After I Stopped Being His Clingy Girlfriend

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Gus King burst out laughing.

“You? Going to Seaview City alone? Stop teasing me, sweetheart.”

I lowered my head. His reaction didn’t surprise me. Everyone in his circle knew I was the clingy girlfriend who couldn’t live without him.

We’d been together since college, and I’d grown used to depending on Gus. I asked his opinion on everything, from what to wear to which major to choose.

If he took even a few seconds too long to text me an update, I’d throw a fit.

He pinched my cheek. “You jealous little thing. Can’t you be more mature? I know I haven’t made enough time for you lately. Once this busy stretch is over, we’ll go see the ocean in Seaview City, just like you’ve always wanted.”

Then he leaned in to kiss me as usual, but I casually dodged him.

“I just put on my lipstick.”

He paused and looked me up and down, then gave his usual critique. “The white shoes looked better. The red ones were too flashy and didn’t suit you.”

I changed into the red stilettos. “But I think these look better.”

I smiled at the stunned Gus. “Wasn’t it you who said I should have a mind of my own?”

He opened his mouth, then finally just said he’d pick me up that evening.

After dinner with my friend, Gus still hadn’t arrived.

I waited another half hour at the restaurant. Just as I was about to call myself a ride, a familiar black car pulled up in front of me.

I opened the passenger door, but someone was already sitting there.

Gus’s junior labmate, Sophie Hart, pursed her lips.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know today was your anniversary. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have asked Gus to come with me to pick out a birthday present for my friend and made you wait so long…”

Gus explained, “I happened to be near the mall where she was. It was on my way, that’s all. Don’t overthink it.

“There’s some data at the institute I have to deal with right away. I’ll take you home first.”

He glanced at Sophie and licked his lips. “Sophie gets carsick, so let her sit up front.”

Then he looked at me nervously, as if he was afraid I’d make a scene and put Sophie in an awkward position.

I didn’t say anything. I got into the back seat on my own.

He glanced at me, surprised.

On the drive, they chatted about technical topics I didn’t understand and laughed now and then.

I sat in the back, trying to ignore my motion sickness. I felt like an outsider.

The road was bumpy, and Sophie accidentally spilled her drink. She rummaged through the glove compartment for a tissue and found a little Spider-Man doll.

Her eyes widened with delight. “This is so cute! Gus, you like Spider-Man too?”

Gus smiled. “Yeah. If you like it, you can have it.”

I looked up sharply.

Spider-Man was Gus’ favorite character. I’d crocheted the doll for his birthday last year, pricking my fingers until they were covered in blood blisters.

“Sophie,” I finally said.

Gus’ eyes flashed with the helpless resignation he’d expected. “Jenna, don’t be so petty. I’ll take you to see Spider-Man this weekend.”

I cut him off. I simply stood up, removed the hair clip from the doll’s head, and said nothing more.

Sophie happily tucked the doll into her bag.

Gus froze for a moment and instinctively stopped her. “Wait.”

But when Sophie looked at him innocently, he swallowed the words.

He kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, his brow slightly furrowed.

I closed my eyes and rested.

He seemed to have forgotten that Spider-Man only had one MJ.

I wasn’t keeping the man. Why keep his doll?

I’d fought with Gus many times because of Sophie.

The worst fight started when I found out Sophie had sent Gus two sets of sexy lingerie and asked him to help her choose.

The purple lace made my blood boil. I demanded hysterically, “You still think this isn’t crossing a line?”

He frowned impatiently. “We’re going on a research expedition to Frostreach in a few days. Sophie has sensitive skin and often has trouble sleeping.

“She asked me to help pick something comfortable to sleep in. Can you stop imagining things for once?

“Jenna, if you’ve got nothing better to do, go find a job instead of letting a man support you when you’re perfectly capable of working. I’m not your father. I don’t have to put up with you forever.”

Then he stormed out and slammed the door.

My chest hurt so much it was hard to breathe. I suddenly remembered what he’d said when he confessed his feelings for me: I could be his little girl for the rest of my life.

I’d graduated not long before and hadn’t found the right job yet, but I’d been supporting myself by writing novels.

Gus gave me the silent treatment for a whole week and didn’t come home.

So, as usual, I gave in first.

I found a job, then ran into his arms with a bouquet, crying.

He patted my head and sighed. “Don’t act like a child again. Grow up. You know I’ve only ever loved you.”

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, but inside, I felt strangely calm and numb.

Three days later, I found a spreadsheet in our shared documents.

It listed destinations around the world. Gus and Sophie had left messages in adjacent cells, like a secret world of their own.

Westhaven: [Gus: We can arrange it. We need to collect more ocean-current data.]

Seaview City: [Sophie: We’ve been there so many times. Never mind. That seafood place we tried last time wasn’t good at all. T_T]

[Gus: Haha, okay. Someone’s restaurant picks aren’t exactly great.]

[Sophie: But all the reviews were good!]

The North Isles: [Sophie: I want to see the Northern Lights!]

[Gus: Sure. Let’s go there.]

I read through all their notes and realized I’d been crying.

It turned out Gus took another woman to Seaview City again and again—the place I’d dreamed of visiting with him.

Once I’d collected myself, I booked a flight to Seaview City.

I watched the sunset from the palm-lined promenade and walked along the beach late into the night. I suddenly realized that traveling alone could be fun too.

When I returned to Newford, I agreed to the company’s offer to transfer me to Lakeview City.

Wendy Wells teased me. “Didn’t you used to say you didn’t want a long-distance relationship? You always refused to go.”

I smiled. “I’ve figured some things out.”

It turned out I wasn’t incapable of living without Gus.

She nodded and stamped my transfer request.

“Your new team lead went to the same university as you. He was a few years ahead of you, so I think you’ll get along.”

After knowing each other for more than ten years and dating for five, it wasn’t easy to go back to being strangers.

Because I wanted to do right by our relationship, I decided to explain everything to Gus in person.

The people at the research institute said he wasn’t there and they didn’t know where he’d gone.

Sophie came out of the lab, the Spider-Man doll hanging from her bag.

When she saw me, she smiled knowingly. “Gus is at an off-site conference. Visitors can’t stay long at the institute. I was just about to head home, too. Why don’t you come rest at my place? It’s just a short walk from here.”

She slipped her arm through mine with forced familiarity and pulled me along before I could refuse.

Sophie said she’d rented a nearby loft to make her research easier. It was small but had everything she needed.

As soon as I stepped inside, I noticed a pair of men’s slippers.

I froze for a moment, about to ask her about them, then spotted a mug by the entryway and went completely still.

It was Gus’s mug.

He used to get so caught up in his research that he’d forget to eat and drink. I worried about him, so I prepared different tea blends for him every day and made him send me pictures.

Now it sat right in front of me, as if mocking how little my devotion had been worth.

Sophie noticed where I was looking and smiled. “Jenna, don’t get the wrong idea. It’s just more convenient for our research. Gus only stays here a few nights a month.”

My fingers began to tremble. I looked around and saw matching throw pillows, the watch Gus had worn for years…

His presence was everywhere.

“Gus always said you nagged him to take care of himself and made him those weird tea blends. He’d report back to you, then secretly dump them out every time.”

She giggled. “Jenna, men are like kids. They’re easy to handle. Next time you come over, I’ll teach you to make my special chicken stew. He loves it.”

Then Sophie seemed to remember something.

“Oh, that reminds me. The last time you and Gus had a fight, I was the one who talked him into going home. Couples are bound to argue sometimes. Just talk it out, and everything will be fine.”

While I’d been crying until my eyes were swollen and racking my brain to figure out how to make up with Gus, he’d been here, enjoying the comfort of another woman who knew just how to soothe him.

I’d just noticed that the loft had only one bedroom.

My stomach lurched.

Just then, the door keypad beeped as someone entered the code.

“Did you see the report I finished yesterday? I thought I left it on the living room table.”

Gus changed into his slippers with the ease of someone who knew the place well, then met my eyes.

His face instantly went pale.

“Jenna, I can explain.”

He urgently took my hand. “Our place is too far from the institute, and the commute is a hassle. I only come here once in a while to rest or take care of work. There’s really nothing going on between Sophie and me.

“As for the matching couple’s stuff, it was just cheaper to buy two. It didn’t mean anything.”

When I showed no reaction, his tone turned cold.

“You’re making this a problem because you’re too clingy and won’t give me any space. Sophie and I are just friends. It’s up to you whether you believe me.

“Jenna, every relationship needs a little space. We’ve both made mistakes, so let’s meet halfway. I’ll move my things out of here by next week, okay?”

The ringing in my ears slowly faded. When I came to, Gus looked uneasy under my stare. He hesitated, then said my name.

After a long pause, I calmly pulled my hand away and forced a smile. “Okay. I understand.”

Gus hadn’t expected me to let it go so easily this time. He seemed unable to respond.

“…What?”

“I believe there’s nothing going on between you. You’re her senior in the lab. Of course you’d look out for her.”

He couldn’t find anything to say. He just followed behind me in silence.

We’d almost reached the entrance to the apartment complex when he finally asked, “You’re not mad that I’ve been living with another woman?”

“Didn’t you already explain?”

“But before…” He trailed off.

I felt tired and quickened my pace.

I’d spent so long chasing after Gus that I’d almost forgotten that I didn’t need to discuss a breakup. I only needed to tell the other person.

There was no point in arguing. I didn’t want any complications before my transfer went through.

[My parents are coming to Newford today. You’ve always wanted to meet them, right? Let’s have lunch together. I’ll introduce you.]

[How much longer are you going to stay at your best friend’s place? If you’re going to act like this, why pretend to be so understanding in front of Sophie?]

“Jenna, I’m warning you now. My parents want a daughter-in-law who’s mature and well-mannered. If you keep acting like a child, I can’t promise they’ll like you.”

I was packing at home when I saw Gus’ messages coming in one after another. I simply turned on Do Not Disturb.

Gus put down his phone, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. My “tantrum” gave him back some of the security he’d felt in the past.

He walked into my office carrying a gift: the necklace I’d always wanted but had never been able to justify buying.

He could hardly wait to see my surprised, touched, guilt-ridden reaction.

That was the Jenna Morgan who couldn’t live without him.

In the past, whenever we argued, all he had to do was beckon, and I’d come smiling back into his arms.

Besides, he’d put so much thought into the gift this time. He wanted to have a serious talk about our future.

“Hello, I’m looking for Jenna Morgan.”

The receptionist gave him a strange look and double-checked.

“Sir, Jenna submitted a transfer request last Friday. Are you sure you have the right person?”