Chapter 2

The next day, I packed the belongings the four men had left at my place into four separate cardboard boxes.

There were Drake's basketball medals, Evans' debate competition manuscripts, Finley's cherished vintage game console, and every gift Boaz had ever given me.

I used to be so afraid of losing them. But now, I realized that these weren't the superfluous things I always thought they were—I was.

I went to the outdoor gear shop first and saw Drake helping Cindy pick out a pair of crampons.

She stepped onto the display platform with one foot, deftly fastened the straps, and hopped down from the three-foot-high ledge with a bright smile.

"These are great! If we run into any icy slopes, I'll be able to lend you all a hand if you need it!"

They laughed in unison. Drake gave her a thumbs-up and said, "That's our Cindy for you! You're someone we can always count on."

I recalled our last hiking trip, when Boaz wouldn't even let me walk along a flat stone path on my own. He claimed he was worried about my safety, yet the impatience in his eyes had grown more apparent with each passing day.

When he saw me, Drake's smile faded. He asked, "What are you doing here?"

I pushed the cardboard box toward him. "Returning your things."

He fished a medal out of the box, his brows knitting together.

"Weren't they fine where they were? What's this about now?"

"Didn't you say I was too clingy?" I shot back. "From now on, you can keep track of your own stuff."

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Cindy took the initiative and hoisted two backpacks onto her shoulders.

"You guys talk. I'll go pay at the counter."

Drake watched her brisk, retreating figure, his tone filled with admiration as he said, "Look at her. She never throws a tantrum, and she doesn't need anyone to coddle her."

I nodded.

"Well, you'd better cherish her, then."

Evans was at a café, double-checking their route and itinerary. I went up to him and returned his manuscripts, but his gaze locked onto the camera hanging from my shoulder.

"Leave the camera. Cindy wants to photograph the starry sky, and your lens is the best one for it."

"I bought this specifically for shooting snow-capped mountains," I replied.

Evans paused. "You're not going anyway. It'd just be a waste to leave it sitting there."

Last year, they asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I told them not to bother with gifts. I just wanted us to see the snow-capped mountains together after graduation.

So I saved up for over half a year to buy this camera, just to capture a photo of the five of us standing before those snowy peaks.

Now, there was no longer a spot for me, and yet, the camera was still expected to document their joy with Cindy in my place.

"I'm not lending it to you."

Then, I set his cardboard box down and turned to leave.

That evening, Boaz showed up. He wore a brand-new ski suit and carried a container of soup that had already gone cold.

"Drake said you were giving everyone attitude again today. Can't you just try to be a little more like Cindy, Arianna? She didn't even let out a peep of pain when she fractured a bone during her first time skiing!"

I looked up at him. "So, you're saying that when I have a heart attack, I'm supposed to just endure that in silence, too?"

Boaz faltered. "That's not what I meant."

His phone buzzed with a new message just then. It was Cindy, saying she felt a bit nervous about ice climbing on her own.

Boaz stood up immediately, heading for the door while sending a voice message just to tease her. But just before stepping out, he glanced back at me and said, "Oh, and give me your passport. I don't want you buying a ticket and sneaking off to follow us."

As I watched him take my passport, I suddenly felt as though I didn't even have the strength to fight for it anymore.

Once the door closed, I revoked his status as my authorized next-of-kin and crossed it out on the form.

In the early hours of the morning, I received a call from a hospital in another city. A patient had canceled their surgery, and a slot had opened up for me. However, I had to arrive by tomorrow evening.

I gripped my phone tightly.

"Alright. I'll be there."