Ned had just taken a step toward me when Scarlett suddenly hugged him from the back."You can't do this to me! Even if I were to die, I will make sure that you die with me!"With that, she dragged Ned toward the pond nearby and jumped.I stood rooted in place without even moving a muscle, just watching them as they struggled in the pond.It wasn't until the security guards were called that Ned and Scarlett were rescued from the water and bundled off in an ambulance.I inhaled deeply. It was as if I could hear a voice in my head that said, "Enough is enough."…Ever since then, Ned never came looking for me again. However, Hazel called me up and told me some sensational news."Did you know? Ned withdrew from college! He said that he was going to redo his SATs and come looking for you in Dayward next year!"Hazel described everything to me as if she were telling me a joke. "He'd put in all of his effort last time, and coupled with those adjustment marks, he still only barely q
Ned's eyes shook, his pupils narrowing as he tensed up all over."You don't want me anymore because I swapped out your application form?"His voice was so small that I could barely hear him."Didn't you switch to Jafferton College for Scarlett?" I reminded him quietly. "Do you even remember how many times you abandoned me for her?"Ned's breathing escalated. His eyes also wouldn't stop blinking. "I just… I just thought she was rather pitiful. She's weak and has nobody to look after her at a college so far away. Believe me when I say that I don't like her like that!"I felt bitterness creeping into and gnawing at my heart."But none of these should be the reason for you to think that you can make decisions about my future without my input!" I said softly.Coupled with the bitter feelings I'd harbored over the past few days, I continued, "Ned Nicholson, I only agreed to apply for Astrophysics at Hale University with you so that you could fulfill your dream. However, my dream has a
I had blocked Ned's number before pulling my suitcase after me into Dayward University.It wasn't that scary going to university alone after all.I had a few oversized suitcases with me, but as soon as I walked in, a whole group of seniors fell over themselves wanting to help me bring them to my dorm.My dorm mates were also very warm and welcoming. We got close fairly quickly, and they brought me out and introduced me to all sorts of delicious food just outside the campus grounds.I gradually forgot what life with Ned by my side had been like. After all, he was in Westward and I was in Eastland, with hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of distance between us. I thought that it was going to be difficult for us to ever cross paths again.…However, the next night, Ned suddenly appeared before my eyes.And I wasn't alone when he appeared.One of the seniors who'd helped me with my bags and suitcases earlier, Aaron Smithson, was standing in front of me as he bashfully handed me a
Ned had never been to my home. He was completely flabbergasted from the moment he stepped into the mansion and caught sight of the luxurious decor inside.He had no idea that I'd come from a wealthy family.Dad was sitting in his designated chair in the living room with a dozen bodyguards lined up behind him. His eyes never left Ned, and Ned couldn't help the beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.It was a long time later before Dad finally averted his gaze and asked in a calm voice, "So, you're my daughter's best friend? She even chose to major in astrophysics because of you."Ned found himself shivering uncontrollably."Actually, I don't mind which major she chooses as long as she's happy with it. However, she changed her mind at the very last minute, on the final application submission day. Do you know why?"Despite his fear, Ned still exclaimed hoarsely, "What? Mimi really changed her mind? Didn't she promise to come with me to Jafferton College?"Dad's eyes hardened
Ned couldn't believe it and kept calling me on my phone. However, he couldn't get through to me.One of the college seniors in the admissions office checked the name list of new students and told him carefully, "Hey, these are all of the people who are enrolled in the new semester this year. I really can't find your friend's name in the list. Are you sure that she enrolled in our college?""I'm sure! I was the one who filled it in for her. It's definitely Jafferton College!"Ned snatched the list from the senior's hands. He would rather believe that the college admissions office had made a mistake than accept that I'd switched out the doctored application form without his knowledge.Scarlett still had her suitcase with her as she stood behind Ned, watching helplessly."Ned, why don't we just register ourselves first? We can always go and find Mimi a little later to ask her what's going on."Her tone then turned accusatory. "Really, Mimi's getting ridiculous. I can't believe she b
Ned sent me a few photos, along with captions, just before his flight.Both he and Scarlett were in the photos, looking at the camera with wide smiles on their faces.He wrote in his caption, "We're off now, Mimi! See you in a week at Jafferton!"I stared at the photo for a very long time before quietly setting my phone down.…For the following days, Ned occasionally shared some of his travel photos with me. There were photos of both of them hiking in the mountains, surfboarding out at sea, and having fun at an outdoor barbecue restaurant.Every single place he went had been places I'd been dearly wanting to go for a long time.I couldn't help the bitterness crawling into my heart. I was the one who was supposed to be with Ned while we experienced all of these, but now, he was doing them with another woman.After that, I started wholeheartedly preparing the things I would need for my enrollment at Dayward University. Eventually, I received the acceptance letter from them as we