Chapter 2

When I got to the private room at the restaurant, the place was already buzzing with noise.

Even with the door closed, I could hear people laughing and buttering each other up inside.

"Honestly, Lucine is amazing. That last killer move was epic. She totally flipped the game," one said.

"Yeah, Ryan, looks like your golden duo title with Megan might need to go to someone else. Now you and Lucine are the real dream duo," another one chimed in.

My hand froze on the doorknob for a moment.

Then I heard Lucine's soft, shy voice. "Honestly, it was pure luck today. If Ryan hadn't happened to mention that to me before, I never would've managed to hit Megan's weak point."

She paused, her voice dropping just enough for everyone at the table to catch it. "But Ryan, is it true? Was Megan really..."

The room went silent.

Everyone's eyes were glued to Ryan.

My hand froze on the doorknob.

Through the crack in the door, I saw Ryan leaning back in his chair, idly swirling his drink.

He went quiet for a few seconds, like he was hesitating.

Then he glanced around, making sure I hadn't shown up.

Then he said, "Yeah, it's true.

"It was ages ago, back when Megan was thirteen. Her parents weren't home. The landlord got drunk and let himself in with his key. After that... Well, you know the rest."

In that moment, I felt something inside me break apart.

That rainy night, the man's cruel grin, the ripped nightgown... It was a nightmare I still couldn't shake.

And now, it was just something Ryan served up at the dinner table, fodder for everyone's morbid curiosity.

Others gossiped, "Whoa, seriously? No wonder Megan's always so icy and never really talks to people."

"Man, that's messed up. She must have some serious traumas. Guess she's pretty strong, though."

"Strong? More like screwed, right?"

One guy cracked a nasty joke, and a few stifled giggles followed.

Ryan just laughed it off and tossed out a weak rebuke, not really stopping anyone.

He said, "Alright, enough talking. Megan is petty. If she finds out, she'll make a scene."

Inside, people started teasing Ryan and Lucine to give each other a hug.

Lucine playfully resisted, her face turning red as she leaned closer to him, and Ryan just smiled, not pulling away.

Standing outside the door, I was frozen to the core, feeling like a pathetic joke.

The last bit of hope I was holding onto vanished completely.

A decent ending?

Ryan didn't deserve that much.

I let go, backed away step by step, and walked off.

The hallway was shrouded in shadows, and my phone screen reflected my pale face.

I pulled up Ryan's chat and typed out the words, slow and resolute. [Ryan, let's break up.]

I hit send. And without a second thought, I blocked him.

I quit the debate club.

Only seven days left. I had to hurry and get all my stuff together for going abroad.

"Megan, are you really sure about this? You and Ryan are the backbone of our club." The club president, Shawn, looked at the resignation form I handed him, his voice tinged with regret.

Before I could say a word, Ryan stormed in and seized my wrist.

He demanded, "Megan, what was that text about? Why didn't you come to the celebration party last night?"

I yanked my hand away, a bright red mark already forming around my wrist.

"Just what it says." I looked down, keeping my voice calm. "Let's break up, Ryan."

Ryan scoffed, like I'd just said something completely ridiculous.

He said, "Break up? Is this all because I didn't help you win? Megan, when did you start being such a sore loser?"

I looked him straight in the eye, a barely-there smirk playing at the corner of my lips.

Ryan paused, as if yesterday's matter had just hit him, and his tone grew awkward, trying to sound apologetic.

He said, "I didn't mean to tell Lucine about that. I was drunk and mentioned it offhand. How was I supposed to know she'd bring it up in front of everyone?"

"Oh, you were drunk?" I lifted my gaze, meeting his eyes with a sharp, unwavering stare.

I said, "What about last night? You weren't drunk then, were you? Yet you still laid out everything that happened to me at thirteen, clear as day, right in front of everyone in the club."

As soon as I said that, the guys who'd been watching the show instantly clammed up, not daring to meet my eyes.

Ryan's expression soured at once.

He probably never thought that I, always so meek and patient, would ever put him on the spot like this in front of the whole club.

He said, "Megan, enough already. Are you seriously making a big deal out of this?"

He raised his voice, trying to talk over me. "It was just one stupid thing I said. You're really gonna break up with me over that? Without me, who else would even want you?"

This was just how Ryan was.

It was always me who was 'overreacting', and always me who couldn't let go of him.