"Ethan, you’re not still hung up on Laura, are you?"
"Listen, she’s mine now. If you keep snitching, you’ll regret it."
I despised Ryan’s attitude.
They didn’t dare fight me my family was wealthy and influential in the school board.
They were just loud threats.
"Crazy," I muttered.
Back home, I sorted the photos Ryan sent me and sarcastically posted them on social media with the caption, "Best wishes."
After a long silence, Laura messaged me privately.
"Sorry, Ethan. I really like Ryan now. What I had for you before was just friendship."
I replied, "Oh," and blocked her immediately.
I couldn’t believe she still thought I cared.
Two fools, the farther apart, the better.
With the college entrance exam looming, I was under pressure.
Art was my goal, but passing core classes was a huge challenge.
The school gave us a rare day off to relax.
I didn’t stay home grading; I decided to take a walk.
Unfortunately, I ran into Laura and Ryan on the street, arguing.
From what I overheard, Ryan had lost interest and was caught flirting with another girl behind Laura’s back.
They started shouting right there.
In the end, Ryan slapped Laura and stormed off.
I went home afterward.
On the way, I thought of the fights I’d had protecting Laura from Ryan the worst just before the exam.
Ryan, mad with jealousy that Laura wouldn’t agree to him because of me, kidnapped her, trying to force her.
I searched everywhere, broke into Ryan’s hideout alone, was badly beaten, and only escaped when the police arrived.
My right hand, the one I used for painting, was fractured.
Painting with my left hand never felt the same less delicate.
Later, I even forgave Ryan under Laura’s sweet talk.
"Must’ve been fools’ luck overtaking me," I thought.
Perhaps Laura blamed me for interfering she almost gave herself to her dream lover.
But now, seeing my still nimble left hand, I only wanted to stay far away from them.
On the day of the second big test, Laura and Ryan disappeared.
All teachers were panicked, and the police searched the city but found no trace.
Even two days after the exam ended, they still hadn’t returned.
I excelled unexpectedly on the exam, becoming a dark horse.
But Laura, the center of attention, didn’t show up.
My parents went crazy with joy and held a big party.
At the hotel entrance, I saw a familiar figure.
It was Laura there was blood on her dress.
I went over, but before I could speak, she hugged me tightly, trembling.
She whispered, "I had a long dream, Ethan, and it scared me."
"I dreamed we were together, then married."
"But while you were joyfully preparing the wedding, I... I committed suicide because of Ryan."
She spoke slowly, as if unable to believe reality.
"I saw you kneeling outside the hospital room."
"I saw you discovering the love letters I wrote."
"I saw you get drunk to the point of collapse."
Her voice hoarse, "I don’t believe it."
Tears spilled from her eyes.
"None of this is true it was just a dream, right?"
She stared at me, desperate for denial.
I sighed, swallowed the bitter truth, and said, "It’s all true."
Staggering, she fell and buried her face in her hands.
Tears streamed from between her fingers as she sobbed.
"I’m sorry, Ethan. I’m so sorry."
She seemed deeply shaken, words tumbling out confusedly.
"How could I be so stupid?"
"Ryan said he liked me only because he’d never been with a genius before being with me was just a novelty."
"We’ve been married three years. Our big wedding is coming soon, and then there’d be a child."
Her face twisted, "I ruined it all."
"No, it was Ryan who destroyed us."
I felt nothing watching her so broken and pitiful.
It was laughable.
Just then, a group of police appeared and took Laura away.
The End
Comments
Post a Comment