Chapter 2

My phone vibrated beside my pillow. I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling.

It was the third day after our breakup. During those three days, I had blocked Jaxson on every social media platform and went to stay at the school's dormitory. He hadn't come looking for me once.

He was convinced I was just throwing a tantrum. He assumed that I'd go back to him and apologize in a few days.

The withdrawal was unbearable. After all, one wouldn't just forget a habit that had stuck around for 18 years.

When I woke up in the morning, I'd instinctively reach for my phone to check for Jaxson's good morning message. Whenever I passed a convenience store, I'd automatically think about buying him a bottle of long black.

Whenever I came across a funny video, my finger would unconsciously drift toward the share button before I suddenly caught myself and smiled bitterly at our chat window.

On the morning of the fourth day, I forced myself out of bed, washed up, got dressed, and headed to the city library to look up some information about Wesmuth University's early admission program.

As I pushed open the rusty iron door of my dorm building, the warm morning breeze rushed toward me. I kept my head down as I walked out.

Suddenly, I bumped into a warm chest.

"You still don't watch where you're going, huh?" A deep, amused voice sounded above my head.

My whole body stiffened.

I looked up to see Jaxson smiling down at me. He was wearing the black shirt I'd bought him and carrying a plastic bag containing steaming hot potato rolls from the famous shop downtown. It was from the one where people had to wait in line for two hours.

"Are you still mad about that night?" Jaxson asked.

He gently pressed the bag of rolls against my cheek, wearing a placating smile.

"I didn't stay with her afterward. I really did have her roommate come pick her up. To make it up to you, I got in line at 5:00 am for these from that famous old shop. Can't you forgive me, please, Mrs. Ludlam?"

By giving a half-hearted concession and using my familiar pet name, he thought he could smooth over the way he'd belittled me that night.

If this had been the old me, I definitely would have given in. But now, the smell wafting from the box of rolls only made my stomach churn.

"Do you not understand plain English?" I asked irritably.

I didn't take them. Instead, I took a step back.

Then, I added, "We've already broken up."

The smile at the corner of his lips froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

"Come on, Mira." He sighed, sounding a little helpless. "I know I didn't think things through at the bar that night, and I hurt your feelings. But I was thinking about the bigger picture, wasn't I? We're all classmates."

As he spoke, he pulled an envelope out of his crossbody bag. "To make it up to you, look what I've got."

He opened the envelope and handed it to me.

It was a travel itinerary for a graduation trip to an island. It included not only a detailed schedule but also two first-class plane tickets to Sundale for the following week.

I froze, my eyes sweeping over the place names on the itinerary. It included diving at Centora Island, watching the sunset at Coconut Bay, and even dining at the cliffside restaurant I'd casually mentioned just once.

Every single detail was something I'd once excitedly planned out with him.

"I was always busy with competitions before and neglected you," Jaxson said, looking at me with utmost sincerity.

He promised, "This time, I'll turn off my phone and ignore everyone. I'll spend the whole trip with you. Think of it as making up for not properly celebrating your getting into Wesmuth University, okay?"

Looking at the itinerary, I wavered.

After 18 years together, he knew every one of my weak spots. He knew exactly how to get the biggest compromise from me with the smallest effort.

Two hours in line for a box of potato rolls and one carefully planned itinerary were supposed to make me forget all the favoritism he'd shown another woman.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

My voice sounded a little hoarse as I asked, "Can you really do it? Can you keep your phone off the entire trip and spend the whole time with me only?"

His eyes lit up immediately.

Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his hand and swore, "I promise. I won't break my word."

I stared at him for a moment before taking the itinerary from him. "Fine. I'll see you at the airport next Wednesday."