Chapter 4: Dinner Table Wars

“Don’t come back.”

After closing the door, I was fuming. I took a quick shower and wrapped myself in my comforter.

My phone lit up on the nightstand. I picked it up. The lock screen showed several Facebook Messenger messages from Ben.

But I was still mad, so I didn’t open Messenger. I just ignored the phone and turned off the light.

The room instantly fell into darkness.

In the endless silence, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

I thought, Ben is so annoying. Even after breaking up, he keeps haunting me.

A good ex should be like they’re dead. Seriously. Just... gone. No haunting, no texts.

I stared at my phone glowing in the dark. Sleepiness slowly washed over me.

A dreamless night.

The next day, I still went out looking bright and beautiful.

Then, at the door, I picked up a pitiful little dog.

It rained all night in Maple Heights; the temperature plunged, and by morning the damp cold had settled in.

I wore a fleece-lined turtleneck and thick jeans, with a cashmere coat I usually save for winter.

But Ben was only wearing a thin sweatshirt and sweatpants.

He was woken up by the sound of me opening the door.

The tall boy sat on the ground, his clothes wrinkled, looking like he hadn’t fully woken up. His lips parted as if to say something, but before he could, he started coughing violently.

I turned and walked back inside.

Ben panicked and hurried after me. “Cough, cough... sis...”

I threw a jacket over his head.

“Put it on.”

I took my pink scarf, stone-faced, and tiptoed to tie it around his neck. It was a girly pink, but it didn’t look out of place on him at all. Actually, the color almost made me smile—almost.

My hand moved up—his forehead was burning hot. I frowned.

Ben still held the denim jacket he’d left at my place last night, standing there awkwardly, letting me fuss over him.

“Is the fever scrambling your brain?” I grumbled. “Put your clothes on and follow me, I’ll take you to urgent care.”

In the car, as soon as I buckled my seatbelt, I felt two cold lips brush my right cheek.

I turned to look at Ben in the passenger seat. He’d already pulled his head back and was nervously putting his mask back on.

Only his clear eyes were visible, staring at me.

“You...”

“Sis...”

We spoke at the same time.

I felt a bit awkward under his gaze, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “You go first.”

The car started. I turned on the Bluetooth, and soothing music filled the awkward silence.

Ben finally spoke. “Sis... I’m sorry. I actually regretted leaving as soon as I walked out last night. I messaged you on Messenger.”

“I said the wrong thing. I... I was too angry and spoke without thinking. I never thought of you that way.”

He paused, then continued, his voice growing softer and hoarser from his cold. “In my heart, sis is the best. It’s me... who couldn’t keep you.”

“But I don’t want to be just a passerby in your life.” His voice was still hoarse. “I don’t get it. I can belong only to you, so why can’t you belong only to me?”

I felt my heart soften.

Actually, after a night’s sleep, I wasn’t mad anymore.

Compared to Ben’s angry words, I also slapped him. And besides, this brat stupidly waited for me in the stairwell all night... well, we’re even.

Ben regrets it, and honestly, so do I. Why argue with a kid? Besides, we didn’t break up because we didn’t have feelings—it was me who insisted on ending things.

Ben’s... pretty pitiful too. His first love should have been some innocent campus romance, holding hands with a girl his age, not falling for an older woman like me with a heart already cold and hard.

At a red light, I watched the hurried pedestrians and spoke carefully.

“Ben, you’re still young.”

“It’s only because it’s your first love that you can’t let go. At your age, you should join more campus activities, meet girls your own age...” But before I could finish, Ben interrupted me.

“Because it’s my first love I can’t let go? Then can’t you forget your first love, sis?”

“I...”

“You’re not me. How do you know what’s best for me?”

I looked at Ben. He stubbornly turned his head away, pressing himself against the car door, putting distance between us.

Fine, the puppy is sulking.

Knowing I was in the wrong, I shut up.