I thought I had rejected him decisively enough, but Connor seemed to have misunderstood something. He seemed convinced that I had feelings for him and reached out to grab me: “Why? Weren’t we getting along well before?”
I was speechless: “Who was getting along well with you?” How absurd.
I brushed off his hand, but he suddenly increased his force, lowering his eyes: “I know I have nothing now and am not worthy of you, but I will work hard in the future, and all the money I earn will be for you to spend. Don’t reject me.”
I was stunned, not knowing whether to marvel at his excessive drama or at the fact that he was already making empty promises when he
wasn’t even my boyfriend.
He kept talking, but his hand was restless, reaching for my face. I kept backing away until my back met a solid chest.
Looking up, it was Liam.
His tightly clenched jaw revealed his current bad mood. He seemed very angry, his breathing heavy, clearly on the edge of rage.
“She said she doesn’t like you. Can’t you understand human language?” he said.
He pulled me behind him and slammed a cardboard box onto Connor’s head with a loud thud that made everyone’s heart skip a beat.
“Stay away from her. Get lost.”
For a moment, the whole scene was silent. It was noon, and there weren’t many people in front of the bookstore. Everyone held their breath
watching this side.
Liam seemed to wake up from his rage, his eyes flashing a hint of regret when he looked at me, then he let go of his hand.
It wasn’t until he left silently that my roommate came to her senses, muttering: “Holy shit, holy shit.”
The short–haired girl also ran over, looking at me and then at the disheveled Connor, her face full of conflict: “Should I call the manager…”
I quickly stopped her: “No need, it’s all because of me. I’ll handle it.”
Calling the manager might cause Liam to lose this job. I didn’t want everyone to look at him with strange eyes again.
Lasked my roommate to take Connor to the hospital and transferred him some money for medical expenses.
When I found Liam, he was leaning against a shelf, expressionless, his eyes dark as he looked at me.
In the dim warehouse, he looked lonely and irritable.
1spoke up: “Liam, let’s talk.”
As I got closer, this surface calmness shattered. Liam reached out and hugged my waist, burying his head on my shoulder, his voice hoarse.
“Aria, I told you, I’m sick.”
“When I can’t control myself, I become like just now. If you’re scared, don’t come provoke me anymore.”
12:12 AM A
<
I had seen his medical report. It was mild bipolar disorder.
Also called manic depression, it manifests as manic or depressive episodes when it occurs.
I patted his back: “I’m not scared. I’ll accompany you for treatment. It can be cured if you cooperate with the treatment.”
Liam’s breath was close to my ear: “Do you know, when you don’t come looking for me, I can hold back from finding you, but once you come, I can’t help but want more.”
I looked into his eyes and said word by word: “I know, but I just like you. I like you no matter how you are.”
After a long gaze, he sighed softly: “Aria, I’m very possessive. Being with me, maybe I’ll get jealous even if you say an extra word to someone else.”
I said: “Mm, I’ve already thrown away the roses. You should know, I’m allergic to pollen.”
He said: “I also tend to be insecure.”
I replied: “Okay, then I’ll tell you I love you every day from now on.”
The force around my waist tightened, and I heard Liam curse softly.
He cupped my face, fiercely: “Aria, did you know I liked you and deliberately come to tease me?”
I finally smiled, kissing him on the cheek: “Yes, someone tipped me off that you liked me, so I came to see. I didn’t expect to fall in love with you at first sight.”
Liam’s kiss was just like him, restrained yet with a hint of agitation. I was robbed of air and strength, my whole body feeling like it was melting into water. Only his support kept me from sliding to the ground.
He seemed unable to understand how his well–hidden secret love had been discovered by me.
It’s magic, the magic that 28–year–old you and I cast together.
“Liam and I are together now.”
When my 28–year–old self heard this news, she sent me a congratulations.
I said: “After being beaten up by Liam, Connor Sullivan never came looking for me again. I think he won’t come in the future either. In the future… has anything changed on your side?”
Disappointingly, she replied: “No.”
She comforted me saying: “Don’t worry. The me from before missed Liam, but you didn’t miss him. That’s enough.”
Although she said this, I felt a faint regret in my heart. It’s precisely because Liam is by my side now that I find it harder to imagine how the other me lives in a world without Liam.
Why? I had clearly changed her past.
Putting myself in her shoes, she must be very sad now.
I wanted to comfort her but didn’t know where to start. Instead, she took the initiative to bring up: “You’ve done well, but there’s one more thing you need to pay special attention to.”
I asked: “What is it?”
The text message read: “Christmas.”
On Christmas in 2020, Liam got into a fight near the school. Because the situation was quite serious, Liam was detained for seven days and put on academic probation by the school.
<
On Christmas in 2020, Liam got into a fight near the school. Because the situation was quite serious, Liam was detained for seven days and put on academic probation by the school.
According to my future self, the reason why Liam acted violently had always been a mystery.
Before this incident, although his family background wasn’t good, his academic performance was excellent, almost perfect scores in his major courses. With his abilities, he would definitely be able to change people’s prejudices against him within a few years. But after that incident, it was uncertain whether he could graduate smoothly, let alone the high medical compensation he had to bear.
Just reading the text made me feel heartbroken.
My love, it seems heaven deliberately gave him many trials. An unfortunate childhood, an unrequited love unknown to others, these were not enough, it even wanted to ruin his most beautiful youth.
I took this matter to heart, reminding Liam every few days to use words instead of fists when encountering problems.
“Okay, I promise you,” Liam said, holding my hand, with an attitude of agreeing to whatever I said.
I felt relieved.
“But,” he changed his tone, “there’s only one situation where I can’t do it. If you’re in danger, I’ll go crazy.”
I reached out to cover his mouth. Everything was fine, why mention going crazy? Knock on wood.
On Christmas Day, I wished I could tie Liam to me 24 hours a day.
Fortunately, we went out on a date for the whole day and nothing happened. I could finally put down my worries and prepared to call a car back
to school.
When passing by that trendy dessert shop, Liam said: “I’m going to buy something.”
I knew what he wanted to buy and hesitated: “Let me go with you.”
Liam smiled and pinched my face, “Why are you so clingy today?”
I glared at him, and he laughed: “Wait for me at the door. It’s crowded inside, be careful not to get pushed around.”
While waiting for Liam, a red sports car stopped nearby. A man and a woman got out. I glanced casually and realized I knew both of them.
The man was Connor Sullivan, who hadn’t appeared in front of me for a long time. The woman was the beauty queen from the Business School, a rich and beautiful girl.
They walked towards me together. Connor’s expression froze when he saw me, and the beauty queen beside him also paused, then let out a
scream.
I instinctively turned around to look, and what I saw almost gave me psychological trauma.
There was a man behind me, who had taken off his pants in front of me.
Even after being discovered, he wasn’t afraid. He grinned at me, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
This was a perverted exhibitionist.
Holy crap.
I ran a few steps to the side, instinctively calling out: “Liam!”
As soon as I called, someone pulled me over and shielded me behind them.
It was Liam, still holding the chocolate muffin he had bought for me in one hand.
12:12 AM A
<
His lips were tightly pressed together, his eyes fierce, and without hesitation, he punched the man down with one blow.
The man swayed and fell directly to the ground.
Liam kicked him, kicking as if to kill. The man lay on the ground, his body curled up in pain. Liam was about to kick a second time when I finally reacted and pulled him away.
“Liam! That’s enough, stop!”
I touched his face, making him look at me, “I’m fine. Do you remember what you promised me? Please don’t fight anymore, okay?”
I then realized his eyes were red. He really was going crazy, like an enraged lion.
I regretted it so much. I had wanted to keep him away from school on Christmas Day, away from potential dangers. I didn’t expect that going out on a date would lead to encountering a flasher.
Liam looked at me, gradually calming down.
Such a big incident naturally led to someone calling the police. Fortunately, Liam stopped in time, and the beaten man could still stand up on his own, not to the extent of needing an ambulance.
After we finished giving our statements at the police station, I nervously asked the police: “Is this incident serious? Will we be detained? Will the school give us disciplinary action?”
