Chapter 3

After helping Nina with the necklace, Jack finally turned to me. "Zoe, those are the study materials I prepared for you.

"You've fallen behind pretty badly in high school. Don't waste your time once you get to college. Try to earn your bachelor's degree."

My throat felt tight, and I stared at him for a long moment, unable to get the words out.

My throat felt tight, and I stared at him for a long moment, unable to get the words out.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, and in the end, all I managed to say was, "Jack, let's call off the engagement our families arranged years ago."

"What do you mean?" Jack froze.

I didn't bother answering. I tossed the bag on the table and walked out.

Daniel's voice came from behind, annoyed. "She's always getting upset over the smallest things. She really can't compare to Nina. Let her go. Don't stop her."

I hesitated, then walked out the door.

I stayed out all day, and not one person called me.

It wasn't until evening that my mom texted me. [Come home now.]

There wasn't a single word of concern.

I wiped my eyes and laughed.

What had I been expecting?

I went home, planning to pack my bags tonight, but when I opened my door, it looked like someone had ransacked the place.

The folder on my desk containing my admission letter and other important documents was gone.

My mind went blank.

The next second, Nina showed up behind me, looking pleased with herself. "Zoe, I cleaned up your room for you this afternoon. I threw out all that junk for you."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Who told you that you could touch my things? Do you know what you threw away?"

Nina flashed an innocent smile. "Come on, it was a bunch of things you never use. I was helping you declutter. You're welcome."

I was shaking with anger. I couldn't hold it in anymore and slapped her across the face. "My admission letter was in there. How could you throw it away?"

Nina burst into tears.

Daniel, who'd been playing video games with Jack in the living room, rushed over.

He shoved me aside and slapped me hard across the face. "Nina was trying to help your mom out before leaving for college, so she cleaned your room, too.

"We spent the whole afternoon tidying up for you. You don't have to thank us, but how dare you hit Nina?"

Jack also stepped in to back Nina up. "What could you possibly have in your room that's important? You haven't done well in school. Whatever was in that folder was probably worthless.

"You're simply jealous that Nina got into university, and now you're looking for a fight."

I'd deliberately pretended not to care about school so Nina wouldn't realize how hard I was studying and try to sabotage me.

I slept through classes on purpose, hung out with students who didn't take school seriously, and studied quietly at night when no one was watching.

After all that, I got my dream school's admission letter, and Jack called it worthless.

My face stung from the slap. I glared at Nina. "Where did you throw the folder?"

Nina shrank back.

My mom pulled her into a hug, glaring at me like I was the villain. "It's only a trash bag. How could you hit Nina for that?"

"I'm asking where she threw my folder," I shouted so loudly that my voice broke.

They all froze, not expecting me to blow up like that.

Nina sobbed, "It was in the trash. The garbage truck took it away."

Before she could finish, I tore out the door like a madwoman. As I got outside, I saw the garbage truck turning the corner and disappearing.

I chased after it without thinking twice.

At the waste disposal facility, I begged the workers for so long that they finally let me search through the garbage myself.

Holding my breath against the sour stench and filth, I crouched among the piles and searched through the bags one by one.

My fingers got sliced by broken glass, blood dripping onto the trash. After what felt like an eternity, I found my folder in a black garbage bag.

I clutched it to my chest and cried as if I'd recovered something priceless.

My legs were numb from crouching so long, and I limped all the way home.

Everyone was gathered around the dining table. The moment they saw me walk in, the room fell silent.

The smiles on my parents' faces slowly faded, replaced by disappointment.

Nina kept her head down, refusing to look at me.

Daniel glared at me, annoyed. "Why did you get yourself so filthy? Now you've dirtied the carpet."

Jack sighed. "Go clean yourself up. Come eat when you're done."

I looked at each of them. Without saying a word, I went back to my room.

After I showered, I didn't come out, and no one came looking for me.

It was the perfect time to pack my bags.

Lying in bed on an empty stomach, I could hear my parents discussing Nina's plans for the future. Not once did they mention me.

This time, however, I didn't feel sad. I'd stopped expecting anything from them.

I set my alarm. Before dawn, I picked up my luggage and left for the train station.

*****

When I hadn't come out for breakfast, my mom barged in and pushed my door open. When she saw I wasn't there, her expression turned more sour.

She plopped herself down at the table. "Zoe is getting more and more ridiculous. She went out for her morning run and still hasn't come back."

Daniel and Nina kept quiet.

Dad frowned. "Zoe is probably upset because we've been so busy with Nina and haven't bothered with her.

"Whatever, I'll call her teacher and see if her academic performance is good enough to get her into an average college."

He called my teacher and explained the situation.

Then the teacher's shocked voice rang through the entire dining room. "Zoe has already got her admission letter from the National Defense Institute. Why would she need an average college?"