Chapter 4

On my way back to campus, my phone kept buzzing over and over from deep inside my bag. Andrew's calls and text messages just wouldn't stop.

I glanced at the screen, feeling a bit numb, then hit the lock button and ignored it all. Instead, I leaned against the window and let myself drift off to sleep.

By the time I dragged myself back to the dorm, exhausted, my roommates swarmed around me in surprise. "What happened? I thought you'd come back glowing after seeing your boyfriend, not looking so worn out."

I just waved them off, didn't bother explaining, took a quick shower, and buried myself under the covers.

That night, I came down with a high fever.

Andrew couldn't reach me, so he ended up calling my roommates, desperate to find out if I'd gotten back to the dorm.

They had no idea about the breakup, so they just told him honestly that I was running a fever.

When the fever finally broke and I felt a little better, one of my roommates handed me some soup she'd brought back from the cafeteria and praised Andrew. "Your boyfriend totally lost it when he found out you were sick.

"He asked us to do all sorts of things for you. We're so jealous you have such a great guy."

I took a sip of the soup and finally said in a low voice, "We broke up. Please don't tell him anything about me anymore."

They stared at me in shock. They knew I wasn't the type to joke around or throw out breakups in a fit of anger. All they could do was ask awkwardly, "Why?"

I just shook my head, unwilling to say anything more.

After a long silence, they tried to console me. "It's okay. Sure, you don't have a boyfriend anymore, but at least now you fit in with us."

They said that because they were all single.

Honestly, I would've preferred no comfort at all.

*****

The pain of heartbreak was soon buried—at least temporarily—under the weight of my research.

Since I had graduated years ago, I was completely overwhelmed and spending late nights in the library every day.

While everyone else was already on winter break, we were stuck on campus helping our advisor with all kinds of odd jobs.

Andrew's break started earlier than mine. Since he hadn't had the chance to really talk things through with me, he came straight to my school once his vacation began.

But I was still raw from the breakup and had no desire to see him.

Since outsiders weren't allowed to just walk onto our campus, Andrew had no choice but to wait outside the gate every day, hoping I'd change my mind.

I texted him: [Go home. No need to wait for me.]

Andrew replied, [Just let me see you once.]

I might've been easygoing most of the time, but I still had my principles.

I messaged back, [We'll see each other naturally during the holiday.]

Our families lived right across from each other and were tight—running into each other was inevitable.

What I didn't expect was for Emily to show up too.

That day, when I left campus for an errand, the first thing I saw was Emily standing at the gate, talking to Andrew.

They noticed me right away and hurried over. Emily was the first to speak. "Nina, I came here just to explain everything.

"Back then, I was completely lost and didn't know what to do. Andrew was the only one I could rely on there, so I had no choice but to ask him for help.

"We're not what you think."

I stopped to listen but stayed unmoved.

Seeing my reaction, Emily turned to Andrew and said, "Let me talk to her alone."

She pulled me a good distance away before stopping.

With her back to Andrew, he had no way of seeing the sly smirk creeping onto her lips, or catching how her voice suddenly switched gears.

"Nina, do you know why he ignored your calls and never reached out that last time?" she said. "Because I told him I needed him to be there for me completely and not think about anyone else."

I couldn't believe it. Her mother had just passed away, and yet she was still scheming like this?

No wonder Andrew couldn't even come up with an explanation when I grilled him that day.

I kept my tone calm and faced her. "Emily, we don't even have each other's numbers, do we?"

She looked genuinely puzzled, like she couldn't figure out why I'd suddenly brought that up.

I went on, "That means you're not important to me. You don't need to make yourself known in my life.

"And you don't need to keep track of me. Let's just stay what we are—old classmates who don't keep in touch."

Emily's face twisted with rage. Her eyes reddened as she turned back toward Andrew, suddenly looking pitiful.

Andrew noticed right away and strode over, concern etched on his face. "Why are your eyes red?"

Emily sniffled and apologized, "Andrew, I'm sorry. I really tried, but I just can't help you.

"I've already explained everything, but Nina still can't seem to understand. I honestly have no idea what else to do."

The way she looked—sorrowful, defeated, full of regret—made me seem cold and unreasonable by comparison.

Andrew looked at me with disapproval, his patience wearing thin as he blurted out, "Why can't you just trust me?

"I was only helping her out, it wasn't like I was cheating. Why can't you understand that?

"Emily just lost her mom. She's all alone, and this is the time she needs help the most. She was your classmate too—can't you at least show a little sympathy?"

My hands at my sides curled into fists, the trimmed nails digging into my palms until they hurt.

Even though I'd already made up my mind to move on from him, I still couldn't stop the anger boiling up inside me.

All it took was Emily playing weak, and he was already blaming me.

My voice went icy. "If you two came all the way here just to show off how close you are, then save it.

"Whatever your relationship is, it has nothing to do with me.

"Andrew, I've already broken up with you.

"Or do you need me to go find another boyfriend right now, so you can be with her without any guilt?"

Andrew looked like he couldn't believe I'd actually said that. His voice was cold as he muttered, "I must've been out of my mind to even come here and try to fix things."

With that, he didn't look at me again. He grabbed Emily's hand and stormed off.

And while being pulled along, Emily still looked back at me, her eyes bright with a smug little smile.