Chapter 2

Percival was the only one in class who ever stepped up for me.

Because he had my back, nobody dared mess with me after that.

When we turned eighteen, Percival and I both got into the same university.

The moment I found out, I wanted to confess my feelings to him, but my insecurities held me back.

I felt that we might not even be able to stay friends after that.

I didn't want to lose him.

*****

My thoughts were all over the place.

It felt like hot oil was churning in my chest.

I blinked rapidly, awkwardly forcing back the tears that threatened to spill.

I said, "Congratulations.

"I'm heading out. Goodbye."

As soon as I finished, thunder cracked outside the window.

In the blink of an eye, the rain came down in sheets.

Without hesitating, I turned to head out.

Just as my hand reached for the doorknob, Percival stopped me. "The rain's coming down hard. Why don't you wait until it lets up?"

It all came rushing back, the day Percival and I made it official.

It was a downpour, just like tonight.

He'd been drinking, and banged on my door, rain streaming off him.

Before I could say anything, he kissed me.

My face flushed as I asked, "Percival, what does this mean?"

He raised an eyebrow, then pressed his lips to mine again, playfully sucking on my lips. "Isn't it obvious?"

I pushed him away, my voice trembling. "Percival, I don't want any confusion between us."

I thought Percival would pour his heart out to me, just like I'd always dreamed.

But instead, he just shot me a glance and turned to leave.

I panicked.

I grabbed his arm, stammering uncertainly, "The rain's too heavy. Maybe you should wait until it stops?"

It was painfully obvious I didn't want him to leave.

"Helena, you like me," Percival said, his voice so sure there was no room for doubt.

His confidence stripped away all my defenses.

When he kissed me again, so hot and intense, it felt like every dream I'd ever had was coming true.

It only hit me now that he never once said he liked me.

I thought he was confessing to me, and just like that, we ended up together.

I gently pulled away. "It's okay. I've got an umbrella, my phone's got plenty of juice, and I can just call a ride home."

Percival insisted, "The roads are slick in this weather. It's not safe.

"If you really have to go, let me walk you..."

He didn't get to finish. The sudden ring of a phone cut him off.

A girly voice dripping with sweetness came through the phone. "Why haven't you answered me? Are you sneaking around on me?"

I made my move for the door.

Percival reached out, trying to stop me, but then answered the call, "No, I was just in the shower."

The girl on the other end wasn't convinced. She wanted to have a video call.

Percival went stiff, his hand dropping back automatically.

After leaving Percival's place, I stood outside for a whole half hour before I finally managed to catch a cab.

I was drenched, and the icy wind cut right through me.

I never imagined I'd end up this miserable.

The cold wind cleared my head, and the restlessness inside me finally started to settle down.

I was just a little boat, but I still set out for the stars and the open sea.

In the end, my boat flipped over, and the waves swept me away.

I guessed that I had it coming.

I kept scrolling through every photo of Percival on my phone, torturing myself for no good reason.

I saw pics of us at our favorite dessert spot.

I saw us together in the rain with ginkgo leaves falling all around.

I saw us holding hands at the base of a snowy mountain.

I saw pics of him sleeping, his face turned to the side, and others where he was deep in work mode.

*****

I selected every photo that had anything to do with Percival.

Then I hit delete.

Just to be sure, I cleared them out for good from the recently deleted folder.

After standing out in the cold for so long, by the time I finally got in the cab, my head was pounding and I felt dizzy.

The driver was a kind woman about Audrey's age. She could tell something was wrong and asked if I wanted her to take me to the hospital.

I shook my head.

All I wanted was to go home.

With the last bit of energy I had, I managed to punch in the code and unlock the door.

I grabbed some warm water and took a couple cold meds.

Then I crawled under the covers and passed out, completely wiped.

When I woke up, my phone was blowing up with missed calls and messages.

Some were from Audrey, who was working overseas.