Now, I understood that his patience for me had nothing to do with that ridiculous pact our mothers made on our behalf. He had already gotten sick and tired of me. It was just that he had been suppressing it the whole time.Mom's and Aunt Mel's words must've triggered him that night and made him explode. Or, perhaps, he had wanted to create such a massive scene so that everyone would know he would never be with me.I would always remember what he said to me. I would do as he asked, but this would also be the last time I would do anything for him or listen to his words.I had loved him for so many years, and now, it was time to let him go.That day, we didn't speak at all as we walked to school.The morning sun was warm and bright, yet he and I were like cold and distant strangers.I stepped into the classroom first, and Felix followed closely after. I had always been following after him, so it was quite amusing now that our roles had reversed.Our classmates loved to tease us.
That evening, I didn't bother waiting for Felix after school. I wasn't going to wait for him anymore. Halfway home, I heard some kicking sounds from behind me. I knew it was him, but I didn't turn back to look at him.I still liked him, but from now onward, I would keep my feelings to myself. Liking him would now only be my own problem. As time passed, I was sure he would soon disappear from my life.Since then, I never went to school with him anymore. Although we would still bump into each other occasionally, I would only nod politely at him without saying anything else.There were many times I saw him stopping by the roadside as if he was waiting for me. He'd bite his lips like there was something he wanted to tell me, but I'd always pretend that I never noticed him and just walk past every time.My classmates didn't quite believe me when I said I didn't want to have anything more to do with him the last time at the podium. After all, I'd been stuck to him like glue for more than a d
They probably didn't expect I'd leave after saying that. I could hear them talking and gossiping among themselves when I left. I heard all sorts of things but pretended to have heard nothing and continued walking. I didn't stop. I didn't even look back.Time passed very quickly after that. In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by. I felt a little lonely at times, but I also felt free.Felix would still appear in my head from time to time, but whenever he did, I'd force myself to think about other things so I wouldn't fixate on him.But if I really couldn't control myself, I'd just pick up another set of calculus problems and bury myself in work.The moon was big and bright as it hung in the sky that night.After my extra night classes, I said goodbye to Jade and Zara and walked home with a bundle of study materials in my arms.The night was so beautiful that I found myself breaking into song. I was in a pretty good mood, and I just couldn't stop humming along to a tune I'd hear
As time slipped away, both our families were back to being civil with each other. However, we weren't as passionate and inviting with each other anymore. Also, it was as if there was now a screen separating me from Felix.I never entered his room again. I didn't even go to his house often anymore. Whenever we were invited over for dinner, I'd always find an excuse to skip it. I didn't want to be alone with Felix under the same roof anymore. I wanted to stay silent and keep my distance.During New Year's Eve, Mom had initially thought of having a celebratory dinner at home by ourselves. However, Uncle Austin and Aunt Mel kept inviting us over for dinner and refused to take no for an answer. Mom and Dad were running out of excuses not to go, and they eventually gave in.As for me, I never planned on attending the dinner in the first place. It was a holiday, and I wanted to have a good rest. Most importantly, I didn't want to be anywhere close to him.If I came near him, my mind would
My diaries contained everything from rusty poems about him to future plans for our kids. They held my entire youth within them.There was a soft chuckle from behind me, and I jumped in surprise. I turned around and saw Felix leaning against the doorframe while looking at me teasingly.I quickly closed the hefty diaries and locked them in my drawer. Then, I smiled at him politely and said, "Felix, hello.""Oh? Sleeping Beauty is finally awake, I see," he said with a chuckle, entering my room and sitting on my desk. He then reached up to pet me on the head.I'd been giving him the cold shoulder for the longest time. I couldn't get used to his sudden proximity now, so I ducked and avoided his hand."Yeah."Back in the past, my heart used to thump hard against my ribcage every time he came close to me. But now, I only wanted to run away."How did you do in your exams, Luna?"His eyes were glistening as he looked at me in anticipation. I didn't understand why he seemed so excited.
There was a female student in the next class named Lilac Hawthorn. She was a new transfer student from a different city. She had a small frame and a round face and wore her hair short. Every time she smiled, two dimples would appear on her cheeks that made her look sweet and endearing.I saw her walking with Felix many times at school. I'd stare and stare at their hands that always seemed to be intertwined. My heart would break each time I saw them together.The day after SATs, I saw Felix pulling her to a corner and telling her that he would go to the same college she was going to. He said that he wanted to be her knight in shining armor and protect her for the rest of his life.When I heard that, I swore my heart felt like it was smashed into a million pieces.There was only so much time and energy one could spend on others. Since Felix decided to be Lilac's knight in shining armor, there was no way he could also be my guardian angel at the same time. It was just a feeble attempt
Just before I clicked the "Submit" button, I changed my preferred college to another one up north called Lincoln University. That university was famously known for its watercolor courses and had produced many renowned watercolor artists in the country.Since I didn't want to go to Jesselton College, Lincoln University was my next best choice.Uncle Austin and Aunt Mel both asked me if I applied to Jesselton College. I managed to bluff my way through without giving any definite answers.Finally, it was the day that college and university applications were out. I received my acceptance letter in the mail. And I spent a good chunk of that day in a daze. I just couldn't come out of it.I wasn't in the same league as he was, after all. My acceptance letter had now cemented that fact. This was another feat in clearly drawing the boundaries between the two of us.Felix brought his acceptance letter and ran into my house. He then insisted on looking at mine."Luna, please show me your ac
They said mothers knew best. Well, Mom wiped her tears away on my shirt and said, "I did some research online and learned that Lincoln University is a great place for you. Their watercolor fine arts course is more famous than the one at Jesselton College."Remember to study hard and do your best to get your master's degree and doctorate there, okay? Your father and I will be retiring soon. If you decide to stay there for work, we can both move there to accompany you. Your dad will have fun experiencing the four seasons up in the north, especially winter.""Why are you crying? Isn't Colin there as well? He's a lot more reliable than Felix, and he also takes good care of Luna. With him around, Luna won't feel excluded."I knew that Mom and Dad loved me and were worried about me. Their words managed to put me at ease.Back then, I had been so focused on leaving Felix behind that I did my own research and followed my guts. I'd totally forgotten that Uncle Austin had another older son w
Luna furiously scolded me, asserting that I didn't deserve Queenie's love and that Queenie had been blind to my true colors all those years. Driven mad by desperation, I chased after Queenie, determined to tell her I was wrong and plead for another chance to prove myself. However, the young man intervened, delivering a swift and punishing combination of punches and kicks that knocked me to the ground. Humiliated, I struggled to get up and fight back, unwilling to lose to another man.Despite his youthful appearance, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Queenie was undeniable. It was a blend of love, desire, and possessiveness only a man could understand.I was consumed by the thought that he wasn't worthy of my precious Queenie's love.Nevertheless, my body felt heavy and powerless. It was as if the strength had been drained from me. The blows rained down on me, bringing with them a strange sense of relief amidst the pain. Part of me yearned for him to kick me harder, inflict
I wanted nothing more than to run to Queenie, to hold her tightly and tell her how much I missed her during those endless days apart. I wanted to kiss her deeply and feel the warmth of her embrace. I called out, "Queenie, I'm here."Seeing me seemed to jolt Queenie from her joyous state, replacing it with a vacant expression. Mere moments before, she had been smiling brightly, her eyes aglow with happiness. Now, she appeared lost, her initial elation dissipating into a blank, unresponsive gaze.I couldn't understand why she had turned so distant upon seeing me. The love and joy that once shone in her eyes were nowhere to be found. As I observed her, I wondered if our time apart had caused her to forget. Or perhaps the events of the past had wounded her so profoundly that she had stopped waiting for me.The thoughts terrified me, and I dared not ask for fear of confirming my suspicions. All I wanted was to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I missed her. Yet, it seemed tha
I had no interest in Daniela's pregnancy, so I kicked her out of the house. My friends came to console me, each expressing their sympathies with a drink because they didn't know how else to comfort me.The money I had sent to Queenie's account was quickly returned as the account had been closed. Her phone number became unreachable, and when I sought her at her parents' home, I found the elderly couple waiting anxiously for their daughter's return. I lost not only Queenie but any connection to her. I grew disinterested in everything, neglecting my company and spending my days in a drunken haze.Then, my uncle came. We drank through the night as he shared tales of his hardships, the painful memories of his mother, and the years he spent alone, suffering.He said, "Everyone has their fate, Flynn. And choosing one thing often means losing another. Just as you've chosen to fight for the family business, you've sacrificed a part of yourself. But you must rise and fight me with all you'v
Queenie would then jump off the cliff, leaving me to jolt awake in a cold sweat. I endured each twilight in my hopeless vigil, counting down the days.On the 75th day, the door finally unlocked. I stepped outside and realized that this was the neighborhood where Queenie and I lived. All this time, we had been mere yards apart.My mom truly knew how to break a person's spirit. All I had to do was lift my head to see the pomegranate tree planted in our yard.I stumbled toward our home, my wounds screaming as I desperately called for Queenie. But the immaculate house stood eerily silent, echoing my footsteps like thunder.Except for Queenie, every possession remained meticulously in place—the exquisite clothes, expensive jewelry, and designer cosmetics.Queenie was gone, and the thought of losing her drove me into a frenzy.I collapsed in the middle of the room, sobbing uncontrollably. Regret consumed me. I should have never let my family's threats manipulate me and left Queenie to
I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to rush over to Queenie's side. All I wanted was to embrace her and whisper assurances that I would protect her, always. But I knew I had no right to do so.My dad's threat hung heavy in my mind, and the stares of Daniela and her mother bore into Queenie like daggers. One wrong move or word and those blades would descend upon Queenie, cutting her to shreds.The pain was unbearable. I felt sorry for Queenie. I was powerless and couldn't help her. With all my heart, I wished for her to stay strong and survive. She deserved better than me. Daniela's mother slapped Queenie, calling her a whore and a homewrecker, accusing her of seducing other people's boyfriends.Queenie stood rigidly, her gaze filled with humiliation. Her lips trembled, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.I winced in agony but held myself together, picking up Daniela and walking away.Countless times afterward, I berated myself for choosing to take Daniela away
We both knew the truth—neither of us could cross the chasm that had formed between our hearts.After that, I went home almost every day. We managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our day-to-day lives. We prepared sumptuous dinners and tended to our garden. I even considered adopting a pet to keep Queenie company while I was away.However, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't rekindle the warmth we had once shared. Queenie hardly smiled anymore. No matter what I did to cheer her up, she would only give a half-hearted smile, her eyes remaining cold and distant.I knew something had transpired during our separation, but she refused to discuss it. My attempts to uncover the truth through private investigators were in vain. Any evidence had been meticulously erased.Eventually, I realized Queenie was simply biding her time, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to relinquish all hope and leave.A month later, my mother joyfully told me that Daniela was pregnant an
I grabbed a brush from the bathroom and scrubbed myself furiously, desperate to wash away the overwhelming sense of filth. Even as the rough bristles tore into my skin, drawing blood and causing searing pain, I felt no closer to feeling clean.My mind was consumed with thoughts of Queenie and the nearly five years we had spent together—the happy moments, the arguments, every single memory.At that moment, I realized I was terrified. Never before had I experienced such abject fear. Knowing Queenie's uncompromising stance on love and fidelity, I knew she would never forgive me once she discovered my transgression.She would undoubtedly turn and leave, heedless of any pleas I might make. I probably wouldn't even have the courage to ask for her forgiveness in the face of her justified anger.I regretted everything. If I had listened to my friends and taken Queenie away from all this, none of this would have happened. But I had hesitated. Even now, I couldn't be certain if my hesitati
Yesterday afternoon, my dad called and demanded that I make a decision within two days, or they would take action.I felt cornered because I genuinely didn't know how to talk to Queenie about this. The mere idea of her packing her belongings and leaving, accompanied by the unspeakable anguish it would inflict upon me, was a burden too heavy to bear.I wasn't sure if I could ever have a semblance of normality in my life again after that.So, I gathered some friends to drink with me. I drank heavily because I had made a decision—a disgraceful, heartless decision. The thought of what I would have to face the next day made life seem hopeless, so I drank even more.Before losing consciousness, I handed my car keys to my assistant, using my last bit of clarity to tell him to take me home no matter what state I was in.Even if it meant returning to the Hayes family's residence, he should not leave me out on the streets. Despite the imminent breakup, I wanted to part ways with Queenie in
My mom proved to be even more ruthless than my dad. She found me, dropped to her knees without a word, and begged me. She reminded me of the years they had spent raising me, pleading that I ensure they wouldn't be left without a sense of security in their old age.In essence, they were pressuring me to abandon everything. I was to pursue money and power for their sake, secure the Hayes family's head position, and ensure our grip on wealth and influence. Their priority was maintaining their luxurious, elevated lifestyle. My happiness, my desires—whether I even wanted those things—meant nothing to them. Sometimes, it felt like I was nothing more than a tool for achieving their ambitions.My dad told me bluntly that he would go after Queenie if I didn't comply. He said, "You're right. I'm incapable of outmaneuvering your uncle. But no matter how incompetent I am, I can easily make Queenie's life in Harveyton unbearable."To be honest, that day was the coldest my heart had ever felt