We're Just Classmates, Aren't We?

Classmates?I stared at Jenna Newson's face, my girlfriend of eight years, trying to find even a trace of joking in her expression. But there was nothing. She was serious, and... calm.I forced the corners of my mouth into something resembling a smile. The words "I was just kidding" that I wanted to say stuck in my throat. She called us classmates. Not even close enough to be called ordinary friends.I figured if the doctor hadn't called her, she probably wouldn't have come at all. But I didn't question her. I just smiled as if everything was normal.Yet watching her keep her head down and stare at her phone the entire time, my gaze darkened. I started to say, "If you're busy, you don't have to...""I am busy, actually. Since you're fine, I'll head out first."She didn't even let me finish before cutting me off, then grabbed her bag and headed for the door.Maybe I still held some small place in her heart, because after pulling the door open, she glanced back at me. "Rest well."

"I heard you were being discharged today, so I got you a little gift. If you don't like it... or if there's anything else you need, I'll do my best to help you."So, the cake was from someone else. I apologized to the girl and explained the misunderstanding.Inside, I laughed bitterly at myself. This time, Jenna and I were truly done.When I reached the entrance to our apartment complex, I saw Jenna. She wore something sexy and trendy, her face done up with the heavy makeup she used to hate.Her head was down as she scrolled through her phone, texting someone. She was laughing at whatever was on her screen, looking happier than I'd seen her in months.I stood there, unmoving. She was so absorbed in her phone that she walked right past me without noticing.I followed behind her like that until we got into the elevator. Then I called her name in an even tone.Her head snapped up, surprise flickering in her eyes. "You're back from the hospital?"She immediately shoved her phone in

"I'm here to remind you that you should find an exit strategy. Look for other opportunities."I stared at that flawless face for a long moment.I understood what Jenna meant. She was certain she'd get the position and wanted to push me out now. Otherwise, when she got promoted with the chairwoman's son as her boyfriend, she'd become office gossip.So, she was "advising" me to find a backup plan, to leave the company. Essentially, it was all for herself to avoid the whispers and rumors.How perfectly convenient. I could have accepted her change of heart. Most relationships didn't last anyway.I just never expected her to be this selfishly inhuman.I looked at her and said flatly, "Knowing you has been the worst mistake of my life."She fell silent, unable to argue back.After breaking up with me, Jenna went public with her "office romance" with Felix.When she was with me, she always hesitated and said going public wasn't a good idea. Now, not only had she made it official, but

I looked away and walked over to Felix as if nothing was wrong, my tone light but deliberately pausing on his last name."Felix... Foster? Mind scooting over?"The atmosphere grew even quieter after I spoke, so quiet you could hear everyone breathing. Someone even gasped audibly.They were clearly shocked. This kind of shock would spread through the company fast. After all, everyone loved gossip and drama.I was just curious about Jenna. She'd told me I should understand how the world works. I wondered if she'd reached her peak yet.Afterward, I didn't bother looking at her again. When the party ended, she followed a pale-faced Felix to say goodbye to my mother. Her voice was low, seemingly laced with suppressed anger.I sat in the car without speaking while Mom gave her and Felix a meaningful look before smiling and saying goodbye. Once they left, the smile faded from her eyes as she turned to me. "You two broke up?"She knew about Jenna. When I first joined the company, I'd me

It was just like last time, except back then Felix's attitude was arrogant. Now he was just impotently angry."Hunter, you're such a hypocritical snake. A fraud."Your dad said he didn't want anything, didn't he? So, why are you here now? To steal Mom's assets? You're shameless."Dad was a dignified man. When they separated, he was clean about it. He had his pride, so he didn't take anything.But I was different. Dad was Dad, and I was me. What was mine stayed mine.I watched him lose his composure, a mocking smile tugging at my lips."You're not a kid anymore, are you? You and your father have been leeching off my mother for years, and what do you have to show for it? A monthly allowance that barely covers basics. You don't even have a car between you."Pathetic. If you were smart, you'd go home right now and tell your father to work harder at sucking up to my mother. Otherwise, the first thing I'll do when I take over this company is cut you off completely."They could starve