Chapter 6: A New Path

On the weekend, I went home for dinner. My parents talked about moving their business overseas.

The kitchen smelled like roasted chicken and fresh bread, my dad humming along to an old Bruce Springsteen song on the radio. They’d mentioned it before, and even said they wanted to take me to study abroad with them.

But back then, I’d refused because of Jason.

Now, thinking about my situation at school—

Even if I can pretend not to care, given the choice, no one wants to be everyone’s target.

So I told my parents, "I’m willing to study abroad."

My parents were over the moon.

Dad grinned so wide his eyes crinkled, while Mom squeezed my hand, her ring glinting in the kitchen light. If their overseas expansion worked out, they might settle abroad and not come back. Of course, they didn’t want to be separated from me.

When we discussed the departure date, my hand holding the fork paused.

It happened to be Jason’s birthday.

A strange, sharp ache twisted in my chest. Old habits die hard, I guess. My parents noticed my reaction and asked if I wanted to change the date.

I smiled and shook my head. "No need. This day is just fine."

Mom squeezed my shoulder gently, reading my face. I could almost hear her thinking, Let it go, honey. I nodded at her, grateful.

After returning to school, I was about to submit my completed study abroad application to the guidance counselor.

As soon as I left the dorm, I ran into Jason.

Lately, I’d often see him, since Melissa lived in this building too.

Jason would buy her breakfast in the morning, wait to go to class with her, and at night walk her back to her room.

Apparently, the ‘busy lab work’ he used to tell me about never existed.

I thought, even if I really ended up with Jason, I probably wouldn’t get the same treatment as Melissa.

It’s not that he couldn’t do these things—he just didn’t want to do them for me.

Jason lifted his half-lowered eyelashes, looking at me coldly, as if waiting for me to take the initiative like before.

I ignored him and started to leave.

But as I walked past, he grabbed my wrist.

His grip was warm and familiar, but my skin crawled all the same. His eyes were fixed on the words “study abroad” on my application form.

His voice trembled a little: "What are you holding?"

"Can’t you read?"

I didn’t want to get tangled up with him and tried to shake off his hand—the guidance counselor would be off work in half an hour.

But Jason’s grip only tightened. "You’re going to study abroad?"

At that moment, Melissa came down the stairs. When she saw Jason holding my hand, her eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Jason, what are you two doing?"

Jason’s grip tightened, Melissa’s voice trembled, and suddenly, every eye in the stairwell was on us. I could feel the story twisting, ready to blow up all over again.