Chapter 2

I sat down on a bench and waited.

The summer breeze was warm, but I still automatically hugged my jacket closer around me.

I pulled out my phone and typed out a message to let the man know I was already waiting.

Just as I was about to hit send, I caught a glimpse of someone walking over in my peripheral vision.

The hospital was packed with people coming and going.

Not sure why, but I just looked up without even thinking.

My vision was starting to go.

Through the haze, I could barely make out a lean, tall guy in a black shirt.

I couldn't make out his face or his expression, just that he was coming right at me.

In that split second, out of nowhere, Ethan popped into my mind.

The recent hallucinations were clearly getting out of hand.

My mind was all foggy, and before I knew it, he'd already sat down beside me.

The man's voice was completely detached, void of any emotion. "Are you having fun?"

Even the voice was identical.

My heart gave a violent jolt as my head whipped to the side.

Even though his face was just inches away, it still took my eyes a long moment to focus.

With agonizing slowness, the image finally became clear.

The face was exactly the same as Ethan's from five years ago—unchanged, just like in my memories.

He was still as handsome as ever, but now his gaze was aloof and icy.

I couldn't believe the insane coincidence.

The guy who had made it into an Ivy League school was now bizarrely working as a recovery diver.

And by some cosmic joke, I was the one who ended up with his number.

After a flash of absolute, blinding shock, all that was left was overwhelming humiliation.

Five years had passed, and I never would have imagined that our reunion would happen for such a ludicrous reason.

My mouth went dry. I was completely speechless, couldn't even manage a word.

In a panic, I scrambled to my feet, nearly tripping over myself as I bolted away.

Behind me, I heard his cold, mocking laugh. "A perfectly alive person hiring a corpse retriever.

"Sophie, if your life is a mess and you want to come crawling back, just say it."

My hand just dangled at my side.

Almost without realizing it, I clutched the hem of my shirt. My fingers were shaking, and I let go just as quickly, feeling totally rattled.

The early summer breeze suddenly felt biting cold.

The apology or explanation was right there, but the words just wouldn't come out.

I was practically on my deathbed.

There was really no point in dragging up ancient history.

I shoved my hand into my jacket pocket, my nails digging into my palm without a sound.

I turned around and, through my slightly blurred vision, forced myself to look at him calmly. "Can't a girl buy some insurance in case she accidentally falls into the ocean?"

I didn't even bother waiting for his reply.

Such a ridiculous excuse held absolutely no credibility.

Ethan just sat there in silence for ages.

I figured he'd just get up and walk away, like he couldn't stand the sight of me.

Or maybe he'd hit me with some icy sarcasm, still pissed about all that old drama.

But after a long beat, his frigid voice cut through the air. "Sure."

My mind was empty. I was totally out of it.

Without really thinking, I awkwardly handed him the cheap, printed contract.

Ethan, expressionless, took the pen and signed the contract.

I didn't know what got into me, but after he signed, I just pulled out my phone and blurted, "Let's add each other's contacts so I can wire you the money in advance."

Ethan gave me an ironic look.

Surprisingly, he didn't refuse. He pulled out his phone, opened the app, and added my account back.

He probably knew life had been rough for me these past few years.

With so many classmates from back in high school, word about me still got around every now and then.

So he just looked at me, waiting to see what I'd do next.

Just like he said, he was probably just watching me like I was some kind of clown.

A clown plotting every step, hoping for a second chance, desperate to crawl back.

Maybe it was the illness, or maybe it was that when you're this close to the end, you just stop caring about embarrassment.

After adding him, I even had the nerve to ask, "I'll let you know a day in advance, and you'll be on call, right?"

Ethan kept his face blank, but you could hear the disgust creeping into his voice. "I charge per job."

I nodded. "Of course."

It wasn't like I'd ever have the chance to bother him with this a second time.

Everything that needed to be said had been said.

By now, honestly, there was nothing left for us to even talk about anymore.

I had originally planned to explain my illness to the diver.

But standing in front of him now, I simply couldn't bring myself to say the words.

I stood there for a while longer, but he didn't say another word.

I turned around and headed back into the hospital building.

The wind made my eyes sting and water, and I had to blink back the tears.

Ethan didn't try to stop me. He just stood there behind me, taking a call.

His tone instantly dropped the icy indifference, shifting into a soft, gentle warmth. "Yeah, I had the designer send the wedding dress to the house.

"Try it on first, I'll be home soon..."

I turned around to look, but he was already heading outside the hospital.

I rubbed my eyes and went back to my hospital room.

That night, my high school group chat showed a 99 plus notification.

I opened it to find a group announcement posted by the class president.

[For everyone planning to attend Ethan's wedding at the end of the month, join the side chat I just created.

[We'll head over together and grab some drinks!]

I froze for a second.

I remembered the call Ethan had made.

I sat there on my hospital bed, zoning out, trying to wrap my head around the fact that he was getting married soon.

Only now did I really start to realize just how many years it had been since Ethan and I went our separate ways.

The class group chat was buzzing with activity for once. Everyone was chatting up a storm.

Amidst the chorus of congratulations and friendly banter, the team captain, who had been Ethan's best friend in high school, suddenly dropped a message.

[If Ethan hadn't been showing off his girl on Instagram, I almost would have thought the bride was still going to be Sophie Lane.]

My finger froze mid-swipe on the screen.

Someone in the chat immediately fired back at him.

[If you don't know how to speak, keep your mouth shut.]

[Ethan had a custom wedding dress made for his bride with 1000 diamonds.]

[Some people just don't have that kind of luck.]

[It's his big day, can we not bring up someone so toxic and ruin the mood?]

Back then, most people in the class hated me for what happened with Ethan.

The team captain tried to defend himself. [I just got reminded of high school and made an offhand comment, okay? Back then, Ethan treated Sophie like...]

Ethan, who'd been silent this whole time, suddenly popped up in the group chat and dropped a photo.

It was a wedding photo.

He was the groom, and the bride was some girl I'd never seen before.

She looked soft and pretty, leaning into him, gazing up with a smile that made her eyes curve.

Even through the screen, the love was obvious.

It was impossible to look away.

Five years had passed.

I always thought I'd moved on from Ethan.

But right now, it felt like a knife to the heart.

Suddenly, I couldn't catch my breath.

That photo was like tossing another drop into an already boiling pot of oil. It made everything inside me explode all over again.

The team captain replied with a dead inside meme and added, [Alright then, wishing you the best.]

I exited the chat and muted the notifications.

My nose started bleeding again, dripping onto the back of my hand.

I scrambled to grab some tissues to wipe it off.

The drops falling onto my hand were no longer just blood.

I wiped it off, but it kept trickling down, relentless.

Good thing the lights were off in the hospital room. The darkness hid how much of a mess I was.

But then my phone buzzed again.

My vision was all blurry, and my hands were shaking as I fumbled to open it.

It was a private message from the class president. [Sophie, are you planning to make an appearance at Ethan's wedding?]