Chapter 3

When I returned to my desk, a coworker leaned over. "Nina, did you break up with Sean?"

He had not agreed, but as far as I was concerned, we were already over. So, I nodded.

She let out a relieved breath. "That explains it. Wendy twisted her ankle just now, and Sean carried her straight to the infirmary. I saw it happen, and it didn't look serious, but Sean was very nervous."

I frowned. "Is she alright?"

I was still angry, but I was already heading for the clinic before I could stop myself.

In college, Wendy would often slip her arm around mine and say, "Nina, I'll protect you from now on. Anyone who bullies you will have to answer to me."

If she had injured her foot, how would she work or travel for business?

Every worst-case scenario came to mind.

When I arrived at the infirmary, Wendy was already sitting on the edge of an exam table with an ice pack on her ankle. I hurried over and asked, "Wendy, are you alright?"

She smiled when she saw me. "I'm fine. It's only a sprain."

I had just started to relax when Sean spoke up from beside her. "Are you satisfied now, Nina?"

I froze.

Sean's words were cold as he said, "If you had not thrown a tantrum, Wendy would not have been distracted on the stairs while thinking of how to comfort you. Why else would she have missed a step?"

His words stunned me in place. I could not believe what I was hearing.

Wendy quickly shoved his arm. "This wasn't Nina's fault. Why are you blaming her?"

Sean kept staring at me instead. "Why haven't you grown at all after all these years? Why does everything always have to revolve around you?"

The room fell silent, and tears began welling up in my eyes before rolling down my cheeks.

He finally seemed to realize he had gone too far, and his voice softened. "Try to be more understanding next time, okay?"

He reached out to wipe away my tears, but I turned my face away and took a step back. "Sean, we already broke up. Don't talk to me like this again."

Sean gave a harsh laugh. "Nina, are you done with this?"

Even Wendy looked at me with disapproval. "Don't speak in anger."

The two of them truly were alike. Neither had ever been willing to take me, my words, or my feelings seriously.

I forced a bitter smile and left.

Over the next few days, Sean gave me the silent treatment. I avoided him as well, and two weeks passed without a word between us. But he was well known in the industry, so people never stopped gossiping about him. For example, about how he brought Wendy breakfast every morning while her ankle healed. They also landed a major project together and earned praise from headquarters. Whenever my coworkers asked about them, I could only shake my head.

One afternoon, Wendy came to see me out of the blue. She reached for my sleeve as though nothing had changed. "Nina, are you ignoring me just because you fought with Sean? You're both so stubborn. I'll start the process. So, can you just apologize to him?"

I looked at my best friend, whom I had known for years, and a chill came down my spine.

Wendy and I had known each other longer, and I had done nothing wrong. Yet why was she always on Sean's side?

"Wendy, I still have work to do. You should leave if there's nothing else." Wendy's face went pale the moment I said that.

"Wendy, come here." Sean stood nearby, looking at me as though I were a stranger.

That was fine too.

I pulled my sleeve from Wendy's hand and walked away.