Chapter 3

The sound of the door unlocking came from outside.

Lydia’s laughter soon filled the living room, followed by my father’s hearty chuckle.

Their laughter drifted through the crack beneath my door, making it feel as though two entirely different worlds existed under the same roof.

Lydia sat on the couch, affectionately linking her arm through Mom’s.

“Mr. and Mrs. Kensington, thank you for celebrating the end of the college entrance exams with me. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without you by my side…”

Jerome reached over and took her hand where it rested on the couch. His voice was gentle. “It’s okay. I’ll always be here for you, too.”

Lydia blushed shyly before throwing herself into his arms.

“Oh, I’ve always thought you two were made for each other. A perfect match since childhood. And now, you’ve finally found your way to each other.”

I instinctively looked at Jerome, hoping he would offer some explanation.

However, he merely smiled, never saying a word.

Nestled in his arms, Lydia beamed like a flower in full bloom.

“I should really thank Diana for being our cover story.”

Jerome lifted his head nonchalantly as a teasing glint crossed his eyes. “Oh, that teacher who watched everyone like a hawk was ridiculously strict about students dating. That’s the only reason I confessed to you back in high school. You didn’t actually take it seriously, did you?”

My heart missed a beat.

I’d met Jerome in middle school. By then, I had begun to understand what favoritism really meant.

I told him everything that had happened to me. When he heard my story, his eyes had reddened.

He told me that what I was doing was not being well-behaved.

“If something belongs to you, you shouldn’t have to give it up for someone else.”

It was the first time anyone had ever said those words to me. The first time anyone had told me that I did not always have to give way.

He had stood so firmly on my side, so I welcomed him into the little circle shared by Lydia and me.

I thought he would never take sides unfairly.

Mom watched them, unable to hide the delight in her eyes. “Now that you kids have graduated, you can finally relax and enjoy yourselves.”

“I’ve already booked the plane tickets to Bayshore. We’re going to make sure Lydia has a wonderful trip.”

Only after saying all that did Mom seem to remember me. She glanced in my direction, her eyes darting away uneasily.

“Diana, is there anywhere you’d like to visit?”

I met her gaze and gently shook my head. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The truth was, I’d already told Jerome about my graduation trip plans. I wanted to visit Lake Haven.

However, when I looked at them now, I realized no one wanted to hear where I wished to go.

When I remained silent, Lydia smiled and held out a cup of mango pomelo sago.

“Sorry, Diana. Everyone was so busy planning my trip just now that we forgot about you. Please don’t overthink it, okay?”

I looked at the drink in her hand, then pushed it away.

The moment she realized I was not taking it, Lydia’s eyes immediately filled with wounded tears.

Jerome forcefully shoved the drink into my arms without even looking at me.

“This stuff is expensive, Diana. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

I took a step back. The glass bottle slipped from my hands and shattered across the floor.

Milk tea splashed onto my clothes, filling the air with an overpowering sweetness.

Jerome immediately pulled Lydia protectively into his arms.

“Diana, you’ve been giving us attitude ever since the exams ended. Keep acting like this and you’ll only make us dislike you even more!”

Jerome knew perfectly well that I was allergic to mangoes, but he seemed to have conveniently forgotten this.

I realized then that this was no longer the kind of love I wanted.

When I refused to respond, Jerome seemed even more infuriated.

“Lydia, let’s go. Don’t waste your time on her.”

Seeing my stained clothes, Mom immediately knitted her brows together.

“You’re old enough to know better. How can you not even keep your clothes clean? If you don’t want to go, then stay home and think about what you’ve done.”

I said nothing. I simply turned and went back to my room to change.

Through the crack in the door, I heard Dad letting out a sigh.

“This girl gets more disobedient with every passing year. She isn't half as sensible as Lydia.”

Sensible?

In silence, I placed my stained clothes in the washbasin in the bathroom.

My clothes were not allowed to be washed together with Lydia’s.

“Lydia has been doing her own laundry since she was little. You should learn a thing or two from her.”

From that day on, Mom never washed my clothes again.

As my stained clothes soaked in the basin, I turned on my computer.

Sitting quietly in my inbox was an invitation to the summer camp for the geology program at Summit Lake University.

I opened it and clicked accept. Then I booked my plane ticket.

Ten minutes later, I stared at the ticket for the following afternoon, departing at three o’clock, then slowly closed my eyes.

This time, I was done being the good girl who always put everyone else first.