Chapter 3

The next morning, I passed the student council interview on the spot.

On my way back to the dorm, I received a call from a delivery service. But I hadn't ordered anything online.

I made quick work of opening the package, and inside, I found a beautifully wrapped velvet gift box that held two lipsticks. One was regular-sized, and the other was a miniature-sized one, both in the exact shade that I liked.

Shortly after, Joshua video called me. After a brief hesitation, I ultimately answered it.

"That's for you."

My heart skipped a beat. Had he finally regained his conscience? Was he calling to apologize? Or had he remembered that my birthday was in a few days and got me a gift early? In that instant, hope surged in me again.

I was just about to give in when Joshua rubbed his brow and said with a trace of impatience in his voice, "Alright, can you stop making a fuss now? The small one is yours. As for the other one, Lana got elected as student representative, so you can give it to her in person as a congratulatory gift."

I laughed out of sheer anger. In my three-year relationship with Joshua, he had never given me a single gift for any holiday or occasion. Sometimes, I would be envious of other girls who received necklaces or couple rings from their boyfriends.

We had all been students back then, so I understood that the things weren't worth much. But the thought behind them was what really mattered.

I had cried and made scenes to get Joshua to get me a gift, but he had only looked at me with disdain. "I don't play the simp."

Yet, he could remember Alanna's preferences with perfect accuracy and quietly surprise her. When the three of us went shopping, he would, under the identity of my boyfriend, conveniently pay for her things.

The most ridiculous part of all this was that the first gift I, his actual girlfriend, ever received from him was a freebie that Alanna didn't want.

I let out a cold laugh, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is this some kind of charity? A freebie Alanna doesn't want, and you casually pass it to me? I'm not that cheap!"

Joshua's brows furrowed, and a lecturing note entered his tone. "Claire, what jealous nonsense are you spinning now? Lana genuinely treats you well! Now that she won the election, don't you think that, as her friend, you should get her a gift?

"This is common sense! I'm teaching you how to conduct yourself! Don't be stubborn, okay?"

I retorted sarcastically, "And what's the logic in you spending all day getting cozy and ambiguous with your girlfriend's best friend? Is that appropriate conduct too? Oh, wait—ex-girlfriend now!"

Joshua's expression darkened immediately, but I just hung up and blocked his number.

A week into the semester, I joined the student council's publicity department and took over the school's official social media account.

Every day after classes, I went to learn how to write copy, use Photoshop, and edit videos. College life got really busy and fulfilling.

Joshua seemed not to have noticed that I'd blocked him. He still chatted enthusiastically with Alanna in the group. But it didn't matter. I was better off without a boyfriend and a best friend with no sense of boundaries.

At noon on Saturday, Joshua and Alanna showed up at the school gate. I hadn't wanted to see them again, but I figured this was a good chance to make things clear in person.

When I got there, Joshua was leaning slightly forward, helping Alanna tidy her hair. The two of them were so close that their lips were almost touching.

A cold sneer tugged at my lips. Wasn't flirting online enough? Did they really have to travel 200 miles to Lakehaven just to put on a show of affection right in front of me?

When Alanna noticed me, she pushed Joshua away at once to greet me.

"Clary! You're here! I didn't bring a mirror, so I had to borrow your boyfriend for a second! We're all close, so I'm sure you won't mind, right?"

I forced a faint smile. "Mm. Do as you like."

Joshua suddenly looked up and stared at me. Then, his gaze traveled downward, finally resting on my empty hands. "Well, where is it?"

I answered indifferently, "I threw them away."