Chapter 6: Eavesdropping on Heartbreak

"So you two are hooking up, huh?"

I slowly stepped back, leaning against the dresser.

The phone in my hand was hot, so hot my palm was sweating.

But my feet were icy cold, as if the chill seeped into my bones.

I felt like I was eavesdropping on my own heartbreak, each word chipping away at the last bit of hope.

"Why wouldn’t she be?"

Ethan chuckled. "When have I ever left her unsatisfied?"

"True, Caldwell’s famous for being capable."

"What about Savannah? Aren’t you waiting for her?"

After a long silence, Ethan finally spoke calmly. "If she doesn’t come back, can’t I find someone else to solve my physical needs?"

"Alright, only you can separate sex and love so clearly, Caldwell."

Suddenly someone interrupted, "Ethan, is it Mariah?"

"I’ve been thinking, she’s the only girl around you..."

I felt like my heart was suddenly gripped by a huge hand.

A dense pain swept over me.

Ethan spoke.

His voice was as lazy and frivolous as ever.

I could imagine his posture and expression as he said these words.

"Don’t randomly match people."

"You all know my type."

"True, but Mariah is nice, just, how to put it..."

Someone added, "Not your type."

"Exactly."

I don’t know how I hung up the phone.

The wet ends of my hair started dripping water.

My collar was cold and damp.

But when I raised my hand, I touched tears on my face.

At that moment, I suddenly thought of two years ago.

When I had just turned twenty.

Ethan held my hand, cutting the cake.

He whispered in my ear, "Mariah, do you have a crush on me?"

I shook my head anxiously, wanting to deny it.

But in the noisy crowd,

Ethan avoided everyone’s gaze and kissed my cheek.

"Why panic? I didn’t say you couldn’t."

"Ethan?"

"Don’t get it?"

He smiled, especially beautiful, charming.

He said, "Mariah, you can like me. I’ll let you like me."

But if he already had someone in his heart,

What did those words mean to me?

It felt like a cruel joke, a permission slip to hope for something he never planned to give.