“I want her to apologize to you.”
I stopped my roommate from chasing after her and smiled. “Forget it.”
There was a saying that someone who didn’t love us would never recognize our efforts. If that was the case, why should I waste my heart?
“Let’s go. Tonight’s on me!”
At the KTV, the atmosphere was brighter than usual because Kylo wasn’t there.
Back then, during class activities, no one ever looked down on him for being poor. Wherever we went, we took him with us. Yet he always ruined the mood with untimely remarks.
“A plate of fruit costs a hundred dollars? That’s ridiculous, you people must be really rich.”
“I don’t have money for gifts, so all I can give is my blessing, happy birthday.”
“My family is poor. I really envy you who can just toss away clothes when they’re torn.”
He always made himself sound pitiful, as though our everyday actions were done to show off. And every time, Vesper would stand up for him.
“What are you thinking? You’re the star today. How can you not sing one?”
My roommate shoved the microphone into my hand and rushed off to pick a song, “This Is Love.”
It used to be my favorite, but not anymore. “Change it. ‘Happy Breakup.’”
The roommate froze for a moment, then quietly switched the song.
The intro had barely begun when the private room door suddenly burst open. Vesper walked in with Kylo.
In an instant, the lively atmosphere collapsed into silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Vesper acted as though nothing was wrong. “Kylo persuaded me. I thought it over and realized he was right. I really should come. And I think it’s necessary for you all to see the brand new him.”
She flashed a bright smile. “Ta-da! Well? Isn’t he handsome?”
The room stayed frozen, wordless.
I looked at Kylo, dressed in my clothes, my pants, and my shoes, and I was the first to clap. “Indeed, very handsome.”
“At least you have some vision!” Vesper’s face lit with satisfaction. “Kylo is actually very handsome. He just didn’t have the money to dress up before. Now look, he’s no worse than anyone here.”
I curved my lips into a faint smile.
Handsome?
He stood there in my clothes, my pants, my shoes, awkwardly mismatched.
Someone ordinary and lowly could not suddenly become exceptional.
It was only love that blinded her eyes.
Vesper’s gaze trailed over Kylo, and she tilted her head, tapping her chin. “Something’s still missing.”
She turned toward me. “Conan, take off your watch and give it to Kylo.”
I stiffened, my eyes falling to the watch on my wrist.
It had been Vesper’s first birthday gift to me, a gift I had always treasured. Even after so many years, I had kept it carefully preserved.
To me, it had always been a token of our love.
Now, she wanted me to hand it over myself.
I remained silent for a long time before asking hoarsely, “Are you sure?”
“What’s there to doubt? It’s just a watch. You can always buy another.”
Vesper said lightly, then stepped forward, unfastened the watch from my wrist, and placed it on Kylo’s arm herself.
Kylo looked at me then, a smile curling on his lips, his eyes glinting with provocation.
“Conan, you’ve finally grown up.”
Vesper, delighted that I hadn’t made a scene, clung to Kylo with satisfaction and pulled him to the stage to sing.
Expressionless, I sat on the sofa, staring at the two of them as they sang love songs side by side.
I hadn’t grown up. I was only teaching myself how not to care.
When the gathering ended, Vesper, drunk and unsteady, leaned against Kylo, demanding that he take her back to the dormitory.
He wore a flustered expression, but in his eyes shone a quiet, undisguised triumph.
