Sarah woke up to a beeping sound and the smell of antiseptic, a little bitter, with undertones of the artificial fragrance contained in the soaps and cleaners. She opened her weary eyes and looked at the white ceiling above her. Her room consisted of the typical furniture; a bed, a bedside table, and a chair.

Her dress had been replaced with loose hospital garments. An IV drip hung on the side of the bed to her hand.  She shifted her legs a little and pain shot through her left knee. A soft cry escaped her lips. Her brows furrowed as she tried to figure out what went wrong. Wasn't she fine yesterday? Why was she lying in a hospital bed? She had only begun to piece together fragments of her jumbled memories when the door to her room opened, and her mother came in.

Her mother put her hand over her mouth when she saw her, then she quickly rushed to her side. Her mother was still wearing her work uniform, dark blue muslin with a white Peter Pan collar. "Oh, my poor child."

Sarah smiled, her cheeks hurting, "Hi, mom. "

"Hey yourself, darling." She slowly sat beside the bed, clasping Sarah's left hand between hers. "How are you feeling? Should I call the doctor? Does it hurt anywhere? Do you need muffins?"

Sarah forced out a laugh, but she choked on her sobs. She pointed her heart. "It hurts in here, Mom. It hurts so bad that I can't breathe." She sat up on the bed and her mom stacked two fluffy pillows behind her. "And yes, I would like something to eat."

"Emily asked me to get you these," her mother said, hefting a small box on the bed. "So, remember to thank her later. God, she knows you better than I do. I can't deny I'm jealous."

"All these?" she flipped open the cover, immediately sighing at the sight of a dozen banana muffins. "God, does she want to stuff me into a pig? It is just low blood pressure, not a severe case of malnutrition."

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "How do you think she knew to keep these for you today?"

They both remained quiet for a while. Her mother kept opening her mouth as if say something, but said nothing. Sarah munched her muffins in relish, temporarily forgetting the existence of humans beside her. Emily knows her soul better than she did.

"Did you really try to commit suicide because he cheated on you?"

Cough! Sarah nearly choked on the piece she was slowly chewing. "What? No!"

"Good," her mother nodded. "That's what your neighbors are saying, so I thought I'd ask you about it."

"That's what people are saying?" Sarah's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "That I tried to commit suicide because I was so heartbroken over Brandon? Tsk. That moron isn't worth my life. And for the record, I did the dumping!"

"Language, Sarah."

"That is a big fat lie!" she was so incensed that she did not notice her mother's disapproving frown, which on many other occasions, she would have snapped her mouth shut. "Why would I kill myself over that bastard? Mom, he cheated on me with my roommate—former roommate— and they make a great couple."

Brandon cheating on her after dating for more than two years is an insult, but to bring his mistress to the apartment and sleep on her bed is adding salt to an injury. They had bought the apartment together hoping to start a family there, but now her life went back to square one.

She could still take it if it were someone she didn't know. But to actually cheat on her with Clara, her dorm mate for almost four years. That was someone she had considered family. They had shared their joys and sorrows through the university. That sure is the mother of all heartbreaks.

Tears pooled in her eyes and she asked, her voice really soft, "Mom, am I not good enough?"

"Darling, don't do that to yourself," her mother said, her expression softening. She brushed away a stray tear trailing down her cheek before her hands cupped her face and made her meet her mother's eyes. "There is nothing you could have done to prevent him from cheating. What happened was a result of their selfishness and had absolutely nothing to do with you. Don't beat yourself over it."

"Mom, it feels like I ran out of good luck. Nothing has been going right in my life recently."

"Now, you know the heaven above sends us two kinds of people to meet in our lives." Her mother patted Sarah's head to comfort her as she spoke. She always did this every time she comforted her kids. "Brandon and Clara were lessons, sweetheart, and Emily and I are blessings. Don't waste your time thinking about those two, they will soon get what they deserve. Just focus on getting your life back together."

"And what kind of lesson will I learn from the two of them? " Sarah asked wryly, wiping her nose on the tissue paper her mother handed her. "That I should not trust anyone?"

"No. that you should pick your friends and lovers carefully next time." her mother responded, taking a bite out of a muffin. "Like Emily, bless her heart, she takes care of you more than I do."

Sarah hugged her mother's arm and leaned on her shoulder. "You are right, mom. I should have listened to you back then. These rich men are indeed trouble."

"Don't worry about that for now. Even poor people aren't necessarily good." She smiled sadly, "Focus on healing your heart. The rest will take care of itself. You might even meet your real prince charming soon."

"Me? Prince charming?" Sarah laughed, helping herself with another muffin. "Mom, fairy tales don't work for me anymore. My prince charming isn't coming on a white horse. He's obviously riding a turtle somewhere, really confused." They both laughed at her at that and the mood lightened up. "Anyway, what about the bill?"

"Someone already paid for it. Otherwise, how do you think you could stay in a private room?"

"Who?"

"I don't know. He said he was here on behalf of your old acquaintance. He also said your acquaintance passed his sincere apologies to you."

"Thank you to whoever that is." Sarah snuggled closer and she started dozing off after a while. Her mother helped her into a comfortable position.

"Alright, rest now. I'm sure I'm not helping babbling like a brook," she said then kissed her daughter on the forehead. "The doctor said you can go home in the afternoon. I'll go handle your discharge paperwork."

The smile on her mother's face vanished as soon as she closed the door. Seeing her daughter in pain must have reopened the scars she had buried deep in her heart. She, more than anyone else, understood exactly how Sarah felt at that moment. Her husband had betrayed her too.

***

Three days later. 

"Hey girl, do you know about the student reunion the day after tomorrow?" Emily finally brought up this after thinking for a while. She missed her friend and it was too painful to watch Sarah wallow in self pity. Perhaps getting Sarah to interact with others could help her get back on her feet. She poked Sarah's forehead when she did not respond. "Hey, are you even listening?"

"Huh? Hasn't it been barely a year since we graduated? Why are we having a class reunion so soon?" Sarah asked as she toyed with the invitation card on the table.

"Uh-uh...Sarah, you got it wrong," Emily said, waving her index finger, "This is not our class reunion. This is a special student reunion organized by some seniors. That means other than our classmates, other seniors will also attend."

"I still don't get the difference." Sarah shrugged. "Isn't that how student reunions work? Why is this one special?"

"People from other classes will be attending." Emily thought of something, her eyes sparkled and she snapped her fingers. "Girl, your chance to go fishing is here. Who knows? You might even get a better one," Emily said, excitement bubbling in her voice, "Besides, senior Henry just returned to the country a few weeks ago and he might attend."

"Who's senior Henry?" Sarah asked blankly.

Emily poked Sarah's forehead again, frustrated. "Girl, Henry is three years our senior and was crowned 'the school hunk' until he graduated; even Brandon can't hold a candle to him.
He was the most extraordinary student who got a direct admission at Harvard and started the renowned Xian Enterprise in his second year.

"Guess what? His company was already listed by the time he graduated, and he ventured into the international market a year ago. He also took over his family's business around the time he got into the international markets. I don't know why he enrolled at our university after studying at Harvard.

"I heard he is among the big shots in the international market and he took over their family business a couple of months ago. He is an untouchable handsome CEO with lots and lots of money. He is basically the dream of every single girl I know; well, except you."

By the time Emily finished explaining, her eyes sparkled so much that one could almost see tiny stars in them.

Sarah had Goosebumps all over thinking about Emily's current behavior. She thwacked Emily's hand from her forehead and massaged the area that hurt from poking. "Wow! He's all that at 29?" She shook her head and let out an exaggerated sigh. "I'm 25 and I'm a paycheck away from being homeless. Emily, are you sure you aren't exaggerating?"

"That, my dear, is the difference between a genius and a normal person." Emily patted Sarah's head as if comforting a little child. "Besides, he was born into millions of money. That's a head start you didn't have. No need to beat yourself over it."

"Aren't you an heiress too?" Sarah joked.

"Me? Yeah, no." Emily stiffened and a cold glint flashed in there eyes. "I don't fancy turning people into improper fractions."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Emily took a deep breath and resumed her usual jovial demeanor. "Anyway, as I was saying, Henry is an eye candy. Are you sure you don't know him?"

Sarah thought for a while and numerous images flashed in her mind, but none matched Emily's description. "This Henry... I don't recognize him."

"Girl, are you for real?" Emily frowned. "What kind of world do you live in? Are you even a business major graduate? Aren't you afraid that you might die because of inadequate information?"

"Sometimes people with too much information die faster." Sarah chuckled. "But judging from how worked up you are, he must be an important figure. Do you have a photo of him?"

Emily shook her head. "He is a bit weird though, he hates having his photos taken. I heard once that paparazzi took a few photos of him and tried to interview him. He got the media house out of business in a few days. After that, very few reporters dare to get close to him. They call him 'the smiling devil'."

"Petty," Sarah snorted.

"Girl, you really don't know who senior Henry is?" Emily refused to believe the extent of Sarah's ignorance.

Sarah shrunk back a little, afraid to meet Emily's eyes, and asked hesitantly, "Should... I know him?"

"Oh, no!" Emily let out a deep breath and face-palmed. Perhaps she should jog her memory a little. "Girl, don't you remember senior Henry who received you in your first year when you just entered the university?"

Sarah seriously tried to recall. "Oh, I only remember a male student who guided me halfway before leaving without saying a word. I had to search for half a day for the female dorms dragging around my heavy luggage. I almost had blisters on my feet that day." she finished with an aggrieved tone.

Emily's face stiffened, "then, do you remember the talent show held by the public relations department during the first semester of our first year?" Sarah nodded, signaling her to continue. "Senior Henry personally reviewed your work."

Sarah thought for a while then burst out laughing. "Oh, you are talking about that event where you tricked me into submitting that crappy art?"

Emily nodded. "But that is not the main point."

Sarah smacked her forehead, "Oh, you are talking about that person who said I drew flowers that looked like they could take a piss? Come to think of it, that was the nicest way someone ever told me my drawing sucked." She sighed. "It is a pity I don't remember his face."

Emily pinched her nose bridge at her response. She was about to give up but a light bulb went off in her head. "Girl, what about the time when you thought Long Island Iced Tea wasn't an alcoholic drink and you got dead drunk? Who carried you back to the dorms?"

"What?" Sarah's eyes widened. "You are saying the person who carried me back was Senior Henry?"

Emily's eyes lit up. "You remember?"
Sarah nodded.

"Whew!" Emily wiped off non-existent sweat from her forehead. "Finally our blockhead has been enlightened."

Sarah flipped her hair back and pointed at a tiny scar on the left side of her face just above the temple. "I remember waking up the second morning with a bump on this part. He must have been the one who did it, right?" she grumbled, "My mother was right. Rich and handsome men are not reliable at all." If they were, why would she end up with a bump on her face?

"Girl, forget it." Emily exhaled and shrunk back like her deflated balloon. She had celebrated too early. She patted Sarah's head as her gossip mood extinguished. "Kid, go to sleep. Don't forget we are going shopping tomorrow. You have to look great for the event."

"Did I say I'll go?"

"You are going. End of discussion." With that, she sashayed out of her room.