I heard he’d stopped getting into fights, all because of Sophia.
Apparently, he’d even turned a new leaf and started actually studying.
His friends tried to get him to hit up the internet café, but Sophia whispered something to him: “You still haven’t memorized your English vocabulary.”
Xavier sighed, slumping in his seat. “My family’s strict. I can’t go.”
I got updates like this from my deskmate every day.
But whenever they saw me approaching, they’d go silent and quickly return to whatever they were doing.
“She’s so pitiful,” one of them muttered.
“Yeah, she chased Xavier for ages, only for him to get snatched up by that poor little freshman.”
Pitiful? Please.
I had my study-abroad paperwork all set. Once I passed the Japanese test, I’d be on my way to studying journalism, my dream major.
My fresh start was right around the corner.
That afternoon, on my way home from school, Xavier’s mom stopped me.
“Aria, Xavier forgot his medicine again. Could you bring it to him?”
I wanted to say no.
But when I saw the bruise on her wrist, I sighed and nodded. “Fine.”
I texted Xavier, “Where are you?”
It took a while, but he finally sent me a location: a pool hall.
I knew that place from my past life.
When I got there, I was immediately hit with the sharp smell of smoke. It made me want to gag.
Xavier was right in the middle of a game, surrounded by a pile of cash.
I walked up, dropped the medicine on the table, and said flatly, “Your mom asked me to bring this.”
Xavier didn’t even look up. “Who told you to come?”
I didn’t respond. I just turned to leave, but someone stepped in my path.
“Xavier, is this your girlfriend?”
Xavier smirked, grabbed a cigarette, and tucked it behind his ear. “You think that’s possible?”
Just then, Sophia walked in, carrying her backpack.
She immediately started coughing the second she entered.
Xavier shot up, putting himself between her and the smoke like some kind of bodyguard.
“Put out all the cigarettes,” he barked.
The guy with yellow teeth from earlier grinned.
“Looks like the real girlfriend’s here.”
Sophia’s face turned bright red.
“Xavier, don’t talk like that. The teacher said we, ”
“I know.”
Xavier reached out and tapped her nose. “Be good, call me ‘brother,’ and I’ll let you go.”
Sophia gasped, pointing at the cigarette behind his ear. “Xavier, didn’t you promise me you’d quit smoking?”
Xavier glanced at me, and suddenly, I remembered. Back when we were together, I’d begged him to quit. I had asthma, and the smoke always made me sick.
He never even pretended to try. He’d blow smoke rings in my face and smirk, saying, “Can’t do it.”
A bitter smile curled on my lips as I turned to leave. But before I could, someone grabbed my arm.
“Don’t go, little sister.”
“Xavier, come on, hurry up. It’s two on two. My girlfriend’s here. Who’s gonna play on your side?”
