I brushed it off. “Since she wants you to walk her back, then let her.”
With that, I left the private room, my eyes already burning red.
The next day, Vesper’s roommate approached me. “Conan, Vesper didn’t come back to the dorm last night. Did she call you?”
I went silent.
Noticing her slip, the roommate quickly covered with an excuse and left.
I drifted alone toward the playground, wandering along the track with no direction, thinking of every moment I had shared with Vesper.
Childhood sweethearts, growing up side by side, she had filled my world.
From kindergarten through university, I had always stood in front of her, never allowing even the smallest harm to reach her.
I still remember when she was in primary school, bullied by an older student until tears streamed down her face. My eyes, burning with anger, had dragged her to confront them, demanding an apology. I had fought without hesitation, and in the end, she got her apology.
Though my face was bruised and swollen, I smiled with pride.
On her eighteenth birthday, I bought every firework in the city. I filled the front page of every newspaper just to celebrate her. That night, when our two families confirmed our engagement, I was so overjoyed that I couldn’t sleep a wink.
I truly believed we would go on like that forever, together for life, growing old side by side.
But after she met Kylo, everything began to change.
She no longer clung to me in her spoiled, playful way. Instead, she scolded me, yelled more often, and pushed me further away.
I endured it again and again, for no other reason than love.
But did she love me in return? Until yesterday, I had no doubts.
I was certain she did.
Yet today, I finally realized I was wrong.
She loved me, but not enough.
And what I could not understand was this: could twenty years of feelings really be cast aside for a bond of only a few months?
That question gnawed at me, one I could not answer.
I didn’t know how long I had been walking aimlessly when I suddenly heard someone call my name.
It was Vesper. And as I expected, Kylo stood right beside her.
I stepped closer, my gaze falling on Vesper’s flawless face, while a sharp ache spread through my chest.
The truth lay clear before me; there was nothing left to wonder about.
Her eyes flickered with guilt as she hurried to explain, “Last night Kylo fell and hurt his waist while walking me home. I stayed in the hospital with him overnight.”
“Yeah, it really hurt,” Kylo chimed in, rubbing his back. “Even now it’s still sore.”
I simply watched his act in silence.
A fall, really? Could such a coincidence exist?
Was it truly from stumbling, or from being too reckless?
The answer no longer mattered.
I gave a slight nod. “Hmm.”
As I turned away, Vesper caught hold of me. “Do you not believe me?”
“No. I’m just tired.”
I gently pulled her hand away, but she pressed herself against me, arms wrapped tight. “Alright, don’t be mad. I only forgot last night, that’s why I didn’t tell you I was safe. I promise you, there won’t ever be a next time.”
There would be no next time.
I shoved Vesper aside and asked coldly, “Anything else?”
Kylo gave a faint smile. “Yes. Thank you for the watch last night, I really liked it. But my family is poor, I can’t repay you with anything valuable. I saw some nice mangoes at the supermarket, so I picked some for you. Please don’t dislike it.”
The sight of the mangoes struck me like a flood of beasts. I lashed out, kicking the bag away.
“Conan, what are you doing? Kylo bought these especially for you, you…”
Vesper raised her voice, but the chill in my eyes made her falter. She retreated two steps and bit back the rest of her words.
“Did you forget that I’m allergic to mangoes?”
Her expression froze. But when her gaze fell on Kylo, standing there lost and guilt-ridden, her eyes softened in pity, and she frowned at me.
“Allergic or not, you could’ve just refused to eat them. Why kick them away and crush Kylo’s kind intentions?”“Besides, it’s just an allergy. It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve been allergic to mangoes. Take a couple of pills and you’ll be fine, it won’t kill you.”
“What did you say?”
I looked at Vesper in disbelief.
It wouldn’t kill me?
She could actually say something like that!
The next moment, I laughed. “You’re right, it won’t kill me. But I don’t like it, do you understand?”
Then I turned to Kylo. “Since you like my things so much, I still have plenty of old clothes and shoes. I’ll have someone send them over to you.”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Vesper’s furious voice rang out. “Conan, you’ve gone too far. Apologize to Kylo!”
I sneered. “Why should I apologize? Am I not telling the truth?”
“You…”
Kylo quickly pulled Vesper back. “Don’t say anymore, it’s all my fault.”
With tears brimming in his eyes, he bowed to me. “I didn’t know you were allergic to mangoes. I’m sorry… please forgive me.”
I sneered with scorn. So it wasn’t only scheming bitch girls that existed, there were scheming scumbag boys too.
Disgusting.
“You don’t need to apologize to him. You’re not wrong. He’s the one at fault, and he’s the one who should be apologizing.”
Vesper pulled Kylo up, her gaze sharp as a blade as she glared at me. “I order you to apologize to Kylo.”
I let out a mocking laugh, turned on my heel, and walked away. Behind me, Vesper’s furious roar shook the air.
“Conan, if you dare walk away, don’t expect me to ever speak to you again!”
I smiled faintly. That was precisely what I wanted.
