A Date on April Fool's Day
An unexpected rain fell on April Fool's Day.
愚人节那天，居然下雨了。
It was our last year in the university.Everybody seemed so upset with the prospect of leaving that we were no longer interested in playing tricks. But I unexpectedly received a delicate love letter and, what's more, it was from a boy I had once teased.Actually, I don't feel bad about that boy. We chatted happily when we met; we exchanged books twice; and I was once his partner at the dancing ball—but that was all. He wasn't a talkative guy, just shy and amiable. He was like a brother to me. His letter was so serious. It showed no sign of kidding. I had to concede that I was touched, though not convinced—because it was April Fool's Day, when no one is serious.
今年是我们在大学的最后一年，大家似乎都被即将离别的伤感笼罩了，失去了搞恶作剧的兴致。但是，我却出乎意料地接到一封精致的情书。落款人居然是我捉弄过的一个男生。其实我对这个男孩的感觉还好。相遇时我们会很高兴地闲聊几句，换看过两次书，我还在舞会上当过他的舞伴，但仅此而已。他似乎不大爱说话，很腼腆、也很亲切，像个兄长。他的信写得很认真，一点儿也没有调侃的意思。我得承认我很动心，但我却不敢相信，因为愚人节是一个不较真的节日。
We went out on a date that night.The rain fell rhythmically. I suddenly became hesitant. “What if he doesn't mean to deceive me? What if this is true? What if he doesn't know today is April Fool's Day? What if ... But what if this is a trick? Then, I would be the real fool.”The time of the date arrived. My roommates stood up and saw me off solemnly, as if I were heading for the battlefield. The “battlefield” was a cold drink store near the university. He was sitting at a table by the wall, waiting for me. Dressed in a white shirt and red sweater, he looked fairly strong and handsome. I dared not look at him, so I lowered my head.He ordered two glasses of juice. We sat in silence for a long while.
约会就在今晚。雨很有节奏地落着。我忽然有些犹疑。“万一他不是骗我呢？万一这是真的呢？万一他不知道今天是愚人节呢？万一……可要真是一个骗局呢？那我不是蠢死啦。“约会时间到了。室友们全体起立，庄重地送我，像赴战场。“战场”是学校附近的一个冷饮店。他坐在一张靠墙的桌边等我。白衬衣、红毛衣，很强壮很俊朗的样子。我低着头，不敢多看。他叫了两杯果汁。我们好久都没
讲话。
“No class tonight?” He stammered.
“No.” Everybody knew that we never had class in the evening.
“Did you...read the letter?”
“Hmm....”
“What's your opinion?” I made no response.
“...since a long time ago. I am serious.” He murmured. “I am afraid I won't have any chance after graduation....”I remained silent.
“Perhaps you didn't know too much about me. Yet we still have time. You can....”
“I can't.” I finally spoke.
“Why?”
“Because today is April Fool's Day.”
He was stunned: “I didn't know...I didn't...in fact I wanted to....”
“Sorry.” I stood up. I didn't have enough courage to accept this.
“今晚没课？”他很口拙地问。
“没有。”鬼都知道，我们晚上从来就没有课。
“那封信，你看了？”
“嗯。”
“你怎么想？”我没有回答。
“……好久了。我是真心的……”他低声地说，“怕毕业了就没有机会了……”我依旧沉默着。
“也许你对我还不是很了解。不过，我们还有时间，你可以……”
“不必了，”我终于说。
“为什么？”
“因为今天是愚人节。”
他怔在那里：“我没有想到……我不是……其实我是……”
“对不起。”我站起身来。我没有勇气去接受这个事实。
Picking up my umbrella, I walked out. He followed, holding up his umbrella, but forgetting to open it. The rain was falling on him. Then he stopped in front of me and stared at me. However, I kept looking at the floor, noticing that his pants were stained with mud.What a big joke, I thought. All of a sudden, I just wanted to cry.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled at him, though I didn't really want to. He looked at me with surprise, his face covered with raindrops—or perhaps tears.
“Sorry,” he whispered. “Maybe I was too amorous.”I burst into tears. How could I hurt him like this?
我拿起伞，走出门。他举着伞跟出来，却忘记把伞打开。雨水打在他身上。他在我前面停下，望着我。而我却始终盯着地面，看见他的裤管上沾满泥泞。开的玩笑太大了，我想，我忽然很想哭。
“你干什么？”我朝他喊，虽然我根本不想那样。他怔怔地望着我，满面雨水——或是泪水。
“对不起，”他低声说，“或许是我自作多情。”我泪如雨落。我怎么可以这样伤害他呢？
I didn't notice how long I stood there. When I raised my head, he was gone. Maybe he really loved me. He was not wrong, but he chose April Fool's Day—a wrong day, and me—the wrong person. We were both losers.During our graduation ceremony, he came to me with a glass of wine. We clinked9 our glasses for cheers. Then he left without a word.
不知站了多久，抬起头，他已离去。也许他是真心爱我的。他没有什么错，错的是他选择了愚人节，错的是他选择了我。我们都失败了。毕业酒会上，他捧着酒杯来到我的身边。我们碰了碰杯，他无言离去。
What black humor that April Fool's Day held for me. The coming of every spring reminds me of that rainy day.
愚人节的黑色幽默一直萦绕着我。每年暮春，我都还会想起愚人节的那场雨。