Chapter 3

The next day, I couldn't unlock the front door with my fingerprint anymore, and the lock alarm went off three times in a row.

Standing outside the door, I heard the sound of slippers shuffling on the floor inside.

When the door opened, Zack was standing in the entryway. He had my slippers on and was wearing the men's bathrobe Irene had bought me. He was also holding the blue mug I'd used for five years.

The moment he saw me, he froze for a second. Then, his eyes reddened.

"Gavin, why did you suddenly come back?"

I looked past him into the apartment. The photo of me and Irene on the entryway cabinet was gone. Now, there was a note listing pregnancy precautions on the fridge.

"Pregnant women must not be startled."

"Avoid severe emotional distress."

"Maintain a stable living environment."

After each one was Irene's familiar red check mark.

She walked out of the bedroom with my blanket in her arms. When she saw me, she faltered in her steps.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back beforehand?"

"I came to get my things."

Her expression softened for a moment. But what she said next pushed me firmly away all the same.

"Good timing. Pack a few clothes and go stay at a hotel for a while."

The apartment was in Irene's name. But I had chosen the curtains, picked out the lamps, and pieced the dinnerware together.

I'd always thought that after five years here, this place was at least half my home. Well, it turned out it wasn't.

"How long should I stay at the hotel?" I asked.

"Don't come back until the baby is born."

I stood there without moving.

"Is this your idea?"

"It's also the doctor's suggestion." Irene paused. Then, as if worried I hadn't quite understood, she added, "The sight of your things sets Zack off, and I can't even rest. Gavin, just let him have this one."

But I'd already stepped aside for him on the rooftop and given up the wedding. And now I was supposed to keep giving in?

I set the yellow notebook on the entryway cabinet and opened it to the second page.

"Are you advising me to move out?"

Irene's brow visibly twitched when she saw the notebook.

"Gavin, don't write everything down. Moving is a big deal."

However, Zack took a step forward just then.

"Gavin, you've got friends and a job—you can stay anywhere. But Irene is pregnant, and she can't sleep the moment she sees anything the two of you used before. What if she gets too worked up and something happens to the baby?"

"Zack's right," Irene chimed in without hesitation. She looked up at me and finally said the most hurtful thing. "Gavin, I'm seriously advising you to move out. Best to take everything with you and leave nothing behind."

I held the pen. "Please confirm it once more."

Irene's throat tightened. But she still looked me in the eye and said, "Confirmed. Take everything with you."

I put a check mark on the second page too.

On the first trip, I moved clothes and books.

On the second trip, I moved the computer, bedding, and the small kitchen appliances I'd bought.

On the last trip, when I came to move the things in the bedroom, Irene finally couldn't hold back and pressed her hand down on the cardboard box.

"That's about enough. You're just going to stay at a hotel. I didn't tell you to tear the house apart."

I picked up the framed photo on the bedside table.

"I'm in this photo too. Zack will feel uncomfortable seeing it, and you won't be able to rest too."

Irene was stumped for a moment.

I kept searching. There was still a yellowed sticky note stuck against the side of the fridge. It was from five years ago—the first night Irene had brought me back from Daleton. Afraid that I'd leave again after taking someone's advice, she had specially written it.

"Don't let Gavin leave. Don't tell Gavin to go. Even if Irene says so, it doesn't count."

I held up the sticky note.

"Which do I listen to? This or what you said today?"

Irene reached out to take it. The moment her fingertip touched the paper, she suddenly covered her mouth. Then, she turned her head away and began to dry heave.

Zack immediately stepped forward to support her.

"Irene, are you okay?"

When she spoke again after a moment, her voice was cold as a blade.

"I only wrote that to keep you happy back then. Don't take it seriously."

I nodded and tossed the sticky note into the trash can.

As I was finally leaving, I put the keys and the access card in the glass bowl by the entryway.

Irene pressed her hand over mine.

"You're not taking the keys?"

"You told me to move out completely."

"You can still come back after a while."

"So, are you advising me to stay or go?"

She fell silent.

Zack lowered his head and said softly, "Gavin, could you knock first when you come back next time? Irene's a light sleeper, and she gets nervous when she hears a key in the lock."

The next second, Irene turned and walked to the door lock. She entered the admin password, and a robotic female voice rang out.

"Are you sure you want to delete the user Gavin?"

I simply looked at her back and said nothing.

In the end, she pressed "confirm".

"User Gavin deleted."

It was as if the door were repeating Irene's earlier "move out completely".

With my head bowed, I quietly put a check mark on the back of the second page.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Irene came running out after me.

"Gavin."

I looked up at her.

Her lips parted, but in the end she only said, "Don't make it look like I kicked you out."

I glanced at the three suitcases by my feet.

"But I'm just doing what you told me to—moving out completely."