Chapter 25 So Disgusting
Emma finished talking and started crying again. Helen, feeling soft-hearted because of their decades-long bond, calmed down a bit after hearing Emma's sincere words. She told Emma not to overthink it and assured her that everything would be okay.
Emma said, "Helen, we've lived together for over twenty years. Your place feels like home to me. But now you're moving, and it feels like I'm losing a part of myself. If it weren't for that jerk Daniel, this wouldn't be happening. Just thinking about being apart from you is awful."
"I've told you many times, it's not his fault. We're moving because we like the new house and the neighborhood. It has nothing to do with Daniel, so stop worrying."
"Helen, I get it," Emma replied.
I don't know when I fell asleep again, but I had a terrifying dream.
I saw myself falling into an abyss, surrounded by towering mountains. Water kept pouring down, quickly rising to my waist.
All around were bare mountains and raging water. I was trapped, unable to move. When I tried to call for help, my throat felt squeezed, and I couldn't make a sound.
Terrified and anxious, I woke up, finding my clothes soaked in cold sweat, sticky and uncomfortable.
After a shower, I went to the kitchen for a glass of warm water. When I came back, I couldn't fall asleep again, so I opened my phone to watch some videos.
Daniel's message popped up, just a few simple words: [Is it because of me?]
It took me a while to realize he was probably talking about our move. Emma must have told him about the new house, and he was asking why.
I thought for a bit, unsure how to explain. Then I realized I didn't need to. Buying a house was our family's business, not Daniel's.
Daniel and I had nothing to say to each other, so I didn't reply.
About half an hour later, Daniel sent a 47-second voice message on Facebook. I didn't listen to it and deleted it, then went back to reading a book I'd been into for a while.
The next day's weather was great, with a clear blue sky. As fall approached, the cool breeze was refreshing. I was in the small garden, lounging on Ronan's chair and enjoying nature.
I didn't know when Daniel arrived, but when I noticed, he seemed to have been standing beside me for a while.
"Why didn't you reply to my message?" He stood against the light, so I couldn't see his expression.
"You sent me a message? I've been feeling down lately, always wanting to sleep, so I didn't see it," I replied.
Daniel's eyes were fixed on me, as if studying the truth of my words.
I didn't care and let him look. True or false, it was none of my business.
After a long time, he asked again, "Jane, are we still be good friends?"
"Let's go with the flow," I answered, somewhat cold and distant.
I had given Daniel the chance to be a lover or a friend, but he didn't cherish it.
The tumultuous summer finally ended. Under Helen's worried reminders and Ronan's reluctant gaze, I once again headed back to school.
For some reason, Daniel insisted on leaving the same day as me.
I didn't mind. If we had to go together, so be it. It was just a short trip from home to the airport.
The connection between Daniel and me had long been broken.
At the airport, as we got out of the car, Brad's video call came through. Without much thought, I stepped aside to answer it.
Brad was a genius, but he had this quirk of always opting for video calls instead of regular phone calls. When I asked him why, he said the video call ringtone was louder and harder to miss.
Turned out, the grad school was co-hosting a competition with several top universities, judged by renowned art experts. Each school could form teams, and Brad asked if I wanted to join him.
I came from a well-educated family. Ronan was a knowledgeable literature teacher who read widely. Helen was an interior designer, a rare talent in her youth. If it weren't for family issues, she could've been a famous artist. Becoming an interior designer was her reluctant compromise.
I inherited Helen's talent, loving painting from a young age and dedicating myself to it for over a decade. It was my lifelong pursuit.
Apart from painting, I didn't interact much with Brad. But his achievements in oil painting were remarkable. His sharp and bold style complemented mine perfectly, and I learned a lot from him. To me, Brad was both a mentor and a friend.
Art was my passion, and teaming up with Brad for the competition was a dream come true.
Before hanging up, Brad said he had returned to school and would pick me up at the airport. Not having to carry heavy luggage back to school alone made me a bit happy.
After ending the call, I saw Daniel standing by the roadside with a pile of luggage, waiting for me. Zoe was leaning on his shoulder, smiling gently.
"Who were you video calling?" he asked coldly.
I was taken aback. 'What’s it to you?'
"Someone you don't know," I replied.
Daniel looked a bit displeased.
"Do you even need to ask? Chatting for so long and so happily, it must be her boyfriend," Zoe chimed in. "But Jane, your boyfriend is really not up to par. You were injured so badly over the summer, but he didn't even come to see you. Look at Daniel, he spends all his free time with me. That's what a boyfriend should be."
Sure enough, Zoe's words were always sarcastic and annoying!
I couldn't be bothered with Zoe and pretended not to hear, going to pick up my luggage. Engaging with someone like Zoe would only lower my standards.
Zoe's eyes welled up with tears, and she buried her face in Daniel's neck. "Daniel, did I do something wrong to offend Jane? I was just trying to be nice, but she ignored me."
Daniel patted her back, unusually not warning or scolding me.
I quickly walked a few steps away, distancing myself from the hypocritical Zoe.
I just didn't get it whether Zoe realized that people could get tired of the same old act. Cry once, and the boyfriend felt sorry; cry twice, and he still felt sorry; but cry a hundred times, all that's left is annoyance.
The plane landed in the evening, and when I turned on my phone, I received several messages, all from Daniel.
[Jane, have you landed?]
[Jane, you have a lot of luggage. Is someone picking you up?]
[Jane, stay away from guys. You're so naive; I'm afraid you'll get hurt.]
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
