Chapter 3
The days passed. Chloe's relentless targeting of Emma never stopped, yet Chloe remained a hidden guardian in the shadows.
She had a vicious tongue, but she constantly did the quiet favors for Emma.
Gradually, Emma grew accustomed to this strange routine. She got used to Chloe's verbal attacks and equally so to the silent softness that followed in their wake.
She started to watch Chloe from afar.
Chloe, this infamous spoiled, willful heiress, wasn't actually so bad. She would feed stray cats when she thought no one was looking. Her movements and her eyes were surprisingly soft.
She would quietly give up her seat on the bus to an elderly person without a hint of her usual arrogance.
She took meticulous, beautifully organized notes in every class.
She would fiercely and reliably defend her friends when they were in trouble.
It was only with Emma that Chloe became so sharp and cruel. Emma still didn't understand why. It wasn't until her birthday that she finally caught a glimpse of the truth.
Emma's birthday arrived with the deepening autumn. The air had grown sharp and cool, and the world was filled with the sight of leaves dancing to the ground.
Few people remembered it. With her modest background and small circle of friends, she had never really celebrated it. She had no plans for a party, intending only to get a plate of pasta from the cafeteria, her own quiet tradition.
That evening, as she was leaving the academic building, Chloe stopped her.
Holding a dainty cake box, Chloe maintained her icy front, though her burning earlobes gave her away. Her voice was strained and awkward, the words practically being forced out. "Hey. Emma. Over here."
Emma paused, confused, and walked over. "Chloe. What is it?"
"It's your birthday, isn't it?" Chloe asked.
She turned her head away, avoiding Emma's eyes. Her voice was stiff, like a child throwing a tantrum. "Don't read too much into it. I just happened to know. Bought it on a whim. If you don't want it, I'll just throw it away."
Emma's heart gave a sudden jolt. Even her own parents, buried in their endless work, had forgotten her birthday this year. How did Chloe know?
The sight of Chloe's burning ears and her feigned nonchalance was the final straw. Emma's eyes instantly welled up, hot tears gathering as her heart finally began to overflow.
She gently opened the box. Inside was a small strawberry shortcake, with delicate cream and fresh, perfectly arranged strawberries.
It was her favorite.
Emma was allergic to mangoes and had always disliked them, but she loved strawberries more than anything. She had never told anyone. Not even her closest friends knew.
How could Chloe know so clearly?
"You..." Emma sobbed, her voice hitching in her throat. Her eyes were rimmed with red as she looked at Chloe. "How did you know I like strawberry cake? How did you know my birthday?"
Chloe froze, her heart lurching as she realized she had slipped up.
She tried to maintain her composure, letting out a cold snort. Her voice grew even sharper and more hostile, as if by turning up the volume, she could drown out the secrets she was so desperately trying to hide.
"If I want to know something, I can find out. Don't flatter yourself, Emma. I just don't want to see anyone crying around campus and embarrassing our school."
She turned to leave, but Emma's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
Emma's grip wasn't strong, but it was firm, and her eyes were filled with a desperate, confused plea. "Chloe, tell me. Why are you really doing this? You go after me, but then you're kind to me. What do you want?"
Chloe's heart was a frantic, chaotic rhythm.
She didn't dare look back. She couldn't. She knew if she caught even a glimpse of those clear, teary eyes, she would fall apart. All her walls would just come crashing down.
"I don't want anything," Chloe said, her voice trembling slightly. "Let go of me, Emma. Or you'll regret it."
"I won't." Emma shook her head, and a tear finally escaped, landing on the back of Chloe's hand. It was scalding hot.
"Tell me," Emma whispered. "Is it possible you've never actually hated me at all?"
Chloe froze completely. She tried to find a mean comeback to keep up her act, but the words got stuck in her throat. Those hot tears on her back felt like fire, searing her heart until she couldn't catch her breath.