Chapter 2

After gazing at the message for a while, I replied, "No thanks. I'll get there myself."

I quickly received a call from Philip, but I ignored it.

He sent another text message. "Are you still angry? Alright, then. I ordered that strawberry cake you like. I'll have it delivered to you tomorrow as an apology gift."

In the past, my heart probably would've softened at that.

He knew what I liked and remembered all my dietary restrictions. He would also make me hot chocolate when I was on my period.

So, I kept telling myself that he liked me.

However, I finally realized that it was so tiring having to constantly remind myself that he had feelings for me.

The farewell dinner was being held in a restaurant outside the college.

When I arrived the next day, the private room was already more than half full.

There was an empty seat next to Philip.

When he saw me, his eyes lit up, and he waved at me. "Stella, over here."

Before I could even make my way over to him, Mandy came in with a stack of yearbooks in her arms. "Help me out, Philip. These yearbooks are for the teachers, so I'm afraid of mixing them up."

She very naturally placed her things down beside Philip, then sat down next to him.

"Sorry, Stella. I'm just going to sit here for a moment," she said. "I'll surrender the seat in a bit."

"No thanks," I replied shortly.

I pulled out a chair at another table and sat down there.

Philip frowned. "Stella."

I didn't look his way. Instead, I focused on pouring myself some water. I kept my head down.

Someone at the table piped up teasingly, "Did you make your girlfriend angry, Philip?"

Philip relaxed and smiled. "Nonsense. She's just sulking and waiting for me to cheer her up."

Mandy bit her lip. "It's all my fault. If I'd known that Stella would mind this much, I wouldn't have asked you to stand behind me while we took our graduation photo today."

She looked at me before continuing, "Stella, I was suffering from low blood sugar at the time, so I didn't think things through. If you don't like me interacting with Philip, I'll try to handle class matters on my own from now on instead of troubling him.

"However, there are some matters I simply need Philip's cooperation on, because they concern everyone's graduation…"

What a familiar speech.

Mandy never said that she wished to get closer to Philip.

She would only ever put forth the class' needs, the teachers' needs, and our classmates' needs as excuses.

If I were to express dissatisfaction, I would come off immature and self-centered.

I set down my glass and replied calmly, "I don't mind."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Mandy teared up as if I were bullying her.

"Stella, are you still not willing to forgive me?"

The private room instantly fell silent.

Philip leaned in and said in a lowered voice, "Stella, everyone's here today. Don't put Mandy on the spot."

I looked at him.

In the past, whenever I expressed discontentment at his and Mandy's closeness, he would pinch my nose and fondly comment that I was prone to jealousy.

Yet, now that I was saying I didn't mind it, he assumed I was making things difficult for Mandy.

I took a deep breath before replying, "Sure, whatever. I hope you two have a great time working together."

I had a very quiet meal.

Throughout dinner, everyone took turns proposing toasts.

Twice, Philip stepped in to drink on my behalf.

Someone commented with a laugh, "Philip sure spoils Stella rotten."

Philip glanced over at me as if to say, "Whatever will I do with you?"

After dinner, he caught up to me at the restaurant entrance, carrying the strawberry cake he mentioned yesterday.

He handed the cake over to me and asked in a teasing voice, "Let's see—who's the angry little lady in need of a cake to cheer her up? Oh dear, it's so hard to guess."

The night breeze lifted the hem of my skirt.

I didn't take the cake from Philip.

"I'm not angry, Philip. I want to break up," I said.

His gaze faltered.

Mandy ran up from behind him.

"Philip, the teacher just told me that a few of the yearbooks still aren't signed. We need to hand them in to the college by tomorrow morning. I can't sign them all on my own. Would you be free to help?" she asked.

Philip didn't look back at her because he was still looking at me.

Suddenly, he smiled and stuffed the cake into my hands, then took the yearbooks from Mandy.

"Stella, I actually don't really like it when you throw around the topic of breaking up so casually. Still, you're my girlfriend, so I'll put up with your tantrums," he said with a hint of helplessness.

That night, I returned to the dormitory alone.

The next morning, I went to the college to get my school-leaving application stamped.

Just as I reached the stairwell, I saw Philip and Mandy walking out of the office together.

Mandy's arms were full of documents. Meanwhile, Philip was holding her thermos for her.