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墨書 Inktalez
Chen Yifan (Evan) and Lin Meichi (Michelle) are sitting in a stylish little bar, with classic rock band posters hanging on the walls on both sides, and neon lights flashing, adding a touch of mystery to the place.
A bartender is skillfully manipulating bottles behind the bar, and lively jazz music is flowing from hidden speakers.
"This little bar is really nice. You always manage to pick such unique places," Michelle said, furrowing her brow slightly as she carefully sipped her cocktail, as if trying to shift her focus.
"I believe a good environment can influence our mood, especially for those of us with high work pressure," Evan said, smiling.
"Yes, especially after observing the repressed lives of others, one's mood becomes particularly important," Michelle said with a faint smile, but the weariness on her face was almost impossible to conceal.
"Look over there, that's my favorite rock band from my college days," Evan said, lightly touching The Beatles poster with his fingertips, a smile forming on his lips.
Michelle smiled and replied, "Indeed, the taste of a creative director."
That night, the conversation between the two was gentle and smooth, like a classic jazz tune. However, the doubts rising in their hearts were like discordant notes, disrupting the originally pleasant atmosphere.
Not far away, sat a couple—Michelle's friends, Rebecca and Tony. Their expressions were serious, and you could feel the tension between them.
Despite being married for many years, they seemed to be just going through the motions.
Michelle observed them secretly and then glanced at Evan, thinking to herself, "If this is the truth about marriage, then maybe choosing not to marry was the right decision. But why do I feel a twinge of unease?"
Evan noticed that Michelle's gaze was somewhat unfocused and couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"
Michelle hesitated for a moment and replied, "Well, I just saw Rebecca and Tony, and couldn't help but wonder if choosing a non-traditional path is really a good idea."
Evan squinted his eyes, his mouth slightly downturned. "I have the same question. Whenever I see other friends' marriages, it makes me start to doubt my own choices."
Michelle took a deep breath. "But we can't always deny ourselves because of other people's choices, right?"
Evan looked at her quietly and then slowly said, "Perhaps we should confirm once again what exactly it is that we are truly pursuing?"
Michelle felt a jolt in her heart, as if his words had touched upon a sensitive spot deep within.
Recalling a few days ago, Michelle and Evan were invited to attend a family gathering hosted by Michelle's college classmate Emily and her husband Jack.
It is a home space with a modern and minimalist design, where every corner reflects the owner's taste, from the large TV in the living room to the array of wine bottles next to the bar.
"Look, this is their love, so harmonious whether at home or at work," Michelle told Evan at the time.
Evan quietly observed and noticed that Jack had secretly taken a bottle of whiskey from the bar and was hiding on the balcony to enjoy it alone. Meanwhile, Emily was busy arranging food and attending to the guests, completely unaware. "Do you think they are really happy?" Evan asked at the time.
"I don't know, but at least they tried," Michelle replied.
"Do you remember when we went to Emily and Jack's family gathering before? They seemed happy, but if you look closely, you'll see the cracks," Evan said with a serious tone.
"Some cracks accumulate over the years and cannot be repaired in any way," Michelle said, holding a cup of coffee.
"So, what should we choose? Should we continue on our path of not getting married, or should we at least try like they did?" Evan's question made the air feel frozen.
Michelle fell silent for a moment before finally saying, "I don't know, but at least I know that whatever we choose, I won't regret it."
Evan glanced at the cocktail glass on the table and in that moment, he realized that whether it's alcohol or love, both need to be savored with care in order to appreciate their flavor.
"Evan, I've been thinking lately, do we need to seriously consider our future path? I see Peter and Sophia, their marriage seems perfect but is filled with falsehood. But Tony and Rebecca, I don't know, even though it seems like they are just living an ordinary life, they seem to have a certain sense of security that we can't understand," Michelle finally broke the silence.
Evan glanced at Michelle, his eyes revealing deep thoughts, and slowly said, "Seeing Peter and Sophia like that does make one feel uneasy. But every choice has its pros and cons, doesn't it?"
A faint smile appeared on Michelle's face, but quickly turned serious. "You're right, but I'm starting to feel more and more that maybe we need to find a middle ground that makes both of us comfortable. I don't want to lose myself, but I also don't want to lose this relationship."
Both of them fell silent for a while. The air seemed to be filled with various emotions and the complex entanglement of questions.
The night deepened, and the two of them walked out of the small bar. The night sky of Taipei was bright and peaceful.
Evan suddenly stopped and said to Michelle, "Regardless of the outcome, I think we should both respect our choices. Marriage may be a form, but love, love is a feeling, a commitment, a choice."
After listening to Michelle, she felt a warm feeling in her heart. She looked into Evan's eyes and slowly said, "You're right. In the end, we are all pursuing what we believe to be the best way of life, whatever that may be."
They smiled at each other, holding hands, and it seemed that their doubts were released in that moment.
The next day, in the meeting room of the advertising company, Evan and Michelle met a couple who were clients. They always held hands, with happy smiles on their faces, appearing like a perfect pair. This reminded Evan and Michelle of their own choices.
After the meeting, Michelle said to Evan, "That couple is really enviable. They are so old, yet they can still hold hands like that."
Evan scoffed and half-jokingly replied, "Enviable? Perhaps they went through a lot when they were young to be able to be like this in their old age. There are more stories behind them that we can't see."
"Maybe that's it," Michelle responded with a smile, but in her heart, she began to ponder whether they could also find a way to have a relationship like that elderly couple's, without sacrificing freedom.
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