Chapter 92 Farewell
"Fine, go ahead, but I'm not interested. The future's long, and I don't want to live in regret and humiliation. I don't want you to regret today's choice."
Louis tried to speak, but I shook my head to stop him.
My mind was made up; words were pointless now.
Our budding romance ended at his dad's birthday party.
Louis looked heartbroken, pain deep in his eyes.
Sadly, I couldn't help him anymore. Love wasn't our path.
"Louis, I really did plan a future with you. I thought about loving you like you love me. But the gap between us is too wide. I don't want to be your shadow, nor do I want you to break with your family for me. Even if we ended up together, we wouldn't be truly happy. So, let's end it here. Don't follow me; you know I won't change my mind once it's made up."
Something broke in his eyes.
I hadn't fallen for Louis yet, but saying goodbye still hurt.
For the first time, I hugged Louis tightly, pouring all my guilt into that embrace, saying goodbye.
Louis hugged me back so tightly it felt like he wanted to merge us into one, never to be separated.
He whispered in my ear, "Jane, you're my treasure. I can't let you go. I'll never love anyone else like I love you. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have brought you back so soon. I regret it so much, Jane."
Louis kissed my hair, and soon my ear was wet with his tears.
"Louis, I'm leaving. Take care." I couldn't bear to see him in pain, fearing I'd lose my resolve, so I left quickly.
Goodbye, the boy who was with me through high school!
Tears finally flowed.
Leaving meant saying goodbye to Louis, who wrote me eleven love letters.
My heart ached for Louis; his love never had a chance to start.
But it wasn't my fault or his, just the gap between us.
Louis didn't follow me. Even as I walked away, I felt his gaze on me.
Goodbye, the chubby boy who used to follow me around.
The apartment was empty and cold. Mindy was still at the party and probably wouldn't be back tonight.
After washing up, I got into bed and chatted with Amelia on Facebook.
Amelia asked, "Why so down?"
I replied, "Commemorating a love that ended before it began."
"Explain!" Amelia said.
I told her what happened with Louis, and she laughed so hard she couldn't breathe, "I can picture it now, Louis chasing you on the track, his legs about to give out, finally catching up, only for you to kick him back to the start. Jane, you're so cool."
'Is this even human speech? This friendship is over!' I thought.
I was half-asleep when I heard someone open the door. Mindy stumbled in, reeking of alcohol.
She stood by my bed for a bit, like she wanted to say something.
I pretended to be asleep.
"Don't fake it. I know you're awake," Mindy slurred, then flopped onto her own bed.
"How'd you know?" I half-sat up to look at her. She lay there, her fancy outfit not hiding her disappointment and sadness.
"Your eyes were twitching, and your breathing was off. You don't breathe like that when you're asleep." She sat up, messing with her hair.
Her nose was red, and her voice was nasal. Either the cold autumn wind got to her, or she'd been crying for a while.
Mindy was usually proud and confident, with good looks and a solid family background. But liking Louis must've hit her hard.
Mindy's current state had to be about Louis.
But I couldn't help her.
Telling a guy who likes you to like someone else is cruel, so I couldn't do that.
"It's late. Go to sleep." I turned over, ready to sleep.
I decided to let time heal everything.
Mindy lay down for a bit, then went to the bathroom to wash up. She came back and sat silently on her bed, drying her hair.
The lights were off, and the room was dark. Moonlight streamed through the window, cool at our feet.
"Jane, do you really not want to be with Louis?" she asked softly, just as I was about to fall asleep.
Her voice was barely there, like a summer breeze.
I sighed inwardly. Mindy had liked Louis since childhood, while Louis liked me, and I was her roommate. What a mess!
I explained, "The Louis I know is the one from high school. Back then, he was just my classmate. Now, he's the eldest son of the Anderson family, the future head. The gap between us is huge. I was already hesitant, and what happened at his house today made me even more aware of the distance. Mindy, I can't be with him, and his family wouldn't allow it."
Mindy said, "After you left, Louis was a wreck. He argued with his parents in front of everyone. His dad took him to the study and punished him, but he wouldn't give in, insisting he'd only marry you. The Anderson family's punishments are harsh. His back was beaten raw, but he didn't relent. Louis has always been a good son. He has never gone against his parents, not even as a teen. Today was the first time he stood up to them. Seeing him beaten up broke my heart. But I couldn't do anything because he doesn't need me."
Mindy wiped her tears with her wrist, "Jane, you don't know how lucky you are. The way he looks at you is something I can only dream of. I look up to him, and his smile makes me happy even in my sleep. I do everything for him, but he barely notices me. But you, you don't have to do anything. Just stay aloof and smile at him occasionally, and it drives him crazy. He likes you so much, how can you not be moved? If I were you, I'd be over the moon."
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