Chapter 3

The wound on my foot had scabbed over and the scab had fallen off.

I couldn't say what else vanished with that wound.

My twenty-seventh birthday arrived.

My friend, Maya, covered my eyes and led me all the way to our destination.

"Happy Birthday!"

Fireworks burst one after another in the sky, laughter filled the air, and confetti floated down.

My blurry vision cleared, and I saw everyone's smiling faces.

Ethan knelt on one knee before me.

"Happy birthday, Sarah."

"Will you marry me?"

He was so gentle, nothing like the horrible fight we had that night.

"I haven't been in touch lately because I was afraid you were still mad at me."

"I've also been preparing for this proposal."

The city's most exclusive rooftop view, custom-made fireworks, peonies covering the ground.

It clearly required a lot of thoughtful preparation.

"I've handled everything."

"I've handed Chloe's case over to someone else, she won't bother us anymore."

"Sarah, marry me!"

The cheers reached a crescendo.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

"I..."

Just as I uttered a syllable, Ethan's phone rang again and again.

One ring, two rings.

The hand holding the ring trembled, and he bit his teeth.

Still, he answered.

He gestured for everyone to wait.

And stopped my hesitant, trembling hand.

Only a few muffled sounds came through the phone, but I clearly heard, "waiting for you."

I was all too familiar with this scene.

Many times, Ethan had been called away like this, because Chloe said she was in trouble, or she was sad, or she needed him.

Ethan's temple throbbed. He shoved the ring into my hand.

"Sarah."

"I'm sorry."

The fifty-second apology, on the first day of my twenty-seventh year.

"Wait for me to come back. I'll propose again properly then."

He ran out quickly, his clothes flapping in the wind.

The awkwardness, the probing looks, the pity from everyone fell on me.

"Ethan, where the hell are you going—"

The wind scattered Maya's curses.

Ethan pushed open the door to another terrace.

"Chloe, get down from there!"

Chloe sat on the railing, swaying precariously, her expression manic.

"It's my eighteenth birthday today too, and you haven't even wished me happy birthday."

Ethan rubbed his throbbing temples, worn down, with no fight left.

"Okay, happy birthday."

"Now, get down. Please, get down, and I'll spend it with you however you want."

Her face lit up.

"However I want?"

"Then I want you not to propose to your girlfriend, and I want you to be my boyfriend!"

Ethan's steps towards her halted, and his expression darkened completely.

Chloe flinched under his gaze, and as if she'd done something wrong, she instinctively started to whine.

"Not forever, how about just one year?"

"Six months? A month?"

"A week then? Just one week!"

She started crying, leaning back a little further.

"Ethan, you won't even give me one week?"

"If you still don't agree, I'll jump from here!"

The moment she acted cute, Ethan's expression softened considerably.

Then, because of her next action, his eyes wide with panic, lunging to grab her, his voice trembling, he hastily agreed.

"Okay, I'll be your boyfriend! I'll be your boyfriend!"

Chloe's eyes brightened, and she flew into Ethan's arms.

Her arms wrapped around him, holding him tight.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then his hand slowly came up to her head, stroking her hair.

Thud.

I released my grip, and the ring dropped to the floor.

Ethan, still holding Chloe, turned around. I stood in the narrow doorway.

In his stunned gaze, I suddenly smiled.

"I'm leaving."

My friend, Maya, rushed to my side, panicking, "Sarah, where are you going?"

I touched her reddened eyes. "I'm going home."

"I'm his ex-girlfriend now."

"It's not appropriate for me to stay here."

Ethan didn't come back for a long time. I hadn't expected him.

"Why are you back?"