From: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2016
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
We aren’t strangers! We’ve known each other for two years now. And how’s this: we won’t give names or other identifying information.
From: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2016
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sounds like a plan.
I do have a girlfriend, and we’re getting dinner at Din Tai Fung later with a group of friends.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected] Date: February 14, 2016
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
You’re not supposed to give me specifics like restaurant names! What if I had plans at Din Tai Fung as well with my date and I walked in to see someone who looks exactly like he’d be named c.sun16?? The mystery would be ruined.
From: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2016
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
I guess we could use acronyms only, but then I’d be telling you that my girlfriend and I are at DTF with a group of people, and that seems like something that could land me on a sex offender list.
From: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2016
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Omg fajdks;afsjksfa go eat your soup dumplings, you filthy animal, and I’ll see you next year.
T.
PS: I also want to say because our district email addresses make this secret impossible to keep: Happy early graduation, C, and I hope you’re feeling good about whatever comes next.
Chapter Four
2017
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Happy Valentine’s Day Yoooooooooooo
I win.
C.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I’m sorry, DID YOU START A NEW EMAIL ACCOUNT WITH THE SAME USERNAME
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I am nothing if not the laziest.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Lazy people don’t email at exactly midnight just to win a race to wish someone Happy Valentine’s Day.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day What can I say, I’m a conundrum wra0pped in a mystery tied with a p7uzzle shoved in a pickle jar.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Oooh, exactly how hammered are you right now?
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Pretty hajmmered From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Are you still in Irvine?
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day No. I moved away for college.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Don’t tell me where! I enjoy the mystery.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Oh I won’t. I know the rules.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Are you having fun, wherever you are?
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day I guess?
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day Lol that was a pretty vague answer.
From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day okay i’ll do better
I’m having fun at college, yeah, but rightnow I’m really fucking hungry.
And this party is pretty lame which is probably why i had more beer than I susually have But the dude throwing it—I know how you are about not sharing names and information so i won’t tell you his name even though he’s from Boston and i’m like 98.2% sure that 58% of men born in that city have the same name—is on a sports team that I am also on and he’s pretty cool so I wanted to show up for him. But other than him and 1-2 guys from the team, there’s not actually that many people I know here And here’s another thing. I’m getting deep now are you ready? It’s weird to move away from home. Not bad weird, neceesarily, but different. Everywhere feels so different than Irvine. Irvine is a bubble, and we all know that when we’re growing up there but it’s different to leave and see how sheltered and privileged we all are.