Chapter 3

I tapped my screen and liked Colin's post.

Less than two minutes later, Colin called me.

"Nathan, did you see the post?" he asked, his voice uneasy. "Don't get the wrong idea. We were just fooling around and taking some pictures."

I said nothing.

"Don't worry," he quickly explained. "I blocked Ms. Brooks from seeing it. She can't see the post."

He even knew Mom might overthink it. But what he didn't know was that she could never see anything again.

"Nathan, don't take this out on Yvie," Colin rambled on. "I've already talked to her. We'll find an even better venue and make sure we give Ms. Brooks the wedding she's been looking forward to. After all, she's one of the most important people in my life."

The moment I heard those words, I felt as though I couldn't breathe.

Colin had been one of Mom's students too.

He came from a blended family. His stepmother couldn't stand him, and there were times when he barely had enough to eat.

Mom quietly paid for his school meals more times than I could count.

During Colin's senior year of high school, his family tried to force him to drop out and get a job. Mom went to their house three times, arguing with them and pleading with them until they finally gave him another chance to finish school.

That day, he'd thrown his arms around Mom and cried.

"You're more like a mom to me than my own mother, Ms. Brooks."

Yet now, the boy she'd once loved like a son had spent the entire day wearing the groomsman's suit I'd prepared for my wedding while fooling around with my girlfriend.

He even had the audacity to tell me that since Mom couldn't see the post, there was no reason for her to overthink it.

Colin still hadn't finished talking.

"Nathan, you're being too sensitive. Everyone in the comments was just joking around. If it really bothers you, I'll delete the post. But please don't take it out on Yvie. She's already exhausted from today."

My eyes stung. I couldn't stand listening to him justify everything as though none of it were a big deal, so I simply hung up.

Sitting on the couch, I stared at the few belongings Mom had left behind and cried without making a sound.

After a long time, my phone lit up again with another notification.

It was Yvonne.

"Once you've had enough of your tantrum, come and apologize. Colin was crying, and he was only trying to make you feel better. Don't be so ungrateful. Ms. Brooks wouldn't want to see you acting like this either."

I stared at the screen, suddenly feeling as though the past few years had all been nothing but a joke.

Colin's tears mattered more to Yvonne than Mom's death. And somehow, I was the one being called ungrateful.

…

I packed my things quickly, and it only took me less than half an hour.

The sad part was that this was supposed to be Yvonne's and my home, yet there were more traces of Colin here than there were of me.

The bathroom, the closet, the refrigerator—his things were everywhere. His watch was even sitting in the bedside drawer.

I held it in my hand for a long time, lost in old memories.

Colin and Yvonne had both been Mom's students, but they couldn't stand each other at first. Whenever they were in the same room, they were constantly bickering, and somehow every conversation between them turned into an argument.

Every time, Mom would ladle stew into their bowls and try to calm them down.

"You're both good kids. What's there to argue about?" she chided. "Yvie, give Colin a break. And Colin, don't take everything so seriously."

Then she'd turn to me. "Nathan, you're the host. Make sure everyone has what they need."

Back then, I thought our home was warm. My crush, my best friend, and my mom were all sitting around the same table, sharing a meal.

But somewhere along the way, the two of them grew closer in a way that left no room for me.

When Colin worked late, Yvonne would go pick him up. If he forgot his umbrella on a rainy day, she'd be the first to check on him. When he got drunk after a breakup, she'd stay up talking to him until dawn.

Every time I complained that her affection toward him bothered me, she'd say, "Colin's your best friend. I only went because of you. How can you possibly be jealous of him? Stop being so insecure."

Colin would also turn to me, frowning. "Nathan, are you really going to abandon me? But I'm your best friend!"

And every time, I'd apologize again.

I was afraid of losing my girlfriend and my best friend. More than anything, I didn't want Mom to worry.

But in the end, I hadn't managed to hold on to any of them.