The Quiet Was Final

After the college entrance exam, the school's reigning beauty dragged me into a wager over our scores.

"Only the girl with the higher marks is worthy of being Eric's girlfriend."

Eric Lowell scoffed. "That's enough, Jocelyn. My relationships aren't yours to dictate."

Then, in front of everyone, he confessed to me.

I mistook it for the answer to a long-held crush. With the crowd egging us on, I flushed and said yes.

That night, he took me back to his place. From then on, we hardly spent a night apart.

Before application season, I went to his house, hoping we would apply to the same university. Instead, I overheard part of a phone call.

"Jocelyn, everything's ready: the photos, the videos. Just like you asked."

Jocelyn's laughter drifted through the receiver, light and pleased.

"You must've gone to so much trouble~ Then let's wait until the school assembly the day after tomorrow and stream it to the whole school. I'm curious to see how Tessa plans on applying to those top-tier universities after that."

"Eric," she added casually, "you're not having second thoughts, are you?"

He hesitated, then answered,

"Why would I? If anyone's at fault, it's her for not knowing her place. What right does she have to keep scoring higher than you?"

I set the custom ring down, opened my email, and accepted the Oxford offer that had been waiting for me for a week.

I walked into the house, and it felt as empty as ever.

Three years back, my dad cheated, and my mom did not even blink before she filed for divorce.

She had been trying to get me to start fresh with her overseas, but I just could not do it. I shook my head no every time.

My mom kept calling, trying to convince me. "Tessa, Oxford’s physiology program is among the best in the world. I’ve already sorted out your visa—so what’s holding you back?"

"I want to stay. I'm used to the schools here."

That was my go-to line, playing the part of the wise-beyond-years kid who could handle anything.

However, deep down, I knew the truth.

All my pretend grown-up grins could not hide a girl's real worries.

It was because Eric Lowell was there, in that town.

I picked up the phone and called my mom.

She answered right away, her voice full of that usual soft urgency. "Tessa, I've got your Oxford invite all sorted out. Why do you always have to be so stubborn?"

Her words made my heart feel like it was stuck in my throat.

It took me a moment, but then I whispered, "Mom, I'll go."

There was a pause on the line, then her joy came bursting through.

"Really?! Oh, that's fantastic! I'll book your flight for the day after tomorrow. Just head to the airport."

"Okay," I managed to say.

"Oh, and," my mom said, like something just popped into her head. "You said there was someone you wanted me to meet. Who was it?"

I froze for a second.

Back then, Eric and I had just made it official, and I was full of dreams about our future together.

I had planned to introduce him to my mom at the perfect time, to show her my reason to stay.

However, it did not matter anymore.

I said quietly, "It's no one. Just someone who doesn't matter."

I hung up, looked down, and yanked the suitcase zipper shut.

I was just letting out a sigh of relief when the door lock clicked. I jumped.

After we became a thing, I once trusted him with my keys.

There and then, he would crash at my place, and that was when the once-empty house started to feel like it had a heartbeat.

"You packing up? Got a trip planned?" He leaned against the doorframe, eyeing the zipped-up suitcase on my bed.

I shrugged it off. "Well, college is kicking off soon, right? Just getting a jump on things."

At that, his eyes softened. "Tessa, you're always on the ball, ready for anything. With you, I swear I never have to sweat the small stuff."

His voice trailed off, and then, like he had just had a lightbulb moment, he fished out a tiny velvet box from his pocket and held it out to me.