Chapter 3

The next morning, when I got to class, Ethan was already at his desk.

He saw me and lifted a breakfast bag. “Got you breakfast.”

I took it and said thanks.

He paused, probably not expecting me to be so polite.

“Riley,” he lowered his voice, “lunch together?”

“Can’t. I’m meeting Jade.”

I went back to my seat.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

At lunch, Jade dragged me up to the rooftop.

She gnawed on a chicken leg, fuming.

“You know what? Serena was badmouthing you again today. Saying crap like, ‘Riley’s grades are so good, she doesn’t even need the spot.’”

“She sure knows how to justify herself.”

I leaned against the railing, watching people come and go on the sports field.

“Jade,” I said quietly, “I’m leaving next Wednesday.”

Her chicken leg nearly fell out of her hand.

“Leaving? Where?”

“Canada. My parents finished the immigration stuff a while ago. I didn’t tell you before.”

“Then… does Ethan know?”

“I told him I was breaking up with him last night.”

Jade was silent for a long time. Then she took a vicious bite of her chicken leg.

“Good. He doesn’t deserve you.”

The next few days, Ethan went to school like normal.

He probably figured my breakup was just a tantrum, so he chose to chill and wait it out.

Fine by me. It gave us both some breathing room.

I started quietly packing up my things.

Bringing textbooks from my locker home, one by one.

That night, my phone screen lit up.

A message from Ethan:

[I’m at the fast food place near school. Come get me?]

I stared at the screen for a long time.

He hadn’t asked me to come get him in ages. Hell, he hadn’t even invited me to one of his hangouts in forever.

After a moment, I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door.

This was our last chance to meet. I wanted to have a clear conversation.

Outside the fast food place, I was about to push the door open.

But I heard familiar laughter from inside.

Ethan, a few of his friends, and Serena.

My raised hand froze in the air.

Through the crack in the door, I saw Serena sitting right next to Ethan, way too close.

A familiar girl’s voice piped up, dripping with a coy tone:

“Ethan, don’t you think you should treat me to dinner to celebrate me getting the recommendation spot?”

Before Ethan could answer, one of his friends cut in with a teasing laugh:

“Hey Serena, you want Ethan to take just you out, or do you want us all to tag along?”

A round of suggestive chuckles.

Serena cooed “Stop it,” but there wasn’t a trace of genuine annoyance in her voice.

“Alright, leave her alone,” Ethan’s voice cut in, casual and indulgent. “Of course, we’ll celebrate.”

That sentence hit me like a switch.

It took me back to when we’d first started dating.

We were at a restaurant, and his friends saw us eating together. One of them grinned and asked, “Whoa, are you two a thing?”

He’d laughed and said, “Nah, we’re just classmates.”

His friends didn’t believe him and pressed, and he denied it again and again.

Back then, I understood.

High school relationships weren’t ideal. We didn’t want to be too obvious, didn’t want the teachers to know.

But now, looking back, his tone had been so natural, so effortless.

Like denying our relationship was the most obvious thing in the world.

A chill spread through my fingertips.

So maybe it was never about the “high school relationship” itself.

It was about the person he was seen with being me.

Another voice from the table pulled me back to the present:

“Speaking of which, Ethan, how’d you handle Riley? …She said she was breaking up with you yesterday. Was that for real?”

A brief silence.

Then Ethan let out a cold laugh. “Let her be. Usually, I put up with her little tantrums. But this time, she needs to learn that some things can’t be fixed by making a scene.”

“Whoa,” someone jeered, “so you’re really just gonna let her go?”

Ethan didn’t answer, which was an answer.

Then another friend spoke up, hesitant:

“Ethan, you sure you want things to go this far? You and Riley have been together for years…”

“If you’re not backing down, does that mean you’ve got other plans? Like, say, our girl Serena?”

“Don’t joke like that~” Serena’s voice stretched into a playful whine. “You really shouldn’t joke about that. Ethan… he knows what he’s doing.”

Those last few words came out soft and loaded with meaning.

Ethan didn’t explain.

A knowing laugh rippled through the group.

Another guy chimed in, all agreement: “Honestly, Ethan’s been more than patient. Years with her? Anyone else would’ve lost it by now.”

“What does Riley even have besides her family’s money? Not like Serena, who’s smart and sweet…”

Serena cut him off with a coy protest. “Stop talking nonsense!”

The streetlight outside flickered.

The street was dark.

I gently set the umbrella I’d brought down on the front step.

Then I turned and walked away.

I didn’t push the door open. Didn’t go inside. Didn’t say that final word.

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