Chapter 22
We got on well because of how similar our interests were, and it was really easy to be around Colin.
Sometimes, when I managed to squeeze out some time, I would look at my Instagram stories to try and build up my resolve.
Felix was now entirely different from how cold and impassive he had been in the past. He posted about how happy his life was almost daily.
If Felix and Lilac weren’t having a drink together, they would be holding hands on a date. In any case, all these sickly–sweet images of their love life made me feel like I was choking on something.
I thought that Colin treating me to pork ribs would make me feel better, but Colin’s return kept getting delayed. I had no choice but to go and get pork ribs twice with my roommate instead.
When summer break started, Felix didn’t contact me, and I didn’t disturb him. Once more, I picked up my
suitcase and started the journey home.
I felt like I had become accustomed to life without him. I was learning to grow up alone.
The plane took off in the night, and by the time I reached home, it was around 6:00 am. I didn’t even have time to talk to my parents. I just showered and then fell on my bed to catch up on sleep.
I woke up from a chaotic dream to find that it was already midday. Mom was preparing the table to serve
lunch, and when she saw that I was awake, she waved me over to eat.
“Mom, I want to have pasta salad tonight.”
“Your Aunt Mel is treating us to dinner tonight, so we’re going out. Let’s have pasta salad some other day.
Dinner was at the new restaurant on the corner of the street that specialized in traditional, homemade
dishes. I came late, and when I entered the private room, my seat was the only one that was still empty.
“Luna, you dawdle so much. The whole family’s waiting for you.” I hadn’t even sat down when Felix
opened his mouth.
I blinked and was about to speak, but it felt like someone had pierced my eye with a sharp knife. It hurt
so much that I was finding it hard to breathe.
We hadn’t seen each other for almost half a year. He had matured, and there was a gentleness in his
eyes.
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Lilac smiled shyly as she leaned on Felix’s arm. Felix held her hand, and they were so close that there wasn’t even a crack between the two of them.
My eyes hurt, but my heart hurt even more.
He had brought her home to meet the family. Everything between Felix and I was just part of my past. Everything stopped at this moment and ceased to exist.
At that moment, I felt lost. I didn’t know what to do.
It seemed that the time to let everything go had come.
“Sit down, Lulu. What would you like to eat? I’ll order it for you.” Aunt Mel greeted me enthusiastically.
I sat on my seat, feeling dazed. Right opposite me sat the couple, who seemed glued at the hip.
At that moment, I really wished I could gouge my own eyes out.
If I didn’t see anything, then my heart wouldn’t ache so much.
Felix’s gaze on Lilac was gentle and tender. He said, “Lili, this is my next–door neighbor Luna, the one I often mention to you. She’s like a little sister to me, and you can call her ‘Clingy Lulu.”
*Oh, right, we were high school classmates, so you probably recognize her. You have no idea how much she used to follow me around when we were kids, which was annoying. Lulu, this is my girlfriend, and in the future, she’s going to be my wife. You can call her Lilac.”
Lilac blushed and buried her face in Felix’s arms. Her smile was so beautiful.
She was in the same year as us and was a transfer student from another city.
Rumor had it that her father had been a government official with a lot of power. But for some reason, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment, and their family’s assets were seized. In order for Lilac to live a life free of humiliation, her mother then brought her to Southsville.
Like her name, Lilac was as beautiful as a flower and as delicate as one, too. Whenever she looked tenderly at anyone, they were sure to feel protective toward her.
Her gentleness and delicateness were in direct contrast to my carefree personality. Men probably all preferred women who were timid. In this regard, I could not compare to Lilac.
What could I say? I could only smile dumbly.