Chapter 3

I stared at Julian for a long time.

He began to panic and muttered an apology. Then, he tried to approach me.

"I'm sorry, Serina."

I looked at him. My eyes were burning with tears that I refused to let fall.

"You're a liar, Julian," I hissed.

He told me to wait, but he never came for me. He allowed someone else to take my place without a second thought. I hated him.

I rejected Julian's apologies and blocked his number. On the flight back to Guskor, I went through my phone and deleted every single photo of him.

I threw myself into my studies and social life, desperately trying to crowd out any thought of Julian.

During my second year in Guskor, I was writing a thesis paper late at night when a wave of emotions washed over me.

I logged into my social media account, which I rarely used, and posted, "I have a craving for the rose cake from Emerald Lane."

It was nothing more than a bout of homesickness. I soon forgot I had even posted it.

Two weeks later, after the school's music concert event was over, I ran into a middle-aged man standing near the campus gates.

He let out a sigh of relief when he saw me and asked if I was Serina, the girl who wanted the rose cakes.

I nodded in confusion. The man smiled and handed me a bag.

"Julian asked me to bring these to you. He knew I was heading back to Guskor, so he came to find me.

"After buying the cakes, he asked me to hurry back and get them to you. You youngsters certainly have a way of making love complicated."

I didn't know when he started following my social media account.

My tears fell without warning the moment the rose cake melted in my mouth. I realized then that I had never truly forgotten him.

I booked the earliest flight back home and rushed to request a leave of absence from school.

My friend sent me to the airport. She was unimpressed with the way my eyes were suddenly shining with hope.

Before I boarded the plane, my friend looked at me in frustration. She wanted to record evidence of my lovesick stupidity.

"Serina, that wasn't what you said when you got off the plane. You swore you would never forgive him."

My hand trembled as I gripped my ticket. My face flushed, but I refused to change my mind.

Maybe I really was a lovesick fool. All Julian had to do was beckon, and I would throw everything aside to run back to him.

I was helpless against all the beautiful memories I had of him.

In Guskor, I had learned to drive the fastest sports cars, but I couldn't find anyone willing to ride a motorcycle across the city to buy a box of freshly baked cheesecake.

His silhouette in the twilight wind always haunted my dreams.

I couldn't forget about him. I couldn't let go. So, I chose to chase after him one last time.

"It's different this time," I said, echoing the same line used by every lovesick fool in countless love stories.

My friend was so mad that she was at a loss for words.

The plane began its descent, and my heart was pounding so hard it frightened me.

As I dragged my suitcase to look for Julian, I felt a mix of longing and dread.

When I pushed the door open, I saw him hugging Carrie. She was sobbing against his shoulder, and he was gently stroking her back while whispering words of comfort.

When Julian saw me, he was stunned. As he tried to pull away from Carrie and approach me, she gave his sleeve a soft, subtle tug. Just like that, he went still.

Then, he introduced her. "Serina, this is my girlfriend."

I stood there, dazed. I was still clutching the box of rose cakes—the ones he had asked someone to send to Guskor. "Why did you send me the rose cakes?"

Julian was silent for a few seconds. Then, he tightened his grip on Carrie's hand and said, "We're planning to get married. I figured you probably wouldn't be able to make it back for the wedding, so the rose cakes were our gift in advance."

I became nauseous immediately. Those cakes, which I had savored and mistaken for an act of love, instantly became the most revolting thing on earth. They made my stomach churn.