He had also realized there was a problem between us.
Last time when he exposed my overtime lie, I was ready to take the opportunity to have a good talk with him.
But he used the business trip lie to avoid it, preferring to stay at a friend’s house and not face me, rather than directly addressing
our issues.
“Zachary, constantly avoiding isn’t the solution. You know we need to talk.”
“Okay, can we talk after I get better? His eyes were full of pleading.
“Fine,” I nodded. “Then rest well. I’m going back to work.”
“Olivia! Aren’t you going to stay?‘ he looked at me pitifully.
D
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“It’s just a cold,” I said coldly. “You’re a grown man, do you need to be so dramatic?”
Hearing these words, Zachary froze and suddenly looked up at me.
From his hurt expression, I could tell he had caught on.
These were the exact words he had once said to me.
Last winter, I had a fever of 102°F, and I went to the hospital for an IV drip in the evening.
Seeing everyone else had someone with them, while I was all alone, I couldn’t help but call Zachary, asking him to come keep me company at the hospital.
He coldly refused: “You’re a grown woman, do you need to be so dramatic? It’s just a cold. Can’t you get an IV without me there?”
I could hear loud music in the background, and Chloe shouting: “Zachary, it’s your turn to sing!”
I had a severe cold, but he was out karaoke singing with his friends.
At that moment, I felt a chill to my core.
Shame on me for being so weak. Later, we only gave each other the silent treatment for a few days before I was coaxed back by a few words from him.
Zachary must have remembered this incident too. His voice trembled: “I’m sorry.”
The words he had spoken himself cut like a sharp sword, but he had been oblivious to it.
Only when the sword was turned back on him did he understand what it meant to “wound with cruel words.””
Such a person, unless they experience it themselves, will never know what it means to empathize.
Chloe, standing beside us, couldn’t bear to watch. She looked at Zachary sympathetically: “You’re the one who’s sick, and she, as your girlfriend, doesn’t care at all and is just going to leave you here. Why are you the one apologizing?”
I laughed softly: “See? You don’t lack someone to care for and look after you.”
“Of course I won’t be cold–hearted like you. I’ll take good care of Zachary!” Chloe said loudly, holding her head high.
I had nothing more to say and turned to leave.
11
That night, Zachary didn’t come home.
He sent me a message saying he was still staying at Mike’s place for now and would come back to have a serious talk with me once
he felt better.
Actually, regarding our relationship, I had already made my decision, which was to break up.
The words “break up” are easy to say, but it’s quite difficult to truly make up one’s mind.
Zachary and I had been together for too long. From our junior year in college until now, five years after graduation, we had been dating for seven years.
In the first few years, we were truly in love and genuinely happy.
During college when we had more time our dates covered every corner of this city
D
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During college, when we had more time, our dates covered every corner of this city.andard
This city witnessed our beautiful past, and we took photos at every scenic spot.
During graduation season, we helped each other polish our resumes and attended job fairs together.
After securing jobs, we happily ran to the top of a hill to drink beer and sing loudly.
We rented an apartment and carefully decorated our little home together, imagining a beautiful future.
Back then, every day was happy.
When did things start to change between us?
I guess it was when Zachary’s heart began to wander.
To be precise, it was when Chloe reappeared in our lives.
In college, I had heard Chloe’s name before.
At that time, Zachary and I were in the same department of the student union, and we got along well.
I heard from his friends that he was pursuing a girl named Chloe.
However, since Chloe and I weren’t in the same major, I had never met her.
In my eyes, Zachary was very outstanding. He was capable and became the head of our department in his sophomore year, groomed to be the next student union president.
He excelled academically, winning scholarships every semester.
He was also very loyal. Once, when there was a problem with an event organized by the student union, it was mainly the fault of another member of our department, but Zachary stepped up and took all the responsibility himself.
Whenever i encountered any problems and asked him for help, he would always patiently guide and assist me.
I think my liking for Zachary started with admiration.
1
Besides his inner qualities, he also had outer beauty – a tall, straight figure and a handsome face that you couldn’t find fault with.
In my eyes, Zachary was perfect, someone who would inevitably make my heart flutter.
But such a perfect person had pursued Chloe for two years without success.
After Chloe started dating someone else, Zachary visibly became dejected, even his smile tinged with bitterness.
I felt sorry for him and thought it wasn’t fair.
How could Chloe not like someone so excellent?
In our junior year, on an ordinary evening after a student union meeting, I gathered my courage and confessed to Zachary.
To my delight, he accepted.
After we started dating, Zachary became happier day by day, and his smiles increased.
From the way he looked at me, I knew he liked me too.
