Six years later, Julian and I reunited. I was squatting outside a Dairy Queen, and I caught him rushing past. “Hey! BOGO sundaes. Wanna go halfsies?” He lowered his phone, his gaze coolly sweeping over the banner advertising a couples’ special. “Oh,” I said, “so… are we back together?” Julian’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Sure, but let’s keep it off social media.” “I have a… ‘canary’ at home. She gets really possessive.” I froze. He turned to leave. “Oh, and pack up the ice cream. She loves it.” I hadn’t even processed it. The store employee was already beaming, packing two sundaes. “You two are so perfect together! May you grow old and happy!” Julian didn’t react, just grabbed his cup and walked out. His Rolls-Royce was parked by the curb. It was scorching hot, so I hung out by the fruit stand, enjoying the AC, slowly licking my sundae. Before he drove off, he gave me a half-smile. “So, ‘girlfriend,’ need a ride?” I glanced at his passenger seat: a plush pink seat cover, cute stuffed animals — screaming ‘occupied’. I slowly mumbled, “No, thanks. My place is close…” Before I could finish, he sped away. “Hey, don’t block the entrance!” “Ah, sorry.” My legs were aching from squatting. When I stood up, I wasn’t careful, and my sundae splattered on the ground. Ugh, what a waste. All for a boyfriend. I clicked my tongue, disappointed, and turned to walk home. My cramped apartment was simple but clean. I quietly took down the old school photo from the wall. The boy in the picture had eyes that crinkled when he smiled, a radiant expression as he tenderly held the girl’s hand. Compared to him, the girl was expressionless, looking cold and distant. I stared at it for a few more seconds, then tossed it into the trash. Ugh, I looked so awful when I smiled. No wonder he broke up with me back then. “Meow.” My rescue tabby rubbed against my leg. I opened a can of tuna for her. I’d gotten it from the supermarket yesterday, a buy-one-get-three-free deal. Being broke means every penny counts. Not snagging a deal feels like a personal loss. I almost regretted not asking for some severance pay when we broke up. Just then, an unfamiliar number called. I answered. It was Julian. His voice was as cold as ever. “We’re back together, and you still haven’t added me back on SnapChat? “Don’t you know calling is a hassle?” I just mumbled, “Oh.” Before I could say anything else, I heard a soft, playful groan in the background. “Mr. Julian, I’m hungry…” He hung up immediately. The familiar beep of a disconnected call filled my ear. Honestly, that “getting back together” line was just a joke… I was actually going to tell him to forget it. But after the noise in the background, I didn’t want to call him back. I typed in his SnapChat ID. Account deleted. His phone number? Also disconnected. I slowly lay on my bed, clutching my phone. Julian himself had forgotten that he was the one who deleted me back then.
Later, I remembered to add him using the number he’d called from. He accepted quickly but didn’t say a word for ages. I quietly scrolled through his social media, trying to peek into his life over the past six years. His feed was quiet, monotonous. Until last year, when a vibrant, red-dress-wearing girl appeared — so much like his old self, full of life. From that day on, Julian’s posts became more frequent. His smile wasn’t as unrestrained as before, but it was filled with a subtle happiness. I stared, a little dazed. Then, halfway through, my screen went black. He must have remembered and blocked me. I slowly finished my last bite of instant ramen. Tossed my phone aside, wrapped myself in my blanket. And didn’t sleep a wink. The next few days, it was as if we’d both forgotten about it. I prepped for class, went to school, fed my cat. My life was a simple routine. He was busy with his company, flying overseas for business negotiations. On TV, his name would occasionally flash across the screen. Julian, the self-made tech titan, acquiring one company after another. Maya would sometimes swing by with groceries. We’d share a watermelon, sitting on the sofa, watching the news. All his success had countless socialites in a frenzy, eager to ‘catch’ him. “Mr. Julian, you’ve turned down all the prestigious match-making proposals. Is there a reason?” A bold reporter asked. Julian narrowed his eyes, composed and distant. Yet, a fleeting tenderness flickered in their depths. “I have a girlfriend.” Everyone assumed it was the girl living in his mansion. Only Maya poked me, hesitantly asking, “Didn’t you just say you two got back together? He’ll marry you, right?” “After all, his pursuit of you back then was epic, the whole campus knew about it.” I stared at his polite, cold face on the screen. And shook my head. I tapped her on the head. “Silly, who gets a girlfriend just for a BOGO ice cream deal?” Julian hadn’t really put me in his heart. “I know, but he was Julian, the guy who loved you more than anyone!” She counted on her fingers, “You skipped class together, played claw machines, had your first kiss.” “Every time you just looked at him, that brilliant, aloof guy would follow your every whim like a loyal puppy.” The memories felt distant, almost blurry. “Seriously, tell me the truth. You didn’t cheat on him and then dump him, did you?” I hummed, honestly shaking my head. Maya was silent for a moment, then changed the subject. “It’s fine, don’t be sad. We don’t need that one guy.” I looked up, slowly saying, “I’m not sad.” She choked, then tied on her apron and headed to the kitchen to cook. “Ugh, I knew you had no heart. Get over here and help!” I thought things would continue as usual. Until one evening, he proactively sent me a SnapChat message. [Let’s have dinner tomorrow night.] [I’m waiting downstairs.] I saw the message after I got out of the shower. Right. Since we broke up six years ago. Maybe I’m just getting older, or lazier. I still lived in this small apartment where we once lived together. After staring blankly for a while, I remembered to refuse. [Can’t, I have plans tomorrow.] His reply was still brief. [I’ll wait three minutes.] Indifferent, distant, impatient. It hit me then. He wasn’t the Julian who used to cater to my every whim anymore. But I really didn’t want to have dinner with him. I thought for a moment, then typed. [Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. It was just a rare deal on ice cream, and it was so hot out…] [You were the only person I knew on the street; asking a stranger to split the order would be awkward. At least we used to date…] [How about we just break up again? Good for you, good for me, good for everyone.] It was getting increasingly messy. I deleted it all. And sent only one message. [I was joking about getting back together that day. My apologies.] I held my phone, waiting a while longer. He didn’t reply. I sighed. Those regrets from six years ago, let’s just let them go.
I didn’t think much of it. He probably couldn’t be bothered with me and had just blocked me. But when I came back from class that afternoon, I happened to run into Julian by the entrance. He leaned casually against his car, attracting a crowd of girls. “It’s Julian! He’s still so handsome!” “Yeah, he was the top student eight years ago!” Julian stared blankly at the sycamore trees on campus. I quietly tried to walk around him, but he called out, “Aubrey.” “Long time no see. So you’re teaching here at Northwood High School?” Northwood was our alma mater. A flicker of teasing crossed his eyes. “What, memories? Can’t let go?” I blinked, “Ah, yes, I can’t let go. They offered me double salary.” Julian’s expression darkened. “Hah, still as money-hungry as ever.” Unable to read my expression, He opened his car door and got in. “Get in.” I slowly said, “I really don’t want to go…” Julian smoothly rolled down the window. “Spicy seafood platter is 50% off today.” I mumbled, with little conviction, “Can I get it to go?” He seemed to be laughing, but it was humorless. “Suit yourself.” I readily got into the backseat. He’d changed cars today, a Cayenne. It looked like he rarely drove it; the passenger seat was free of pink decorations. Julian drove in silence. I leaned against the window, neither of us speaking. I actually didn’t understand why he bothered to come. I’d clearly said it was a joke, and he wasn’t the type to cling. After he inadvertently glanced at me in the rearview mirror, He irritably pulled out a cigarette. My eyes flickered. I started to open my mouth. He was holding the cigarette pack when he accidentally hit a button. A sweet, childlike female voice chimed. “My dearest Mr. Julian, are you sad again?” “Please don’t smoke. I’ll sing you a song.” “Two little tigers, two little tigers, dancing around…” I froze. He also stiffened. He instinctively put the cigarette back in the pack. A terrifyingly warm smile spread across his eyes. Leaving me truly, utterly uncomfortable. The car arrived quickly. It was a bustling beachside grill by the ocean. Julian went in to order, and I leaned against the railing, enjoying the sea breeze. A drunk, portly man came up, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Well, hello, beautiful. Where’s your boyfriend?” I quietly pushed his hand away and stepped back. He persisted, and as he pestered me, my eyes met Julian’s, who was not far away. He watched silently. It wasn’t until a few college guys nearby couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in to intervene. Only then did Julian slowly approach. Perhaps they recognized him, because the man sobered up considerably. “Mr. Julian, she’s your girl! I had no idea…” Julian smiled, patting the man on the shoulder. “You harassing her? That has nothing to do with me.” I stared at him. He shrugged, his eyes full of chilling indifference. “What, I said we’d get back together, but I didn’t say I’d be nice to you again.” With that, Julian walked away, carrying the seafood and beer.
He leaned back in a rattan chair. I stood, refusing to sit. “Eat something first, or the doggy bag won’t fit it all.” I finally felt something was off and quietly asked, “Mr. Julian, did you see my messages?” He looked at me calmly, nonchalantly. “What messages? I don’t have time to stare at your chat box all day.” I still didn’t move. He became impatient. “Are you going to eat or not?” I looked down. These were all my favorite dishes. My stomach was rumbling. I reached for a skewer and took a bite. It was so spicy that tears immediately welled up. “Cough, cough.” “Not good?” He looked me over, a brazen stare. “Oh, I forgot. This is *my* favorite flavor.” “I used to always eat mild flavors because of you. This time, you can put up with it, right?” I remained silent, dipping the skewer in my water glass. It was still spicy, but the seafood was incredibly fresh, the meat tender. He narrowed his eyes, watching me for a moment, then raised a hand to call the waiter. “Bring everything on this table again, but not spicy.” He paused. “And a strawberry mousse.” I pulled out a wet wipe and slowly said, “No need. I want to go home.” Julian raised an eyebrow. “What, already feeling sorry for yourself?” It wasn’t that bad, but my stomach burned from the spice, and that burning sensation slowly spread to my chest. It was just uncomfortable. I wanted to go home immediately, too lazy to even bother with a doggy bag. He stood up too, pushing away the plates. Casually, he said, “Alright, let’s go. I’ll drive you.” I opened my mouth. As if guessing my next refusal, He added, “This is Seagrove. It’s ten miles away.” “And you have no sense of direction. Want to walk until dawn?” Julian naturally took my hand. I tried to pull away uncomfortably, but he held on tighter, as usual. Unable to break free, I gave up. As we were leaving, I took out my phone, intending to take a picture to share this gem of a restaurant with Maya, when Julian, who had been staring blankly, suddenly reached out. He smacked my phone right out of my hand. “Don’t take pictures!” His voice was loud, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. All eyes were on us. He said coldly, “If *she* sees that photo, I have ways to ruin you.” I froze, then processed it a moment later. My phone lay on the ground, the screen shattered. I bent down to pick it up, wiping off the dust. It was a shame; it was a brand-new phone. I slowly said, “I wasn’t trying to take a picture *with* you, and I certainly wasn’t going to post it online.” “I just thought this place was pretty good, and I wanted to come back with my friends sometime.” 4 Julian’s eyes flashed with a hint of guilt, which then quickly turned to cold indifference. He pursed his lips. “I’ll buy you a new phone.” “Yours was old anyway, from last year.”
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