Chapter 1

The ninety-ninth time I confessed to Ramon Daley, he rejected me, as I had expected.

This time, I didn't cry or make a scene. I turned around and booked a ticket to Glenphis City.

It was a spontaneous trip, and by Thurston Lake, I ran into an old classmate, Jacob Stratton.

He teased, "Why are you traveling here alone? Where's Ramon?"

I gave a bitter smile. "I once swore I'd never confess to someone more than a hundred times."

Jacob opened his mouth as if to say something, then pointed behind me instead.

I turned around. Across the road stood Ramon, my cousin beside him.

He walked toward me, his expression dark, as if he had misunderstood my relationship with Jacob. "Ivy, are you really that desperate for a man?" he said coldly.

I smiled faintly, helpless. "Ramon," I asked softly, "do you remember how many times I confessed to you?"

*****

Ramon's expression didn't change at all as he answered flatly, "Ivy, is that really so important?"

I couldn't help but laugh helplessly. "Isn't it important? Well, I guess not. You don't even like me, so why am I making a fool of myself?"

My cousin, Nancy Colsen, always the rule-follower, waited for the light to turn green before crossing the street.

Glenphis City in the fall was absolutely breathtaking, and I could see the fiery autumn leaves mirrored in her eyes.

Her lips, painted a bright red, parted slightly as she said, "Ivy, don't let Ramon's tough talk get to you."

Every time he turned me down, I'd either drink alone or grab a random ticket to anywhere, so I could deal with my mess on my own.

And not long after, Ramon would always find me, with Nancy tagging along right beside him.

I was not dumb. I always looked back and reflect. Just like in middle school when I couldn't solve a tough problem, Ramon would make me keep a notebook of all my screw-ups and go over where I messed up.

I confessed ninety-nine times, and went over every single rejection. I even jotted down every word he used to reject me. There were some lines he repeated more than once.

If I had to sum it up now, it all boiled down to one thing: he simply didn't love me.

But still, every time he turned me down, he somehow showed up wherever I was. Why was that?

This time, Ramon stayed silent. I picked up my bag and stood to leave. "Thurston Lake is beautiful in the fall."

As I walked past Ramon and Nancy, I paused briefly. "You two enjoy your stroll. I'm heading back to the hotel to rest."

Ramon looked like he was about to say something, but I didn't stop. I wasn't going to ask what he was thinking anymore.

As autumn was about to fade into winter, the redwoods by Thurston Lake burned red like the sunset. White egrets frolicked on the water. It was just like how Ramon and I used to be.

When I first started to catch feelings, I worked up the nerve to confess to Ramon. He taught me a lot, so it was only natural I liked him.

The first time he turned me down, his voice was so gentle. He said, "Ivy, we're still students. I won't think about dating until I get into McCollum University."

"Ivy, you've walked too far," Jacob called out from behind me at this moment.

I turned around to see him loaded down with bags of fishing gear. His creel was completely empty.

He caught my eye and gave an awkward smile. "Got skunked. Pretty normal for any fisherman."

I didn't say anything and started walking back to the hotel.

He continued, "Hey, we're old classmates. It's rare we get to meet up like this. Why not come hang out at my place for a bit? It's nearby."

I froze, hearing those familiar footsteps behind me. My heart tightened, but I forced myself to sound casual. "Alright."

Jacob seemed caught off guard when I agreed. He stiffened for a second, then flashed a big smile. He said, "Come on, we'll pass the market on the way. Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll cook it for you."

His enthusiasm totally threw me off. We were simply old classmates and there was no need to make a big deal out of it. I waved my hand quickly. "Anything's fine, really. Don't go overboard for me."

"Come on, it's not a hassle at all. I'm doing this because I want to. It's not like you're twisting my arm," Jacob grinned.

Jacob and I were bantering when Nancy suddenly butted in, "Jacob, Ramon and I are your old classmates too. Why are you only paying attention to Ivy and ignoring us?"

Her commanding tone was something I knew all too well.

My parents passed away early, so I grew up with Aunt Rosa. Nancy, her daughter, always ordered me around like it was her right.

Being the outsider, I had no choice but to keep my head down and take it. It wasn't until I turned eighteen, inherited my parents' estate, and finally moved out that I finally got a taste of freedom.

But Nancy's bossy tone really got on Jacob's nerves. He shook his empty creel and said, "Sorry, you're too flashy for me to host you."

His gaze shifted to Ramon, and he continued, "The same goes for guys who don't know how to value what's right in front of them."