All Chapters of She Promised Next Year, but We're Done Now: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Lily Heath, my girlfriend, returned after the New Year's Day. I used to meet her at the entrance of our apartment complex, but I skipped it this time. I suddenly received a message from Lily. "Where are you, Ethan?"I was eating lunch at the moment, so I casually replied to her. "I'm having lunch right now, so just come up on your own."It was moments later, as I was washing the dishes in the kitchen, that Lily came up hauling her suitcase. She was panting from exhaustion as she looked at me and said, "I haven't eaten either, so make me something, Ethan."I would have dropped everything to whip up some food for her in the past, but now, I just stated flatly, "I'm not free right now, so head downstairs and get something to eat on your own."Lily shot me a frustrated look, but she bit her tongue and said, "I get that you're still upset about what happened during the New Year holiday, but don't pull this on me now. I'm really hungry, Ethan."I dried my hands after washing the dishe

Chapter 2

I was a few drinks in when my friends began complaining to me. "You know, I thought you'd forgotten all about us once you got a girlfriend. You'd better not pull that move on us again, Ethan."I assured them. "You guys can just give me a call whenever there's a drinking session. I'll definitely be there."I made Lily the center of my universe after we got together. I let every part of my life and work revolve completely around her, losing my friends and social life in the process. In retrospect, I realized how foolish I had been.I checked my phone and saw that Lily had refunded the money I transferred to her earlier. I finally returned home at 1:00 am, and when I switched on the light, I spotted Lily sitting on the couch. I stood there bewildered for a second, almost doubting what I was seeing.Lily, seeing how drunk I was, made no move to come over to support me. She just looked at me with a disappointed expression instead. "Why can't you act like a man for once, Ethan? You shoul

Chapter 3

I came across a post from Forrest on my feed while I was lying in bed. "I'm really grateful that after everything we've been through, you're still right here by my side."There was a comment from one of Lily's best friends. "You two are so sweet! I'm just glad to see Lily happy!"I looked through the likes and found that all of Lily's best friends had liked Forrest's post. They had always looked down on me, believing that I was the one who came between Lily and Forrest. They were convinced that Lily would be happier if I weren't around.I couldn't help but think that they were right after seeing Lily's comment. "It all worked out for the best."As I watched their sentimental interaction expressionlessly, I noticed a comment left by one of Lily's best friends. "You guys had better stop posting before Ethan catches wind of this. He'll definitely throw a massive fit, especially considering how he usually is."I used to remind Lily nicely to keep her distance from Forrest. I only thou

Chapter 4

Lily's eyes widened in surprise when I rejected her advances, something I used to plead for endlessly. She felt embarrassed and annoyed as she slammed the guest room door hard and stomped off into the master bedroom instead.Once she left, I fell asleep in no time. I found that falling asleep had gotten way easier once I stopped overthinking things.It was early the following morning when Henry Stewart, my university professor, called after learning that I was going abroad. He offered to host a send-off for me, but I turned him down right away, so he dropped the idea. He then mentioned that he was planning an intimate get-together to catch up with our former classmates. He had already put in so much effort, so I really had no choice but to accept his invitation.I hadn't expected Lily to be there when I went that evening, but it was understandable since she was also one of Professor Stewart's prized students.Lily had brought Forrest along as well.I never thought Lily would bri

Chapter 5

I realized what Lily was getting at. "You mean about me going abroad? You were with Forrest back when I made my decision, so I didn't want to bother you."I spoke in a distant and polite manner, which instantly widened the distance between Lily and me.Lily looked visibly embarrassed when she heard that, but she still reached out, took my hand, and said, "I'm still your girlfriend, Ethan, regardless of everything. You're supposed to talk to me about stuff like this."I nodded with a look of surprise. I used to tell Lily every little detail about my life, only for the latter to tell me off in annoyance, "I don't care about what you're doing, so stop sending me all these useless messages. You're just clogging up my phone storage."Lily sighed faintly before asking, "How long will you be gone, Ethan?"I thought it over for a second before answering with a lie. "I'll probably be away for a year."I didn't plan on letting her in on this in the first place. That day was just an acciden

Chapter 6

I zoned out as I stared at the message. I realized that it was probably the very first time Lily had ever checked in with me.In the past, I couldn't even ask Lily how many people would be at the gathering without her thinking I was making a big deal out of nothing. "Do I really have to tell you everything I do in detail? Do you not find this kind of relationship tiring, Ethan?"I had to spend a long time reassuring Lily before she finally calmed down. She repeatedly emphasized that I shouldn't meddle in her affairs.I replied to Lily's message indifferently. "Got it."Lily tried to reassure me again, saying, "I'm only staying because Forrest has been throwing up non-stop and it's getting super late. Please don't read into this, Ethan."I replied indifferently, "Alright."Lily stopped messaging me altogether after that.I repeatedly went to the bathroom to throw up that night. Forrest wasn't the only one who had gotten drunk at the gathering; I had too.I was accustomed to beer

Chapter 7

I calmly explained, "I'm heading out to take care of my going-abroad procedures tomorrow, so I really can't make it. It's your best friend's engagement celebration, so you definitely have to attend it. I'll be fine on my own."Lily looked at me and asked tentatively, "Do you mind if I take Forrest instead since you're not coming?"I would have lost my temper at the mere mention of Forrest's name in the past, but now, I simply smiled and replied, "You can go ahead and do that."Lily kept scanning my expression, desperate to catch a hint of jealousy, but there was nothing there. She couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you seem even a bit jealous, Ethan?"I looked at her, finding her question odd. After all, in the past, she had hated it whenever I showed any jealousy. I still responded to her question, though. "What reason do I have to be jealous? Forrest is your friend, who happens to be close with Claire, too. Isn't bringing him to the engagement party the obvious choice?"Lily hesi

Chapter 8

I told Lily, "I'm leaving next Saturday. I've already booked the plane ticket."In that instant, the atmosphere became tense.Lily finally broke the silence after a while and said, "I think we need to talk about this, Ethan. I can't live with this kind of arrangement any longer."I looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean? Is something wrong?"Lily always wanted me to be more sensible, yet when I did, she was still somewhat dissatisfied.Lily furrowed her brows and asked, "Is Forrest the reason you're being like this, Ethan?"She bit her lip and kept going as I remained silent. "If you're bothered by my friendship with Forrest, I'll cut him off for you, so please don't treat me with such total indifference, Ethan."She looked at me expectantly, as if she had done me a huge favor.I said calmly, "You're overthinking it. I genuinely don't mind anymore. You're free to be friends with whoever you want, and it's not my place to tell you what to do, Lily."I never

Chapter 9

Lily's tears streamed down her face, hitting the floor in a steady stream of drops.I would have comforted her and wiped away her tears if it were before, but this time, I did nothing. I simply watched her in silence. I never thought someone like Lily would shed tears for me.Lily looked at me, her voice choked with tears. "I'll go abroad with you, Ethan."I realized making that offer took tremendous resolve on her part; after all, everything she had, from her friends and family to a thriving career, was right in this country. She would have to walk away from all of it if she were to go abroad with me.I looked away. I really thought I'd moved past it and wouldn't care, but now that it was happening, my heart still ached terribly. Nevertheless, I forced myself to say, "I'm sorry, but I can't bring you with me, Lily."Lily pulled me into a hug, her tears soaking through my shirt. "I'm willing to give up everything I have back home for you. I want to be with you. Please take me with

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