much fun.”

“Did you always want to be a doctor?” I asked, curious. It wasn’t something I would picture her as—not because I questioned her capability, but because I believed she could do anything. But I had a feeling it wasn’t something she wanted to be. Maybe it was because of her lack of enthusiasm or just too much of it whenever she talked about it.

My question froze her on the spot, and she slowly lifted her gaze from the floor. For a long moment, she just stared at me with a lost look in her eyes, almost as if she was deeply thinking about something, before she said, “No, it’s not what I want.” Her voice was weighted with sadness.

“Then why?” I tilted my head. “Why did you pick it?”

“I didn’t,” she whispered. “My mom did.”

“What is it thatyoutruly want to do?”

“Something else…” She hesitated, sighing. “Something a bit more me, I guess.”

“Which is?”

“I can’t really tell, not now… maybe someday.” She gave me a small smile.

I nodded slowly.

The more I learned about her, the more she intrigued me. We all had our fair share of secrets, and she must have a pretty good reason for not telling me, but still, I wanted to know.

I wasn’t usually the type to pry, but all bets were off when it came to Sierra Chan.

I was becoming a man I didn’t recognize, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.