Severe weather was rolling in, heavy rain. I was stuck in the classroom, waiting for Caleb to pick me up. After half an hour, I couldn’t wait any longer and walked downstairs myself. But as I turned the corner, I overheard Caleb on the phone: “I get it, I’ll bring her back! It’s not like I asked her dad to save me, I don’t owe her anything!” “Why is she trying to emotionally manipulate me?!” My heart clenched painfully. If I could, I’d wish my dad had never saved him. Then I wouldn’t be stuck living under their roof. That night, I submitted an application to teach in a remote area, putting as much distance between Caleb and me as possible. It was an hour later when Caleb’s car finally pulled into the driveway. He stomped upstairs, fuming. “Harper, why didn’t you wait for me tonight?!” Caleb’s voice boomed from outside the door. I quickly put away my dad’s photo and replied calmly, “I waited for half an hour.” Caleb stood in the doorway, a flicker of impatience crossing his face. “It was raining, traffic was backed up – couldn’t you have waited a little longer?” “What’s so great about interning at that rundown school? You can work for our company instead!” I didn’t agree. “Got it.” I wasn’t ready to tell him about the teaching application yet. “It’s late. I’m going to bed. If there’s nothing else, you can go back to your room.” I stood up and pushed him out of the room. Caleb’s face darkened, and he braced himself against the doorframe. “Harper, there’s a high school reunion the day after tomorrow. Come with me!” A high school reunion. Just thinking about that crowd sent a shiver of disgust down my spine. Before I could reply, he typed my name into his phone. “I signed you up.” “I’m not going.” For the first time, I refused, snatching his phone and deleting my name. “Caleb, I won’t go. Those are your buddies, your friends. They have nothing to do with me!” “I don’t need you telling me how to live my life!” Caleb froze at my words, then let out a cold laugh. “Fine! I guess I’m just wasting my breath on you!” “I don’t need it!” I took a deep breath. “I don’t need you to look after me, not anymore. I’m not a burden to you, and I’m not your responsibility!” His slamming door was my only answer. Looking at my dad’s photo on the table, my heart was a mix of emotions. When I was six, Caleb fell into the water. There was a flash flood at the time, and his family was camping by the river, with no time to escape. Caleb was swept away. My dad happened to be passing by and jumped in without hesitation to save him. But my dad ran out of strength and was carried off by the flood. By the time they found him, his body was so swollen and disfigured from the water. I lost my father that day. Caleb’s family heard I was an orphan and took me in. Caleb always looked out for me. We grew up together, inseparable. Even his friends used to call me his little girlfriend! Now, he was saying I was emotionally manipulating him. If I could, I’d wish he had died in that flood. Then, I wouldn’t have to go to sleep every night looking at my dad’s photo. As for the reunion he mentioned, I’d already seen the buzz in the group chat. Those people, back in school, they spread rumors that my dad knew we were poor and sacrificed himself so I could latch onto Caleb’s family. I’d rushed up and beaten one of them until they were bleeding and crying hysterically that day, ready to be disciplined rather than apologize. Caleb was the one who got the surveillance footage to prove the truth, and the rumor-monger apologized to me in the end, but I couldn’t bring myself to forgive him. Because he was one of Caleb’s good friends. When they were saying those things, Caleb must have agreed with them deep down, right? I left the group chat, reread my application materials, and clicked send. Soon after, Megan called me. “Harper, you agreed? And Caleb agreed too?” Megan had met Caleb before. Hearing her words, I smiled. “Megan, he’s not my guardian or anything. I make my own decisions; it’s fine.” Megan sighed silently on the other end of the line, then finally said, “Okay, everything goes well, see you the day after tomorrow.” “Mm, thanks, Megan.” I hung up, scanned the room, and packed my luggage. Since I was going to teach in a remote area, I hadn’t planned on coming back. Some things, if I couldn’t take them, I’d just throw them away. That night, I slept poorly. One moment, I dreamt of my dad staring at me from the water; the next, Caleb was stepping on my dad. I woke up crying. When I woke up, it was almost dawn. I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I got up and went downstairs. Vivian was already downstairs.
“Morning, Harper. You’re up early. Any plans for today?” “Yes, I’m going to school. My internship is almost over.” Vivian brought over a bowl of oatmeal, her face gentle. “Any plans after graduation?” “You and Caleb are the same age. After spending so long in that academic bubble, once you enter society, you should make more friends, so you’re not alone.” I understood Vivian’s words: she wanted me to stop clinging to Caleb. Richard had said more than once that he hoped Caleb and I would marry someday, but Vivian disagreed. Richard got angry, saying that would be ungrateful. That day, I was standing outside the study, eavesdropping on their argument. I understood Vivian’s point. At the time, I felt a pang of sadness. Any girl’s feelings are easy to see, and I had a crush on Caleb. Not just because my dad saved him, but also because Caleb had genuinely been good to me back then. Alone in the unfamiliar Caleb’s house, Caleb was the one who helped me through that dark period, walking to and from school with me. When my grades were initially poor, Caleb patiently taught me. Later, hearing Vivian’s words, I understood. In her eyes, Caleb’s family had raised me all these years, and all the kindness they’d shown me had been repaid. There was no need to treat me the way they used to. But I wanted to say that I didn’t need them at all. What “kindness” was there to repay? I just wanted my dad back. If they hadn’t ignored warnings and insisted on camping there, Caleb wouldn’t have been swept away. Now, with Vivian saying this, I smiled. “Vivian, actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you. Caleb’s family has raised me all these years, and I’m already an adult. I want to move out.” Vivian froze. “Harper, you…” “My dad always said, ‘rely on yourself. Mountains crumble, rivers run dry. Your own strength is all you truly have.’” “Caleb’s family has taken me in for so long; you’ve all given a lot these past ten years. I can’t repay your kindness with ill will, so I’ve decided it’s time to live independently.” “Last night, I also wanted to tell Caleb, but I figured he was too upset. I’m only telling you, Vivian. Please keep it a secret for me. I have to leave the day after tomorrow.” Vivian looked surprised. “So soon!” She didn’t use any grand-sounding excuses, just “so soon,” which told me she wanted me to leave too. Perhaps sensing her attitude, Vivian quickly added, “I mean, isn’t it a bit too rushed? You haven’t even packed everything.” “Caleb might make a fuss if he finds out.” “Then I’ll trouble you to explain it to him, Vivian, after I’ve left.” Vivian’s expression softened. “Okay, Harper, you’ve always been a sensible girl. Have you found a job? And a place to live?” “Yes, I’ve found a job as a teacher. I report for duty the day after tomorrow. I haven’t found a place to live yet.” “That’s wonderful, truly wonderful.” Vivian’s mood perked up immediately. She quickly went upstairs and came back down with a property deed. “This apartment is right in the city center, with a subway station right outside. It’s convenient for everything.” “Here, Harper. Even when you live alone, you need to be careful. Don’t go for a shared apartment.” I accepted it. My dad’s life was worth all their years of care, and this apartment. I wasn’t stupid. Teaching in a remote area would be tough and would require money. With this apartment, I’d at least have a place to stay if I ever came back. I accepted.
After breakfast, Vivian took me to complete the transfer of ownership. Seeing my name on the property deed, I breathed a sigh of relief. I put the deed into my bag, finished packing my luggage, and then glanced at the ornaments on the bookshelf. They were all gifts from Caleb. I collected them one by one, put them in a box, sealed it, and prepared to take them to the storage room. As I came out, I ran into Caleb. Seeing the box in my hands, he frowned. “What’s that?” “Just some unused things I’m taking to the storage room!” “I’ll help you.” Without a word, he snatched it and walked towards the storage room. I had no choice but to follow. “Harper, why aren’t you going to the reunion? Are you still holding onto those old grudges? That’s all in the past!” “Chloe’s back. Let’s all get together!” At that, I stopped. So, Chloe was back. No wonder Caleb was so insistent on me coming. “I told you, I’m not going. Caleb, if you like her, that’s your business. Don’t use me as a shield!” “I’m not just *anyone* to you, and I certainly won’t emotionally manipulate you!” “Come to think of it, you don’t owe me anything either!” Caleb’s face instantly turned ashen. “You!” I snatched the box from his hands, put it inside, and turned to leave. Caleb, fuming, kicked the box violently, then stormed away. For two days straight, I was decluttering. Caleb didn’t come back, and Richard was away on a business trip. Vivian saw I was serious about leaving and packed me several bags, which I mailed off. On the day I left, Vivian was reluctant. She looked upstairs. “What’s that boy always so busy with?” “It’s fine, Vivian. He’s busy with work, don’t disturb him. I can manage on my own. Please take care!” I dragged my luggage away. Before I left, I sent Caleb a SnapChat message: “Caleb, goodbye.” He didn’t reply, and I didn’t think much of it. I left Caleb’s house and headed straight to the station, embarking on a long journey. That night, as I sat on a sleeper train, he added me to a group chat. The moment I joined, Chloe and the others posted many photos. She and Caleb were sitting together, fingers intertwined. “Going in circles and meeting again! Everyone’s still so great!” The classmates in the group chat congratulated them. “Are they together? Congrats!” “You two are the perfect couple! When’s the wedding? Let us know!” “Harper didn’t come today, is she mad? If you two are together, what about Harper?” Someone tagged Caleb. After a long pause, Caleb replied, “Whatever. She means nothing to me anyway!” Reading that, I could almost see Caleb’s cynical, impatient face. I thought back to high school, when he’d fought for me, chased away those bullies, and gently ruffled my hair. “Harper, you’re mine. I’ll protect you for life!” “Harper, you’ve lived in my house for so long, you’ll stay here forever!” I’d been so naive then. “How can I live here forever? I’ll have my own little family someday.” But Caleb had clutched my wrist possessively. “No way. Everyone says a life-saving kindness must be repaid in marriage. I’m yours. You can only marry me and have our own little family!” Caleb’s words back then had made me blush furiously. I thought it was a promise. Now, I realize it was just a whimsical joke. Only I took it seriously. The group chat was still lining up to congratulate them. When someone brought me up, Caleb only bad-mouthed me. “Don’t mention her. I don’t owe her anything. She’s lived and eaten in my house for so many years; any debt of kindness has been repaid in full!” Chloe even posted an emoji. “Yeah, Caleb has his own life. You can’t emotionally manipulate him, can you?” I let out a cold laugh and typed out a message: “I wouldn’t have had to live dependent on others in the first place. It was you, Caleb, who made me lose my family.” “If I could turn back time, go back to the past, I’d definitely pull my dad back and tell him not to save you!” I sent it, then left the group and blocked all of them. Caleb, goodbye forever! The group chat fell silent at my message. “Harper’s words are so nasty. She’s cursing you!” Chloe said, ready to argue in the group, but Caleb stopped her. “Forget her. Let’s drink!”
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