Chapter 10
The second the words left Jonah’s mouth, he regretted them, but he was too angry to stop himself. He couldn’t understand why Kayla was doing any of this.
“Say something! Explain it to me!” he shouted.
“There’s nothing to explain,” Kayla said flatly. “You can think whatever you want. Like I said, just sign the divorce agreement. I’ll be back in Jolsa when it’s time to finalize the divorce procedures.”
Then, she hung up.
Jonah called again. But this time, the call didn’t go through.
While standing in the middle of the gutted apartment, surrounded by bare concrete and silence, Jonah felt a cold emptiness seep into his chest.
He’d loved Kayla so much. And now, the only thing she left him with was her signature on the divorce agreement.
He shredded the document in a fit of rage, tearing it to pieces, then walked out the front door without so much as a glance at Lily.
Lily stood there, surveying what was left of the space.
She had actually liked Kayla’s original design. It was beautiful and tasteful. It was kind of a shame it had to be torn apart.
Whatever–out with the old, in with the new. She’d redecorate the place once she and Jonah got legally married. It’d be even more gorgeous than before.
That night, Kayla had dinner with her parents before heading back home with them.
Even after all these years, her childhood bedroom hadn’t changed one bit. The pink floral bedding smelled like fresh fabric softener. It was definitely Martha’s choice.
Martha and Phillip could tell she’d been through something painful. They didn’t know the details, but they also didn’t ask. If she wanted to tell them, she would.
Martha cupped Kayla’s face gently, her eyes full of concern.
“You’ve lost so much weight. You look pale. Tomorrow, your dad’s making you chicken soup.”
“Alright,” Kayla grinned, wrapping her arm around Phillip’s. “I’ll eat whatever Dad makes.”
Phillip smiled, his face full of affection. “Alright then, I’ll head to the market tomorrow morning and buy fresh chicken. I’ve got to make some chicken noodle soup
for my precious daughter.”
The three of them laughed and chatted late into the night before finally heading to their rooms to sleep.
When she finally lay down in her bed, it felt like peace. But as soon as she thought of Jonah, the weight returned to her chest.
Unable to sleep, Kayla got up and pulled an old photo album from the bookshelf.
The first page was a photo of Jonah playing basketball in high school.
It had been eight years, and she still remembered the very first time she saw him.
Kayla’s parents had gone overseas for a year, and Kayla was sent to live with her aunt in Jolsa. She hadn’t transferred schools–just enrolled for her final year as a guest student.
She studied art and always had a camera with her.
On her first day at Jolsa High, she saw Jonah on the basketball court playing basketball.
Back then, his hair was a bit long, and sweaty bangs stuck to his forehead as he ran. He looked wild and free, completely in his element.
A white jersey and a flawless face–he was the center of attention without even trying.
Kayla instinctively lifted her camera and snapped a photo.
The flash went off. In that split second, every head turned to look at her.
The guys around Jonah laughed and started teasing him.
Another one of your fangirls, Jonah?”
“She didn’t even try to hide it–full–on photo, dude!”
“Hey, what grade are you in? I’ve never seen you before.”
Kayla stood frozen with the camera in her hands as her face reddened.
کامران
She didn’t know whether to walk away or stay. She was only 17 and was painfully shy.
Theis, right in front of everyone, Jonal walked over and stood by her side.
Chapter 10
“I’m Jonah, senior class eight. When you get that photo developed… Could I get a copy?”
At that moment, the setting sun cast a golden glow around him, like something out of a dream.
He didn’t even have to try. He just stood there, and Kayla’s heart was in chaos.
Later, Kayla once asked him why he came over to ask for the photo that day. Jonah said it was to help her out. She looked embarrassed, and he didn’t want her to feel alone.
What he didn’t know was that announcing his name, class, and asking for the photo only made it worse.
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The memory ended there.
Kayla closed the album. She didn’t need to flip through the rest. Every single photo in that heart–covered album was of Jonah from their senior year. If she was saying goodbye to this relationship, then she needed to say goodbye to the girl she was back then, too.
After pulling on a sweater, she took the album and a stack of her old diaries downstairs.
The night breeze was cool, and the scent of fall hung in the breeze. Without hesitation, Kayla discarded the memories–photos, pages, heartbreak, and all -into the trash.
