I’d been dating Ethan for three years, and we promised we’d go to the same college. So when the recommendation list was posted, everyone shot us knowing looks. “You two are totally using your recommendation spots to get into the same school, right?” “So jealous!” But when I got to the bulletin board, where my name should’ve been, there was someone else’s. Serena Bell, the scholarship student in our class. Ethan stood in the crowd, shielding Serena, and looked at me calmly. “I asked the teacher to give the spot to Serena. She needs it more.” “Babe, your family’s well-off, and your grades are amazing. You don’t need this recommendation.” The crowd went dead silent. I stared at Ethan, but I didn’t break down and demand to know what was going on with him and Serena, like I used to. Ethan had no idea I was leaving the country next week. Jade’s face went dark, and she started to charge at Ethan. I grabbed her arm before she could swing. She turned, her eyes redder than mine. “Serena did this on purpose! You worked your ass off for that spot. Who the hell does he think he is, just giving it away—” “Jade.” I cut her off, voice low. “Let’s go back to class.” The whole class had already shifted their attention from me and Ethan. They were all focused on the girl named Serena. She clutched her books, trailing behind Ethan, timid and small, her fingers gripping the edge of his jacket. Ethan probably didn’t even realize that the person following him hadn’t been me for a long time. All morning, I sat at my desk. Taking in the pitying or curious stares from every direction. Ethan was on the other side of the room, laughing it up with his friends. Serena sat right next to him, leaning in to talk to him every few seconds, so close they were almost hugging. She didn’t used to sit there. She transferred into that class just last week. Ethan started bringing her to group study sessions, calling it “helping each other out.” Eventually, he even started bringing her to our friend hangouts. At lunch, Jade dropped her tray across from me. She slammed her fork down and lowered her voice to a furious hiss. “Serena’s been throwing herself at Ethan for ages. I asked around—she’s got serious moves. And Ethan, he just—” “Jade,” I said, dropping a piece of chicken into her bowl, cutting her off. “Eat first.” She snorted but didn’t say any more. The last bell rang, and everyone started filing out. Ethan strolled over, casual as ever. “Walk out together?” He grabbed my bag like it was nothing, his other hand reaching for my shoulder, a move he’d done a thousand times. I shifted slightly, dodging it. “You go ahead. I’ve got club stuff.” Ethan blinked, then nodded. “I’ll wait for you.” He leaned against the hallway wall, scrolling on his phone, texting somebody. The late afternoon sun slanted through the hallway. My shadow, blurry against the wall. My uniform was neat, but it couldn’t hide the exhaustion in my eyes. I ignored him and walked straight out. “Hey,” he said, suddenly catching up a couple of steps behind me. “Serena’s overall assessment isn’t as strong, so this spot really matters to her.” “Think of it as helping a student with financial struggles.” I didn’t answer, just stared at the people running on the distant track field. He waited a beat, then finally tore his eyes from his phone and looked at me. “You mad?” He leaned in closer. “We agreed, right? Next time, I promise.” His fingers slid through my hair, rubbing the back of my neck, like he was soothing a grumpy kitten. “You’ll ace the college entrance exams. You can get into any school you want. There’s no need to fight her for this.” A bitter ache spread through my chest. It was always like this. I had the better family, the better grades, so I was supposed to step aside. Afterward, he’d toss out a casual apology, and automatically assume the whole thing was over. “Ethan.” I stared at our long shadows on the floor. “Yeah?” “I had a deal with my parents.” My voice was calm. “If I didn’t get the recommendation spot, I had to leave the country with them.” “They’ve already finished the immigration paperwork.” The hallway went quiet for a second. His hand on my neck stopped moving. “Your parents are just messing with you,” he said with a dry laugh. His hand started moving again, but this time it felt dismissive. “What’s so great about going abroad anyway? You’d really leave?” No plea to stay. Just straight to “going abroad is bad.” I suddenly remembered something I’d overheard once, Ethan talking to one of his friends. I’d gone to find him and caught his friend asking, “Aren’t you scared Riley might leave?” Ethan had laughed. “She can’t live without me.” I hadn’t thought much of it then. I’d even made excuses for him in my head—he was just talking off the cuff. Now I realized he’d probably always believed that. From the very beginning, he thought I’d never leave him. The sun dipped lower, and the building’s shadow stretched further. Ethan glanced at his watch. Like he figured the earlier conversation had already smoothed things over, he reached for my hand, casual as could be. I raised my hand, gently blocking his. He froze. “I’m heading home, Ethan.” Chapter
He stared at me, silent for a few seconds. Finally, he just patted my shoulder. “Club stuff must’ve been tiring. Head home early then.” “Serena said she’s cramming for a competition project tonight. I’m gonna go help her out.” “Okay.” My voice was flat. He didn’t move right away. Like he was waiting for me to tell him to be careful, like usual. Or to complain, just a little wounded, “You’re going to her again?” But I just turned around. And walked toward the school gate. The sunset stretched my shadow long behind me. When I got home, I collapsed onto the couch. A long time passed before I got up and went to my room. I dug out everything Ethan had ever given me over the years— Handwritten love letters, each one folded perfectly; movie ticket stubs from our dates, tucked into a notebook; amusement park tickets, photos from our trips… All of it filled a cardboard box. I carried the box to our usual study spot at the library. He was there with Serena, their heads bent close together. A moment later, I don’t know what was said, but Serena suddenly leaned up and kissed him. Ethan didn’t pull away. I thought I’d stopped hurting over him, but right then, my heart gave a sharp, painful stab. I didn’t go in and interrupt. Instead, I sent Ethan a message. A while later, he came out from the study area. He spotted me and jogged over. “What are you doing here?” Then he saw the box at my feet. He paused, confused. “What’s this?” I set the box on the bench in front of him. “Remember this photo?” I pulled a picture from the top of the box— Him giving me a piggyback ride under the cherry blossoms, my arms wrapped around his neck, my hair flying in the wind with the petals. He glanced at it and smiled. “Of course. Tenth grade. I even wrote on the back—‘Piggyback rides forever, I swear.’” “And these.” I pulled out a thick stack of movie ticket stubs. “First movie we saw was *Your Name.* You said watching it together was like a promise. The second one was…” “Riley.” He cut me off, the smile fading from his face. “What’s your point?” “These love letters. You wrote thirty-seven of them. One tucked into my birthday gift. Another when we made up after a fight…” “Feeling nostalgic?” He laughed again, his tone light. “Why are you suddenly digging all this up?” “It’s not nostalgia.” I pushed the box closer to him. “I’m here to break up. I’m returning all this.” The smile on his face froze. “What did you say?” “I’m leaving the country. My parents finished the paperwork. I leave next week.” He was quiet for a long moment, then let out a strained laugh. “Is this because of the recommendation spot yesterday? Stop messing around.” “I’m not messing around. I’m serious.” He looked down at the box, then back up at me, his expression a mix of confusion and a flicker of impatience. “Riley, don’t be ridiculous.” “I’m not being ridiculous. Keep this stuff. I’m leaving.” I turned and walked toward the exit. He called after me. “Riley!” I didn’t look back. By the time I got home, he’d sent me another message. [Home yet? Serena’s project is almost done. I won’t have to help her tomorrow. Lunch together?] I didn’t reply. A while later, another one came through: [Still mad? Don’t be so petty. The spot thing is already decided. It’s out of my hands.] I stared at that line, and all I felt was a hollow calm. His attention had always been a rare commodity. Split between a crushing course load and the “capable” underclassmen— late-night tutoring sessions, birthday surprises, and the extra alone time that just happened to pop up under the guise of competition prep… There was barely anything left for me, the “old-timer.” I didn’t reply. I turned off my phone. Chapter
The next morning, when I got to class, Ethan was already at his desk. He saw me and lifted a breakfast bag. “Got you breakfast.” I took it and said thanks. He paused, probably not expecting me to be so polite. “Riley,” he lowered his voice, “lunch together?” “Can’t. I’m meeting Jade.” I went back to my seat. He opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing. At lunch, Jade dragged me up to the rooftop. She gnawed on a chicken leg, fuming. “You know what? Serena was badmouthing you again today. Saying crap like, ‘Riley’s grades are so good, she doesn’t even need the spot.’” “She sure knows how to justify herself.” I leaned against the railing, watching people come and go on the sports field. “Jade,” I said quietly, “I’m leaving next Wednesday.” Her chicken leg nearly fell out of her hand. “Leaving? Where?” “Canada. My parents finished the immigration stuff a while ago. I didn’t tell you before.” “Then… does Ethan know?” “I told him I was breaking up with him last night.” Jade was silent for a long time. Then she took a vicious bite of her chicken leg. “Good. He doesn’t deserve you.” The next few days, Ethan went to school like normal. He probably figured my breakup was just a tantrum, so he chose to chill and wait it out. Fine by me. It gave us both some breathing room. I started quietly packing up my things. Bringing textbooks from my locker home, one by one. That night, my phone screen lit up. A message from Ethan: [I’m at the fast food place near school. Come get me?] I stared at the screen for a long time. He hadn’t asked me to come get him in ages. Hell, he hadn’t even invited me to one of his hangouts in forever. After a moment, I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door. This was our last chance to meet. I wanted to have a clear conversation. Outside the fast food place, I was about to push the door open. But I heard familiar laughter from inside. Ethan, a few of his friends, and Serena. My raised hand froze in the air. Through the crack in the door, I saw Serena sitting right next to Ethan, way too close. A familiar girl’s voice piped up, dripping with a coy tone: “Ethan, don’t you think you should treat me to dinner to celebrate me getting the recommendation spot?” Before Ethan could answer, one of his friends cut in with a teasing laugh: “Hey Serena, you want Ethan to take just you out, or do you want us all to tag along?” A round of suggestive chuckles. Serena cooed “Stop it,” but there wasn’t a trace of genuine annoyance in her voice. “Alright, leave her alone,” Ethan’s voice cut in, casual and indulgent. “Of course, we’ll celebrate.” That sentence hit me like a switch. It took me back to when we’d first started dating. We were at a restaurant, and his friends saw us eating together. One of them grinned and asked, “Whoa, are you two a thing?” He’d laughed and said, “Nah, we’re just classmates.” His friends didn’t believe him and pressed, and he denied it again and again. Back then, I understood. High school relationships weren’t ideal. We didn’t want to be too obvious, didn’t want the teachers to know. But now, looking back, his tone had been so natural, so effortless. Like denying our relationship was the most obvious thing in the world. A chill spread through my fingertips. So maybe it was never about the “high school relationship” itself. It was about the person he was seen with being me. Another voice from the table pulled me back to the present: “Speaking of which, Ethan, how’d you handle Riley? …She said she was breaking up with you yesterday. Was that for real?” A brief silence. Then Ethan let out a cold laugh. “Let her be. Usually, I put up with her little tantrums. But this time, she needs to learn that some things can’t be fixed by making a scene.” “Whoa,” someone jeered, “so you’re really just gonna let her go?” Ethan didn’t answer, which was an answer. Then another friend spoke up, hesitant: “Ethan, you sure you want things to go this far? You and Riley have been together for years…” “If you’re not backing down, does that mean you’ve got other plans? Like, say, our girl Serena?” “Don’t joke like that~” Serena’s voice stretched into a playful whine. “You really shouldn’t joke about that. Ethan… he knows what he’s doing.” Those last few words came out soft and loaded with meaning. Ethan didn’t explain. A knowing laugh rippled through the group. Another guy chimed in, all agreement: “Honestly, Ethan’s been more than patient. Years with her? Anyone else would’ve lost it by now.” “What does Riley even have besides her family’s money? Not like Serena, who’s smart and sweet…” Serena cut him off with a coy protest. “Stop talking nonsense!” The streetlight outside flickered. The street was dark. I gently set the umbrella I’d brought down on the front step. Then I turned and walked away. I didn’t push the door open. Didn’t go inside. Didn’t say that final word. Chapter
Ethan checked his phone screen again. His chat with Riley still ended with the last message he’d sent her: [We’ll talk when you’ve come to your senses.] Something was off. He knew Riley. Even when they were in a cold war, her silence always carried a hint of a little game to get his attention. But these past few days, she hadn’t even posted a single social media update. “Ethan,” a mutual friend held his phone out, voice tinged with surprise. “Whoa, Riley’s photos… is she leaving?” Ethan snapped back to reality. It was a post from Jade’s social media. A series of photos. The center photo was a selfie of Jade and Riley. Riley was grinning, so bright. He hadn’t seen her smile like that in a long time. Then he saw the caption. [Sent my best friend off abroad!] Jade’s profile had always been blocked from his view. He couldn’t see it normally. But seeing that caption, his first reaction was anger. “Tch, she’s really putting on a show.” He tugged at the corner of his mouth. “She definitely posted this to make me panic. Let her have her fun. If I don’t go, I’d like to see how she plays this out alone.” The friend laughed awkwardly. “Ethan, is this really necessary…” “Some things you can’t tolerate.” Ethan cut him off. “Especially when someone’s in her ear, stirring the pot. When this whole thing blows over,” He paused, his words pointed. “I’ll make her understand who she needs to keep her distance from.” In his mind, Jade had long been labeled a bad influence on Riley, someone who needed to be cut out. Wednesday. The day after those photos were posted. Ethan felt restless all through class. He looked at my seat, but I wasn’t there. It hit him then—I hadn’t been coming to school for days. Ethan thought of a place we’d once promised to go back to— the rooftop at the back of the school. In eleventh grade, we’d skipped class and snuck up there to feel the breeze. He’d said: “After graduation, I’m going to officially ask you out again right here.” Clutching that last shred of hope, he ran there. Someone was standing on the rooftop. The sunset stretched her shadow long. His heart leaped. He strode forward quickly. “Riley—” The person turned around. It was Serena. “What are you doing here?” He frowned. Serena looked at him, her eyes a little red. “I was waiting for you.” “Waiting for me for what?” “Ethan, I like you. I’ve liked you since ninth grade.” She took a step forward. “I know you were with Riley, but I’ve been waiting. Now that she’s gone, can you… just look at me?” Ethan stepped back. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t feel that way about you.” Serena’s face went pale. “Because of Riley? She’s already gone!” “It has nothing to do with her.” Ethan turned around. “I just don’t like you.” His footsteps were a little unsteady as he walked down from the rooftop. He didn’t understand what Serena meant by “she’s already gone.” He couldn’t help but go ask the school counselor. The counselor flipped through the records and told him: “Riley? Her parents completed her withdrawal paperwork. She left last week.” Ethan was stunned. “Withdrawal? She withdrew?” “Yes, transferring to a school abroad. The paperwork was processed very quickly.” He started frantically trying to contact me. Called my phone—off. Sent messages—no reply. He called our mutual friends, and every single one told him: “Haven’t seen Riley in a while.” “She didn’t contact you?” “I thought you knew.” He ran to my house and pounded on the door for a long time. A strange woman opened it. “Can I help you?” “I’m looking for Riley. She lives here.” “You mean the previous owners? My family just bought this house a couple of days ago. The old owners moved out today.”
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