Chapter 347 You Promised You'd Never Let Me Go
Joshua led Brittany towards the library, saying as they walked, "Forget it. There are plenty of guys around, too. I'm jealous."
Joshua squinted as if recalling something, muttered under his breath, "Back then, there was this annoying person who gave you a love letter right in front of me, damn it."
Brittany didn't know what to say. She couldn't act as familiar with Joshua as he seemed to be with her, as if they had never broken up.
She remained silent, listening to Joshua chatter on, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the library.
Joshua somehow acquired two campus cards from somewhere and handed one to her. With a click, they entered the library.
The young freshmen and sophomores, much like they once were, were filled with dreams and a thirst for knowledge.
A wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over her as she thought, 'They haven't learned the bitter taste of sorrow yet.'
Immersed in this environment, Brittany felt young again.
She let go of Joshua's hand, casually telling him to wait as she went to the shelves to find two books.
Upon returning, she handed one to Joshua.
Then, she quietly sat down in a chair and began flipping through the pages.
She read intently, memories of the past clear as yesterday.
Joshua leaned on the table, watching Brittany's profile intently as if he couldn't get enough.
Uncomfortable under his gaze, Brittany turned her face slightly, giving him a warning glance not to stare.
Joshua laughed heartily.
Brittany held the book up in front of Joshua.
Joshua took the book away, leaned in suddenly, and kissed Brittany on the lips, even daring to taste.
A sharp, distinct kiss broke the rhythm of the turning pages.
Her face blazed red, and she coughed, snatching the book to shield her embarrassment.
He chuckled, a sound that held a hint of mischief and a touch of triumph.
Brittany stared at the words in front of her, but none of them registered.
Images flashed before her eyes—she and Joshua used to mess around like this.
At the library, Joshua was always a mischievous whirlwind, using his wit to steal kisses and surprise attacks.
Brittany closed her eyes in pain.
"What is this?" Joshua's voice sounded
Hearing Joshua's question, Brittany opened her eyes and saw him pick up a bookmark with a familiar drawing.
Brittany froze. It was her drawing, with their names written underneath and a heart in the middle.
Brittany's eyes welled up with emotion. She reached out to grab it.
Joshua had already raised his arm high. He lightly tapped his lips, lowering his voice, "A kiss, and I'll give it to you."
"Give it to me!" she demanded, the once-loving strokes on the bookmark now a bitter reminder.
Wide-eyed, Brittany lunged towards Joshua, reaching out.
Joshua firmly held her hand and stood up with a smile, teasingly tickling the palm of Brittany's hand.
Brittany's hand twitched as if electrified, pulling away.
With an expression of 'You've fallen into my trap,' Joshua lightly booed Brittany's nose, then turned and walked away.
After a few steps, he turned back, pointing at Brittany and then at the two books borrowed on the table.
Jerk.
Brittany returned the two books to the shelf, gritting her teeth as she went after him.
Joshua had already run off.
As she left the library, she looked around in frustration. Suddenly, a pair of long arms reached out, wrapping around her waist from behind.
Brittany glanced towards the arms, and Joshua seized the opportunity to nip at her earlobe.
A surge of electricity coursed through her ear.
Brittany turned her head abruptly, and as if planned, Joshua leaned down and precisely captured her lips.
Nose to nose, the silence thrummed between them, his gaze holding hers captive.
Brittany's heart felt like it was being hollowed out, the pain unbearable.
Unnoticed, a red rim formed around her eyes.
Joshua swallowed hard, feeling the same pain. He suppressed the bitterness in his throat, forcing himself to turn away and conjure up a bag of fish food as if performing magic. "Let's go watch the fish by the pond."
"Okay." Brittany let him lead her by the hand, following behind.
They spent their time feeding fish by the pond under the shade of willow trees, then she watched Joshua play basketball on the vibrant court. After that, they revisited the restaurant where they had complained countless times, and tasted the familiar donuts.
They also attended a lecture together by an old professor and, finally, walked out of the lecture hall towards the school gates as the sunset.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, just like their relationship, which was about to die completely.
Brittany let Joshua lead her by the hand, walking quietly behind him.
But as they were about to step out of the school gates, she lifted her foot, hesitated, and then set it back down.
Brittany stumbled, taking a step back in confusion.
Then, unable to hold back any longer, she burst into tears uncontrollably, which she had held in all day now flowed freely, suddenly and unexpectedly.
It came on all of a sudden, catching her off guard, tears streaming down Brittany's face.
She stood still, just a step away from Joshua, not moving a muscle.
Brittany dared not cry out, biting her lower lip fiercely while tears flowed into her mouth, bitter and unrelenting.
Joshua didn't need to turn around to know that Brittany was crying.
And with the painkillers wearing off, his stomach ached terribly, as if it was being torn apart.
"Why?" Brittany exhaled shakily, struggling to ask the question that weighed heavily on her mind. She tried to keep herself composed but failed.
She repeated, "Why did you cheat on me, Joshua?"
Her voice choked; even when she didn't speak, it was a continuous sob.
Brittany had never broken down like this in front of Joshua before. Even when she caught him cheating on the spot, she had calmly walked away.
But today, on the campus of Maple Valley University, a place filled with memories of their love, she couldn't remain calm.
"Tell me," Brittany asked with difficulty, "What did I do wrong? I may be cold, but I gave you all the warmth. How many years have we been together? Can they be outweighed by your few months with Nicole?"
"I bared my soul to you, gave you everything I had. You swore you'd cherish it. So why... why does it feel like you're tearing me apart? You promised you'd never let me go... In the end, it's all a joke," Brittany continued.
Brittany's eyes filled with resentment, glaring fiercely at Joshua's back.
"Say something." Her voice was sharp.
Joshua felt like his heart was on fire, the pain rendering him speechless. Every inch of his skin ached.
Physical pain found release in numbness, but heartache offered no such escape. At its peak, it must be endured, a raw and open wound on the soul.
Each of Brittany's questions stabbed at his heart like a dagger, slow and deadly, tearing him apart bit by bit.
Joshua's muscles were sore, his legs weak, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.
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