After the Breakup, I Rejected His Second Pursuit

The night my apartment caught fire, my firefighter boyfriend Yannis was nowhere to be found.

As smoke filled my lungs and flames licked at my heels, I desperately dialed his number, praying to hear his voice one last time.

Instead, his ex-girlfriend Wendy answered.

"Jasmine? Yannis is here celebrating my birthday. What's up?" she chirped, oblivious to my dire situation.

Before I could gasp out a response, I heard Yannis in the background, his voice laced with irritation. "It's my day off. Tell whoever it is to stop bugging me."

The line went dead, and when I tried calling back, I found he'd blocked my number.

By some miracle, I survived that night. When I returned to work at the fire station, I immediately requested a transfer.

Suddenly, Yannis was everywhere, begging me to stay. But it was too late.

——

Three days after my brush with death, he finally showed up at our apartment.

His eyes swept over the charred living room, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "If you can't handle a stove, don't try to cook. Look at this mess."

I met his gaze, a bitter smile twisting my lips.

Home? This place hadn't felt like home in a long time.

Yannis shifted uncomfortably under my contemptuous stare.

"Got the day off?" he asked, changing the subject.

He rattled off questions, carefully avoiding any mention of Wendy or the fire.

He didn't even seem to notice my soot-stained clothes or the dark circles under my eyes.

How could he have missed the emergency alerts?

Too busy partying with his ex to care if I lived or died, I supposed.

"Yannis," I said, cutting him off mid-sentence. "We're done."

His face darkened.

"Are you serious?"

He scoffed, as if I were throwing a childish tantrum.

"Fine. If that's what you want, we're over."

He sneered, picked up his jacket.

“Don't come crawling back this time.”

The door slammed behind him.

I knew what would happen next.

In the past, I'd always been the one to apologize, to beg for forgiveness.

Not anymore.

As I watched him storm away.

I realized he'd never been worth my devotion.

The next day, I returned to work, my head held high despite the whispers and stares.

As a fire commander, I nearly caused a catastrophe at home during a fire. Ironically, I ended up needing rescue from my fellow firefighters in the area.

I became the object of ridicule among my colleagues.

Beneath their teasing, I sensed genuine concern.

They knew I had always maintained high vigilance and precise disaster response skills since joining the team, so it was unreasonable for such an accident to happen suddenly.

My supervisor called me into his office, his brow furrowed with worry. "What happened, Jasmine? This isn't like you."

I shrugged, forcing a smile. "Just a moment of distraction. It won't happen again."

He didn't buy it.

After a long pause, the instructor concluded.

"Is this about Yannis?" he pressed.

"You've seemed down lately. A year ago, you gave up a huge opportunity for him..."

"Sir!"

I interrupted, eager to change the subject.

"When does the national rescue team selection begin?"

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You're finally considering it? It's about time."

I silently lowered my head, unable to speak.

A year ago, Yannis and I had a breakup.

At that time, I was ready to sign up for the national rescue team selection.

But later, he sincerely apologized, and I easily forgave him.

As the youngest and most promising female command officer in the team, I should have had a bright future.

But in the end, I chose to stay.

The instructor was heartbroken but respected my decision.

This time, he didn't immediately agree to my request.

As he handed me the application materials, his expression softened.

"Think of yourself this time, Jasmine. You deserve better."

I clutched the papers to my chest, a spark of determination igniting within me.

"I won't let you down, sir. Or myself."

The instructor beamed and started reminiscing about the past.

In my first year here, I was known as the "Rose in the Fire" for my good looks and calm command abilities.

That same year, Yannis was also transferred here.

He was also in the spotlight, with people saying that seeing him on the fire scene was like seeing the stars.

Gradually, everyone paired us together.

We didn't disappoint them and became the "Rose and the Stars" in their eyes.

And also the best partners.

But now... I gave a bitter smile and said nothing

That night, I scrolled through concerned messages about the fire.

The detailed report on the fire a week ago was out.

Everyone was concerned about my injuries.

Except Yannis.

Yannis, my supposed soulmate, hadn't even bothered to check if I was okay.

But now, I was tired.

Five years of love and pain, and for what?

During these five years, I had gone through many painful experiences.

But I had never thought of giving up.

With a deep breath, I hit the "block contact" button.

I always thought I couldn't let him go, but I realized it only took five seconds to block someone.

Yannis, this time we are truly saying goodbye.