Chapter 3

But today, I was coughing so hard on the phone, my voice shaking from the cold, and he didn't even notice.

It wasn't that he'd gotten slow or anything; it was just that all his attention and care were wrapped up in someone else now.

I was like a woman possessed, refreshing Giselle's page again and again, unable to stop myself.

My head was spinning, the fever making everything hazy. I hid under the covers, face buried deep in the pillow.

And right then, for the very first time, the thought of letting Raymond go actually crossed my mind.

Half-conscious, I drifted into a long dream.

In that dream, I was back in high school, locked inside the equipment room, sobbing in terror until Raymond burst in, kicking the door open.

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight as I trembled, awkwardly trying to comfort me, whispering in my ear again and again.

He said a lot, but in the dream, only one thing really stuck with me.

"Natalie, if I ever mess up, will you give me three chances?" he said.

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "Okay."

Now, his three chances were up.

It was time to say goodbye for real.

When I told Raymond I wanted to break up, he went silent for a full five seconds.

Then, in a voice full of disbelief, he asked, "Wait, you're dumping me just because I didn't go with you to see the Silver Veil at Serphira Island?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I stared down at the map on my phone.

From our school to Giselle's dorm, and then all the way to the KTV where he was now. He'd pretty much traveled across the entire city.

Raymond absolutely hated wasting time stuck in traffic for no reason.

Turns out, he could go out of his way for someone else, no complaints.

"Can you stop making such a fuss? She was actually in trouble. I couldn't just leave her hanging. The Silver Veil at Serphira Island isn't going anywhere. Can't we just go next year?"

He let out a sigh, his voice softening as if he was coaxing a stubborn kid. "Come on, princess, be good and refund the tickets, alright?"

I crouched down, pulled the blue dress out of my suitcase, and couldn't help but feel how ridiculous this all was.

"You'd go all the way across town just to comfort Giselle, but when I have to cancel my flight and hotel, just the cancellation fees alone cost me over 300 dollars."

To my surprise, he actually chuckled on the phone.

He said, "So that's it, huh? My little penny-pincher is just upset about losing money?

"The money means nothing to us, but it's different for Giselle. Money can't buy her sense of security. She grew up in a tough family, so she's proud and stubborn, never the type to accept help from others easily.

"If I don't go this time, she might never get over it. It could mess her up for life."

Even though Raymond wasn't here, I could picture him perfectly as he said all that.

His brows would be drawn together, lips set in a firm line, and that look in his eyes, soft but stubborn, protective, like he just couldn't help himself.

A wave of bitterness twisted in my chest, and I snapped back, icy, "If she won't accept help from anyone, then what do you call it when you're with her at the KTV right now? Isn't that helping her?"

Raymond's patience ran out all at once.

"Natalie, what are you even getting at? Is it really just about the ticket refund? Fine, I'll pay you double, alright? Do you really have to judge such an unfortunate girl like this when she's not even here?" he said.

For as long as I can remember, Raymond had never spoken to me like that, so harsh, so cold.

I froze mid-motion, all the hurt I'd been holding in finally spilling out.

He realized he'd gone too far. "Natalie, that's not what I meant..."

I cut him off. "Raymond, we're breaking up."

He said, "So you're threatening to break up with me again? You just love making a scene, huh? Is that ocean really so important to you?

"Come on, quit messing around. If you say 'break up' one more time, I'm not joking. I'll take it for real. Don't come crying to me then."

I pulled out the couple's rash guards from the suitcase, saying each word slowly and clearly. "I mean it. We're done."

He let out a laugh, clearly frustrated by how stubborn I was. "Alright, fine. Let's break up."

The call ended, and the dorm fell into a heavy silence. My roommates watched me anxiously, not daring to say a word.

After a moment, one of them asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "Natalie, are you still going to Serphira Island?"

Why not? I'd already got my whole itinerary ready.

Just because he was not here didn't mean I couldn't go.

I lowered my head and quietly kept packing my stuff.

I was finally about to see the sea I'd been longing for, but for some reason, my heart felt weighed down, like there was a huge rock pressing on it.

Just then, my phone screen lit up with a video message.

It was from Barrett Kirby, Raymond's roommate and one of our mutual friends.

Curious, I tapped to open the video.