4: 4
4
I looked up and stared at Jayden, unable to believe what I'd heard.
Corinne just had a little dizziness from low blood sugar, and he'd panicked like the sky was falling.
But my asthma attack, a matter of life and death, was in his eyes just a little wheezing?
In that instant, something in me let go.
The last thread of feeling I had for Jayden drifted away like smoke.
"You're right!"
My voice was soft.
Soft as a wisp of smoke, scattering on the wind.
Seeing the tears on my face, Jayden softened his tone.
"All right, that's my girl, no more fussing, okay? Go rest for a bit, and I'll make you your favorite beef noodles."
"Mm."
I gave a small nod.
Only then did Jayden turn and leave, satisfied.
I didn't lie down to rest. I opened the closet instead.
I took my clothes down, folded them one by one, and put them in the suitcase I'd already gotten ready.
Then the skincare on the bathroom counter, the books I'd bought off the shelf, even the potted pothos on the coffee table.
Last, I picked up the photo frame on the nightstand.
It was a picture of me and Jayden.
In it, Jayden was grinning wide.
And I was leaning on his shoulder, smiling like a fool.
I stared at that photo for a long moment, then tossed it into the trash can beside me.
I didn't own much.
Everything I had didn't even fill one suitcase.
I wheeled the suitcase to the door, and just then Jayden's beef noodles were done too.
"Nettie, come eat."
Corinne pushed the chopsticks into my hand the way she always did, warm and familiar.
As if nothing at all had just happened.
Jayden came out of the kitchen carrying two bowls.
One he set in front of me.
One he set in front of Corinne.
"Eat up. I made it myself."
Jayden's beef noodles really were good.
The broth was rich and red, the noodles chewy. Only the cilantro sprinkled on top was a sharp, jarring green.
Seeing me stare at the bowl without picking up my chopsticks,
Jayden frowned, his eyes puzzled.
"Why aren't you eating? Aren't beef noodles your favorite?"
Hearing that, Corinne looked at me too.
When her gaze landed on the cilantro in my bowl, she swatted Jayden's arm in mock reproach.
"What did you do? Did you forget Nettie's allergic to cilantro? I'm the one who likes it."
Jayden's throat worked, and he found himself explaining to me.
"I... just put it in without thinking..."
The air went awkward.
Corinne stepped in with a grin to smooth it over.
"Oh, come on, Jayden didn't do it on purpose, and our Nettie isn't that petty."
"It's fine, it's fine, I'll pick the cilantro out for Nettie right now."
I stopped her.
"Don't bother."
I turned to Jayden instead, my eyes more serious than they'd ever been.
"Jayden, let's break up."
Not loud, but every word was clear.
Saying it wasn't as hard as I'd imagined, nor as painful.
If anything, I felt a lightness I'd never known before.
Only then did Jayden and Corinne notice the suitcase by my hand.
"What's gotten into you?"
"Just because I forgot you don't eat cilantro?"
Jayden stared at me in disbelief, his eyes going cold in an instant.
Corinne tried to talk me down too.
"Nettie, don't be rash!"
I shook my head.
"I'm not being rash, and it's not about the cilantro."
Jayden gave a cold laugh.
"So it's because I didn't come pick you up?"
I shook my head again.
"It's not the cilantro, and it's not that you didn't pick me up."
Jayden's brow drew tight, his patience nearly gone.
"Not this, not that. Then tell me, what exactly is it because of?"
I looked at him calmly.
"What it's because of doesn't matter anymore."
I set the apartment key gently on the shoe cabinet by the door.
Then I turned and walked out.
"Crash!"
Behind the door came the sound of a chair toppling over.
"What are you standing there for? Go after her!"
Corinne's voice was urgent.
Jayden let out a cold snort.
"Why should I chase her? She's the one who wanted to leave."
"Making a huge deal over some little thing. I'm the one who spoiled her all these years."
"Just watch. It won't be two days before she comes back on her own."
Hearing Jayden's cold words, my heart stayed calm, without a single ripple.
I walked into the elevator, my face blank.
Jayden didn't know.
This time, I was really gone.
I would never come back.
