“
It’s a long story!” Isabella sighed and started telling the story.
“
Once upon a time, China was a united country. Nationals respected one another. The king was
industrious and thrifty. He loved his people and the nationals esteemed him. One day, the king passed away.
One of his sons, Edward, became the king. However, his younger brother, Albert, was greedy for power. He
envied Edward and wanted to replace him, so he started a civil war. Their mother, Elizabeth, knew that the war
would seriously harm the country. In order to stop the war, Elizabeth requested Edward to cede the northern part
of China to Albert. Edward understood that wars would do nothing good to the country, so he listened to his
mother and ceded the territory to his brother. Thus, Albert became the king of the northern part of China.
Nevertheless, Albert was avid and ambitious. He was not satisfied with the result. Indeed, he was furious as he
couldn’t get what he wanted. Wanting to show his resentment, Albert prohibited his nationals from entering the
southern part of China. This big country was no longer united - it was divided into two parts. Nationals, families,
and lovers were separated.”
“
Just like the situation in Korea,” Isabella added.
“
Luckily our country is united now; otherwise, we….”
Before Catherine could finish her talk, Ivan interrupted. “No, nothing can separate us, not even the split up
of the country,” Ivan said firmly with a confident look on his face. Catherine was touched by Ivan. She gently
looked at him. The young couple held each other’s hands tightly.
“
Many people became homeless after the war,” Isabella continued. “Millions of people died. The scenes
after t
he b
attle w
ere j
ust too ghastly to look at. You couldn’t imagine how sorrowful those people were. A
young man was separated from his fiancé. He and his family lived in the northern part of China while his
fiancée lived in the southern part of China. He was deeply grieved. He thought that his life would be
meaningless without his adorable, dearest fiancé. He resolvedly left his home and his family. He swore he
would not give up looking for his fiancé unless he died.”
“
The young man’s infatuation for his fiancé was like Romeo’s infatuation for Juliet, wasn’t it?”
commented Catherine.
“
Just like my infatuation for you,” Ivan said affectionately to Catherine.
“
I knew it on the day I first met you,” Catherine said softly.
“
He walked through the precipitous paths, swam across the wide rivers, climbed on the high mountains…
He overcame all difficulties and at last, he found his fiancé.”
“
The story had a happy ending, right?” Catherine asked cheerfully.
“
Don’t interrupt! Listen! Isabella, go on with the story,” said Ivan.
“
Someone told him the address of his fiancé, so he wrote a letter to her and asked her to come and see
him.”
“
Oh my God! James, is that you?” Different feelings occurred simultaneously when Eleanore saw her
lover again.
“
Yes, it’s me. You are not dreaming!” While James was talking, he ran at full speed toward his fiancé and
hugged her tightly as if she would run away. James was so agitated that he couldn’t say a word. After a while,
James sobbed out his sad story.
“
Eleanore, don’t ever leave me again! Don’t you know I couldn’t live without you?”
James, the tough young man, suddenly burst into tears and cried like a baby.
“
I left my family and friends and come here to find you, but I believe it’s worthwhile to do so. Eleanore,
come with me. I’ll marry you. I’ve been waiting for this day for such a long time.” James was so excited that he
couldn’t stop talking. His cheeks turned red.
“
James, I…,” Eleanore spoke hesitatingly.
“
We’ll live together happily just like the prince and princess in the fairy tale. We’ll have...,”James kept on
talking.
“
No, James, I…We’re not gotta get back together. I am sorry but I’m married!”
This was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. James was extremely shocked.
“
Poor James!” This must have broken his heart,” said Catherine.
“
You are right, Catherine,” Isabella said sadly. “This really drove him crazy.”
“
No, Eleanore, you are just joking, right?” asked James. Eleanore didn’t answer. She stared at her shoes.
Tears rolled along her cheeks unwittingly and dropped on the cold hard ground.
“
Say something! Why don’t you talk? Eleanore, how could you do this to me? I sacrificed a great deal for
you. How could you be so heartless?” James shouted himself hoarse.
“
James, I was so sorry. I thought you …,” Eleanore broke down and sobbed aloud.
“
I understood. Sorry to bother you. I hope you’ll have a wonderful life…and forget me. Good-bye,
Eleanore.” James suddenly calmed down and wiped his tears. He walked away resolvedly without looking back.