Chapter 5

Before the gala started, Francis came backstage to find me.

"I need to talk to you."

I didn't even look up. "There's nothing to talk about."

Without warning, Francis grabbed my wrist and hauled me into the empty classroom next door.

"Francis, what are you doing!"

The lock clicked behind us.

I wrenched at the door. It didn't budge.

"I'll let you out when the gala's over."

"Kathleen's wanted to stand on a stage since she was little. I promised her I'd help make that happen."

"Aren't you the best at hosting anyway? Missing one time won't hurt you."

My chest went tight.

"To you, everything's a little thing!"

I pounded on the door.

"The research placement was a little thing. Going public was a little thing. Getting cursed at, getting water thrown on me, that's a little thing too!"

He didn't answer.

He only said, low, before he left,

"Stop making a scene."

His footsteps faded away.

I stood alone in the dark classroom and heard the music start up outside.

A few minutes later Kathleen's sweet, clear voice came over the speakers, followed by Francis's low, gentle voice picking up beside hers.

The applause below rolled in like a tide.

I slid down against the door and the tears came without warning.

I'd been waiting all this time.

Waiting for Francis to take my hand and lead me out in front of everyone.

Waiting for him to say, "This is my girlfriend, Beryl."

But what came instead was Kathleen.

From beginning to end, everyone knew they were closer than any couple.

When the gala ended, the lock finally turned.

Francis stood outside with flowers in his hand, his eyes pausing a moment on my swollen, red eyes.

"Don't cry."

I stepped around him and headed out.

Francis caught my arm, like he wanted to say something, but his phone cut him off.

The screen read: Kathleen.

He barely hesitated before letting go of my hand.

"Hello?"

His expression changed at once.

"Don't cry, I'm coming right over."

After he hung up, he looked at me.

"She's not doing well."

"I've already gotten time off. Your mom's birthday is in a few days. I'll go back with you, we'll celebrate it together, and then we'll go public."

"Stop sulking, okay?"

My fingertips trembled, just barely.

I'd waited four whole years for those words. They only came once I no longer wanted anything at all.

And now that I heard them, all I felt was how absurd it was.

"You still think I went abroad on exchange just to sulk?"

Francis stared at me, a flicker of irritation surfacing in his eyes.

"What else?"

I said quietly,

"Forget it. My mom doesn't need you to celebrate her birthday anymore."

That finally set him off. His voice shot up.

"You were the one who went abroad, who disappeared, who pushed me away! And now you're putting on this victim act for who to see?"

"Beryl, do you even have a heart?!"

His phone rang again.

This time he didn't even glance at me. He turned and left.

"Kathleen, I'm almost there."

That easy, familiar name lodged itself gently in my chest.

But it didn't hurt anymore.

After the defense was over, I packed my bags and decided to head north.

Waiting for my flight, I opened the campus forum and uploaded the photos of Francis and me, one by one.

From seventeen to twenty-two.

From school uniforms to graduation gowns.

The title was just one line:

【About Francis and me.】

Then I sent the surveillance footage of Francis locking me in the classroom, along with the evidence that he'd condoned the online harassment, to the faculty advisor.

A message came in from Francis:

【Where did you go? I'm outside your building.】

I killed the screen and boarded the plane.