- 10.
In the hallway by the water fountain.
I was filling my bottle while reciting formulas.
I’d neglected my studies in my past life. Given this second chance, I was going to make the
most of it.
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App Store
“Mia, you were right. My grades are bad
because I’m not smart. I lost the game because I wasn’t good enough. And now I’m losing you because I deserve it. I’m leaving for England
next week. I know you’re not coming with me
anymore, but I still want to say goodbye
properly. I’m having a farewell party this
weekend. Everyone’s coming. I was hoping…
you would too.”
Ethan stood behind me, his voice cautious.
I tightened the cap on my water bottle and
turned to face him. “I won’t be at the party. I’ll have the class president bring your gift.”
If I’d decided to move on, why give him false
hope?
I walked past him, just as he’d walked past me
countless times in my past life.
As I reached the end of the hallway, I heard his
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“I’ll be waiting for you.”
- »)
€9
Back in the classroom, everyone was discussing
what to get Ethan as a farewell gift.
Zach came up to my desk and asked what I was getting him.
I shrugged. “Haven’t decided yet.”
Zach sighed. “Mia, you’re like a different person. You used to be so enthusiastic about this stuff. Now you don’t seem to care about Ethan at all. He actually likes you now, you know. The day he lost the basketball game, he
stood outside your house all night, even with his sprained ankle.”
“Really? Well, I don’t need it now.” My voice
was flat.
“Mia! How can you be like this?!” Zach was
clearly indignant on Ethan’s behalf.
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€9
I looked up at him, my expression blank. “Like what?”
“They were right. You were playing hard to get.
You’re just messed up!” I understood why Zach would say that. In his eyes, I’d always been a lovesick puppy.
Now that Ethan finally liked me, I was pulling away. It must have seemed crazy.
But he didn’t know what I’d been through.
That baby… I’d gotten pregnant after so much difficulty.
The doctors had said it would be hard for me. It
felt like a miracle.
And I lost it. If Ethan had answered my calls
that night, I wouldn’t have lost our child.
く
I stood up and faced Zach, my voice rising. “Yes, I am messed up! I’m so messed up that I
lost the most important thing in my life! I’m so messed up that I loved someone who never
loved me back! You have no idea what I’ve been
through, so don’t judge me!”
I’d tried so hard to be civil.
Zach opened his mouth to retort, but Ethan’s
voice stopped him. I hadn’t even noticed him
standing at the doorway.
“Zach! Shut up!”
“Ethan!” Zach glared at me defiantly.
“Shut up!” This time, Ethan’s voice was a
warning.
Zach wisely closed his mouth.
Ethan dragged me up to the roof.
