After five years, I no longer knew how to talk nicely with him.
His face grew even colder. Everyone looked at me, then at him, but no one dared to intervene.
In the standoff, his phone rang, and the gentle voice of a woman came through.
"When will you be back?"
"Wait for me at home. I'll be back soon."
His impatience was instantly gone, and his eyes were filled with tenderness. It felt like a punch in the cheat, causing me a lot of pain.
It seemed like everyone else had moved on.
Only I remained in the same spot.
Shaun hurried away, and I sighed with relief, leaving the bar and lighting a cigarette outside.
The summer night wind blew away my annoyance.
In the swirl of smoke, memories of the past hit me.
When I first entered college, I fell in love with Shaun at first sight.
He was a top student, reserved and noble. He became an obsession I thought about day and night.
I heard that Shaun liked delicate women, so I tried to act delicate in every way.
Under my persistent pursuit, Shaun agreed to be my boyfriend.
Three years into the relationship, most of the time it was me taking the initiative. He was reserved to the point that even intimacy had to start with me.
Only when I provoked him did he lose his composure and teach me a harsh lesson.
Throughout this lukewarm relationship, I never felt his love.
Later on Shaun's birthday, I discovered my brother's diary hidden at the top of the bookshelf.
He had hidden it so well that even when the police came to investigate earlier, they couldn't find it.
The person my brother used to bully turned out to be Shaun.
This reality hit me hard.
I no longer hoped for his love.
Even being in the same space with him made it hard for me to breathe.
The weight of the past was too heavy, and I found myself immersed in memories, unintentionally falling into a warm embrace.
It startled me.
But before I could jump away, the person spoke.
"Why are you alone here?"
It was Wilbert Porter, my brother's friend. He was a rich kid from Mistwood and also my nominal fiancé.
His voice was deep, his chest pressing against my back intimately. I was uncomfortable and struggled to free myself from his embrace.
After ensuring a safe distance, I replied softly, "It's stuffy inside. I came out for some fresh air."
He paid no attention to my resistance. Behind his glasses, his eyes held a gentle smile that made me feel even more guilty.