When Ethan came back, they didn’t talk about
it anymore.
He pursed his lips, and seemed a little
annoyed.
But when he saw me, he hid those emotions,
walked up to me, held my hand, smiled, “Are
you having fun? Let’s cut the cake together
later.”
I said okay.
After the cake was cut, I would break up with
him.
<
Politely, peacefully, and never see him again.
6
In the end, I didn’t cut the cake with him.
Because, not long after, someone had
another gift delivered.
It was from Chloe.
It was an expensive watch.
The same brand Ethan always wore.
It was kind of funny, I also got him a watch, I
couldn’t afford that brand so I got him a
watch with a good reputation that was within
my budget.
く
Ethan only glanced at the one I gave him,
then told someone to put it away.
He looked at Chloe’s for a long time, so long
that his hand holding the strap turned white
from holding it too tight.
His gaze was deep and complicated. Finally,
he lifted his hand and put the watch on.
So, people took a photo and sent it to their
group chat, saying Chloe has such great
taste, she is still the woman that Ethan can’t
forget.
I wasn’t supposed to see it, but the girl next
to me, who was Ethan’s cousin, was too
excited and wasn’t paying attention to who
was next to her, and pulled on my hand,
squealing as she showed me her phone.
<
“Look, they’re perfect for each other.”
On the screen, Chloe had replied:
[I hope he likes it. You guys help me keep an
eye on him, don’t let him drink too much.]
Then everyone started cheering and clapping.
I was pushed to the back.
I clapped along with them.
At the bottom of the gift box, there was a
card with delicate handwriting: [Though
separated by distance, our hearts remain
connected.]
Ethan paused for a moment, his hand
gripping the card tightened.
く
Then for some reason, like he just
remembered something, he suddenly looked
panicked, looked around and finally stopped
his gaze on me, through the crowd.
I smiled, and mouthed to him, “Happy
birthday.”
He finally seemed to relax, but didn’t invite
me to cut the cake with him.
He has a lot of friends, they were all having a
lot of fun, soon he was drunk.
No one wanted to play with me, so I just
watched.
In the end, his buddies helped him upstairs,
and I didn’t go with them.
<
I was about to leave.
There was no need to break up face to face.
As I was walking out, his friend ran up to me,
found me and gave me a key card.
Hurriedly said, “Ethan’s waiting for you on the
top floor, go keep him company.”
I recognized this person.
It was Jake Miller.
Ethan’s best friend. And the one I was most
familiar with in his circle of friends.
But he didn’t really think highly of me.
Because he was sure I was no different from
any of Ethan’s other girlfriends, we would just
<
Now that his real love was coming back, I was
just a stand–in, what use did that have?
7
I didn’t take the key card.
Above the noise, I spoke, “Tell him, it’s over
between us.”
Jake looked surprised, like he didn’t hear me.
His hand holding the card shook slightly.
“What did you say?”
I patientlyed myself.
Jake frowned and stared at me for a moment,
“Are you serious? You know, with him, there
are no second chances.”
<
He never takes someone back.
Except for Chloe.
Because he was always waiting for her.
I nodded, my voice firm, “Yeah.”
He pursed his lips, and said after looking at
me for a moment, “No, this was going so well,
how did it…”
When he said that, it was like he just thought
of something, he didn’t ask, and nodded,
“Okay, you can leave now, don’t forget to
take your stuff from his place.”
“It wouldn’t look good if Chloe… if someone
saw.”
く
I laughed lightly, “Sure.”
I was quick, and packed up everything I had
at his place.
He had gifted me a lot of things.
I didn’t take anything.
The transfer documents, I left them exactly
where I found them.
Since I was determined to leave, taking them.
would mean more sadness, and would only be
baggage for me.
