"Didn't you always say peeling oranges makes your hands sticky? Here, I peeled them all for you. Just eat."
Hector's voice was soft, his tone indulgent as he pushed a neatly peeled orange toward Laura. The faint aroma of citrus lingered in the air.
Hector's friends, sprawled casually around the picnic area, immediately erupted into laughter and teasing.
"Hector, peel some for me too, won't you?" one of them joked, tossing a chip into their mouth.
"Yeah, Hector! Pals before gals, remember?" another chimed in, grinning broadly.
Hector chuckled, shaking his head. He grabbed an unpeeled orange and lobbed it toward them, earning a chorus of playful groans as they scrambled to dodge it. But even in the midst of their laughter, his gaze never wavered from Laura.
"If you want some, peel them yourself," he said, his words directed at his friends but his expression softening as he looked at her. "Only Laura gets this treatment."
Laura offered a faint smile in return, her fingers grazing the orange segments but not eating. Though her outward composure remained calm, a quiet unease stirred beneath the surface.
Hector was about to say something more when his posture suddenly changed—stiffening as his gaze shifted to something behind her. Laura turned her head just as Olivia approached the group, her movements brisk yet poised.
Carrying a laptop in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other, Olivia flashed a polite smile at Hector's friends before striding directly toward him, bypassing Laura as if she weren't even there.
Her voice, bright and confident, carried over the hum of conversation. "Hector, the academic office just sent a reminder that the grades for this semester need to be entered into the system today. It's my first time doing this, and I'm not familiar with the process. Since it's still the New Year's holiday, there's no one else who can help me. I had no choice but to come to you. You don't mind, right?"
Her words were accompanied by a slight tilt of her head, her expression effortlessly blending innocence and charm.
Olivia was striking, with a demeanor that seemed to draw attention effortlessly. Her outward appearance was as pristine as a white lily, but her bold, self-assured nature added a magnetic allure that often left an impression.
Laura watched the scene in silence, her fingers tightening around the paper cup of tea in her lap.
Hector's friends exchanged awkward glances. A few managed polite nods, but their discomfort was palpable. They were all aware of Olivia's history with Hector—a history that hung in the air like an unwelcome specter.
Hector hesitated, his gaze flicking to Laura before settling on Olivia. "Olivia, you remember my friends," he began, gesturing toward the group in an attempt to diffuse the tension. "Since it's the New Year, and it'll be dark soon, it's unsafe for you to go down the mountain alone. Stay and join us for the evening."
His tone was polite, and though his words were reasonable, Laura felt a pang of frustration. She kept her expression neutral, unwilling to let her inner turmoil show.
As the group shifted to make room for Olivia, Laura's thoughts wandered. She had heard stories about Hector and Olivia during their university days. Back then, they had been the "Golden Couple" of MIT—brilliant, attractive, and seemingly destined for greatness together. Everyone had assumed they would marry and become a power couple in academia.
But Olivia's betrayal had changed everything. She had taken Hector's opportunity to study abroad and later married someone else, severing their relationship.
When she returned to the country years later, divorced and taking up a teaching position in Hector's department, Laura had felt a flicker of unease. She had reassured herself that Olivia's past mistakes and current circumstances posed no threat. Yet now, sitting by the fire with Olivia so effortlessly inserting herself into Hector's life, those reassurances felt like flimsy excuses.
As night fell, the deep blue sky sparkled faintly with sparse stars. The group gathered around a campfire, its flames casting flickering shadows on their faces. The scent of wood smoke mingled with the crisp mountain air, and the occasional crackle of burning logs punctuated the lively chatter.
Hector and Laura sat side by side, his arm loosely draped behind her. Though his posture suggested casual intimacy, Laura noticed the subtle shifts in his focus. Olivia, seated on his other side, seemed to command his attention in fleeting but unmistakable moments.
Olivia's gaze would drift toward him during the conversations, her expression calm but her eyes brimming with a subtle invitation. She leaned slightly closer whenever she addressed him, her movements calculated yet natural.
Laura stared into the fire, its warmth doing little to ease the growing chill in her heart. The chatter of Hector's friends, the gentle laughter, and even the crackling firewood all faded into the background as her mind churned with questions.
Why was she still here? Why did she let herself endure this?
Her fingers dug into the fabric of her coat, the tension in her chest threatening to suffocate her. Hector's warmth beside her felt like both a comfort and a mockery, a reminder of the man she thought she knew and the reality she could no longer ignore.
