Chapter 2

"Girlfriend," I murmured. My heart was aching.

I had a crush on Zac for two years. Finally, during the summer of my sophomore year, I gathered enough courage to confess to him.

He smiled at me and said, "I thought you'd wait until after the college entrance exam."

I was too nervous to pick up on the undertone and answered, "I won't interfere with your studies. My parents got together when they were seniors in high school, and they've always had a really good relationship."

He reached out and ruffled my hair. "Why are you so adorable?"

My heart raced then.

That summer, Keira, who had grown up with me, transferred back from another city to take the college entrance exam.

I introduced the two of them to each other. That was when I learned that Zac had a younger sister who had died unexpectedly, and her name had also been Keira.

Keira laughed at the coincidence and said jokingly, "Does that make you my future sister-in-law?"

Gradually, the two of them became close like actual siblings. In our group of three, the two of them seemed to form an even stronger bond day by day.

Whenever Zac bought me breakfast or a gift, he would always get one for Keira too.

Keira was academically gifted and could compete with Zac for first place.

They could discuss the most difficult math problems while eating or walking, debating which solution was simpler.

They both loved soccer. They could talk about a single game until their throats were dry and argue until their faces turned red.

With perfect understanding, they would suddenly say the name of the same player at the exact same time, high-five, and burst out laughing.

I understood none of it. All I could do was silently follow behind them.

Whenever they disagreed and turned around to ask whose side I was on, I could only smile awkwardly.

"My girlfriend would obviously take my side."

Zac would come back and grab my hand.

The disappointment I'd felt would instantly disappear.

I would tell myself he liked me.

That afternoon, when I was dizzy from the heat and crouched down on the ground, I saw their hands bump against each other. Zac hooked his finger around Keira's.

It might have only lasted two seconds, but in my mind, those two seconds stretched into a two-hour movie.

The cab smelled awful. I rolled down the window and tried to endure it, but suddenly, without warning, I vomited.

I quickly apologized to the driver. "I'm sorry."

The driver suddenly turned into a side road. He got out, opened the rear door, and climbed into the backseat.

"Don't be scared. It's already dirty, so just leave it. I won't make you pay."

As he spoke, he placed his hand on my thigh.

My heart began pounding in fear. When I reached for the door, he grabbed my hand.

"Your eyes are so swollen from crying. Did you fight with your boyfriend? Tell me about it. I won't hurt you."

Five minutes later, I fell out of the cab. The car sped away.

I desperately rubbed my palm against my clothes while trying to wipe away the disgusting, sticky fluid. Overwhelmed by terror that came after narrowly escaping danger, I kept gagging uncontrollably as tears streamed down my face.

Feeling alone and helpless, the first person I instinctively thought of was still Zac.

Thankfully, he answered the phone quickly.

"Zac, can you come pick me up? I'm really scared–"

He was silent for several seconds. He sounded disappointed when he spoke.

"Jocelyn, when did you become like this? You're even making up lies like this now.

"What do you want me to do? Leave Keira alone at the hospital and come find you? Is that how I'm supposed to prove that I love you?

"That's childish and disgusting."

It felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over my head. The pain was bone-deep.

My phone automatically shut down, and the screen turned black.

I clenched my jaw, wiped away my tears, and stood up.

With my ankle twisted, I limped toward the main road and borrowed a phone from the owner of a restaurant to call the police.

"I came here alone for a trip. I don't have any companions.

"There's nothing valuable in my suitcase. Just clothes."

That suitcase was the most expensive thing I owned. Zac had given it to me. My initials were engraved on the handle.

I had thought it was a matching couple's suitcase, and I had been so happy.

But at the airport, I saw Keira pulling one that was identical.

Losing it was probably for the best.