Chapter 4

Several days later, it was the summer holidays.

My family and Carl's had agreed to spend some time together at the beach.

However, when we arrived at the airport, I saw Joanna waiting for us with her luggage.

Once we got to the beach, Joanna insisted we go diving.

I immediately refused, "I don't want to go diving since it'll be uncomfortable for my ears."

In response, Joanna clung to my arm and whined, "Come onnnn, Becca. We're already here, so it would be a waste not to go."

Then she leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "Carl told me that he wants to apologize to you and has a surprise waiting for you down there."

Carl came over then and took my hand. "Becca, just think of it as spending time with me, okay?"

With that, the two didn't give me the chance to refuse a second time, grabbing one arm each and dragging me over to the diving site.

The icy seawater shocked my nerves.

At first, Carl and the diving instructor kept close to me, one on each side as they led me down.

Once we were deep enough, Carl unfurled a banner that read, "Becca, can we not break up?"

For a brief moment, my heart softened, and I could even ignore the pain of the water pressure pressing on my ears.

However, in the next second, Joanna swam over and pulled Carl away. They flitted among a shoal of colorful tropical fish, their demeanor intimate and flirtatious.

The warmth that had only just crept over my heart swiftly retreated, leaving it cold once more.

Eventually, it seemed even my brain was screaming in agony. My entire body trembled violently as I signaled toward Carl.

But Carl was completely oblivious, too busy taking photos of Joanna to notice me. He failed to see as my face slowly went white beneath my mask, nor did he notice that my body was gradually sinking further down.

By the time he finally remembered me, the diving instructor had already hauled me out of the water and sent me to the hospital.

When I opened my eyes next, there was still a tearing pain deep in my ears, though it was fainter now.

The doctor told me that I had been this close to rupturing my eardrums, at which point it would've been impossible to cure anymore.

Carl pushed open the door and entered. When he saw how frail I seemed, he said in a shaking voice, "Becca, while we were underwater, why didn't you tell me that your ears were hurting?"

I stared at him calmly. "I did want to tell you, but you had already gone off with Joanna and couldn't be bothered with me."

Carl's face fell, and he instinctively replied, "If you knew that your ears would be affected, why did you still go diving?"

"You two forced me into it, remember?"

That rendered him speechless.

Every time, he and Joanna were the ones forcing me to do something, yet whenever something happened, he pinned the blame on me, saying it was my fault.

"Carl, just what goes through your mind every time you take my hearing aid away from me?"

My sudden question had Carl visibly tensing in surprise, though a flicker of panic flashed through his eyes.

"It's all just a joke, Becca. Don't overthink it. I simply didn't want you feeling inferior about yourself."

I laughed at the utterly ridiculous excuse. He was well aware that I would get hurt if I couldn't hear anything, yet he still chose to take my hearing aid away as a way to vent his emotions.

When I remained silent, Carl rubbed my head gently.

"Once you transfer over to the Music Department, Joanna and I will always be by your side."

I gave him a half-hearted smile in response.

Too bad for him, that day would never come.

…

Third-Person POV

After returning from their vacation, Carl started attending intensive vocal training alongside Joanna.

In the past, Rebecca would've definitely tagged along in a bid to spend time with him, but this time, she hadn't insisted on coming.

Since her ears had been bothering her lately, he thought it might be for the best if she remained home to rest and recuperate. Otherwise, if she had come along, he would've had to expend time and effort taking care of her.

All through the summer holidays, he didn't contact Rebecca at all, not even once.

When the holidays were over and they had to return to campus, he happened to walk past the administration office when a thought occurred to him.

Entering the office, he asked, "Sir, has Rebecca Jink's application to switch departments been approved?"

The administrator shot him a curious look. "You mean that young lady who wanted to transfer departments? She canceled her application."

Carl's mind went blank as a loud buzzing rang in his ears. "What? How is that possible?"

"I heard that she was taking a leave of absence from school, so there was no need for her to transfer departments anymore."