But why couldn’t he have told me?

In his eyes, was I really that unimportant?

If I was such a burden to him, then what was the promise he had made when he proposed to me so carefully that night?

Had the hour been too late, the lights too dim, for him to know who was standing in front of him?

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, hid in the dark, and sobbed without holding back.

The truth was, I could live without him.

I did not have separation anxiety at all.

Ever since we were children, whenever he and I chose different schools or different classes, he would become moody for no clear reason. He only calmed down after seeing me.

So I had kept walking steadily along my own path while bringing him with me.

Ryan was right about one thing.

I had always included him in the future I imagined for myself.

When it did not harm my own prospects, I was willing to pay the price for loving him.

But that did not mean I would keep compromising for him without limits.

I closed the application form I had accidentally opened, wiped away my tears, and never opened the portal again.

He had made his choice.

I had made mine.

From now on, we could go our separate ways and leave each other in peace.

I had just finished washing my face when Ryan sent me a video call.

[Emma, pick up. I want to see you.]

When I did not answer, he sent several more video call requests in a row before finally texting me.

[We’re at the usual place. Everyone’s waiting for you. Hurry up and come over. Take a cab.]

But I did not want to go.

[I’m tired. I don’t feel like going out.]

His reply came almost instantly.

[Are you sick? I’ll come over.]

[No. Don’t come.]

I had just sent the reply with a frown when Sophie messaged me.

[I’m sorry. I was the one who kept clinging to Ryan and insisted on coming. I didn’t know you’d be upset. I’ll leave right now.]

[As long as you’re willing to come, I don’t care what happens to me.]

For a second, the message seemed to drip with fake innocence.

Before I could reply, people in the private group chat started tagging me like crazy.

[Emma, what the hell is your problem? You can’t stand Ryan having anyone else around him? There’s a limit to being petty.]

[Throwing a tantrum just because you’re jealous Sophie is prettier than you? Get help.]

I froze for a moment. I instinctively wanted to explain, but then I saw Ryan’s message.

[Emma, I was the one who invited Sophie. If you’re angry, take it out on me. What’s the point of making things hard for her?]

[Forget it. Come or don’t. We’ll have more fun without you anyway.]

Then they sent me several photos of the food.

Someone added, dripping with sarcasm.

[Dinner tastes better without all that jealousy at the table.]

What a bunch of lunatics.

I left the group chat immediately.

Then I deleted Ryan, blocked him, and cut him off in one clean sweep.

No matter how badly we had fought in the past, he had always been pinned at the top of my messages.

But now, he only deserved to stay in the dark little corner where blocked contacts belonged.

The truth was, when Sophie first transferred to our school, she had been my friend.

Back then, Ryan had even warned me that Sophie did not seem like a good person and told me not to get too close to her.

I had put in a lot of effort to smooth things over between them.

Then came the welcome party.

Sophie took off her ugly black framed glasses and appeared in a red dress, stunning everyone.

After that, Ryan never once told me to stay away from her again.

He and Sophie became closer and closer.

He even introduced Sophie to his childhood friends and the rest of his circle.

By the time I realized what was happening, my friends had already become Sophie’s friends.

And the way Ryan treated Sophie was unmistakably special.

That fight between Ryan and me had been so bad that it felt like my whole world had cracked open. Afterward, we went three months without speaking.

I told him, “If you like Sophie, I’ll step aside.”

But Ryan cried.

He said, “You’re the person I care about most.”

“Sophie has depression, and she was raised by a single parent. I just feel bad for her, so I’m trying to help.”

I believed him.

But Ryan had been treating me like an idiot.

Their interactions only became more frequent, and “just friends” became the perfect excuse.

Now, he had even changed his application because of Sophie.

It made me look like a complete fool.

By the time I came back to myself, it was already dark. I had no idea when my mom had come home. She looked at me and smiled.

“Did you and Ryan fight again? You even blocked him.

“He wants you to add him back.”

I gave her a vague answer, then left the house.

Our counselor had just asked us to return to school and confirm our applications one last time.

When I arrived, there was an empty seat beside Ryan.

Usually, that seat was mine.

But Sophie sat down in it without the slightest hesitation.

Ryan did not say anything. Instead, he naturally took the bag Sophie handed him.

Only his gaze flicked toward me, casual and almost expectant.

He was waiting for me to cave first.

Too bad he had miscalculated this time.

I turned and sat beside Caleb Foster, the most popular guy in school, far away from them.

“Make sure you check everything carefully one last time,” the counselor said from the front of the room, speaking with such urgency that he almost sounded breathless. “The application portal closes tonight. Once it does, regret won’t help you.”

Caleb suddenly glanced at my application form.

“What a coincidence,” he said. “I’m going to France too.”

Before I could answer, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Emma. Don’t you have anything to say?”

I ignored him and was just about to speak to Caleb when Ryan grabbed my arm and dragged me out.

“Emma, are you done?

“You got carried away throwing a tantrum, and now you’ve learned how to block me?

“I’m warning you. Unblock me right now, or don’t even think about adding me back later.”

I was forced to look at him for a few seconds.

“Oh,” I said. “I wasn’t planning to add you back later anyway.”

Ryan’s face darkened instantly.

“Fine. Don’t come begging me to talk to you later.”

I turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed me again, his eyes unexpectedly serious.

“It’s almost time. Check your application carefully one more time. Don’t enter the wrong thing...”

He seemed about to say more, but Sophie came over just then and cut him off.

“Ryan, I don’t really understand this part. Can you help me look at it?”

“Sure. I’ll check it for you now.”

Ryan immediately lowered his head to look over Sophie’s documents.

I let out a small, mocking laugh, then turned and walked away.

By the time he tried to say something else, I was already almost back inside the classroom.

“Emma, remember to check it again. Check it carefully!”

Right.

He really did think his words were law.

He probably assumed that once he reminded me to check, I would obediently open the portal, discover that he had changed his application, and then follow him by changing mine.

What a fantasy.

Since he refused to say it outright, I would simply pretend I knew nothing.

After all, he thought “coaxing me” was such a huge inconvenience.

And I thought explaining anything to him was an inconvenience too.

Luckily, for once, I had finally opened my eyes.

When I returned to the classroom, Caleb noticed that I looked upset and insisted on taking me out to watch a performance.

When the show ended, we ran into Ryan, whose face was cold and tense.

He looked at Caleb, his expression dark.

I knew he had misunderstood.

But I had no interest in explaining.

I treated him like he was nothing but air.

Just as I reached the corner of the hallway, I ran into Ryan and one of his friends again.

“Ryan, you need to tell Emma already. If Emma goes alone, are you really going to be okay with that?”

Ryan gave a disdainful snort.

“What does what she does have to do with me?

“Besides, she must have changed it already. She’s just throwing a fit. I can’t get rid of her no matter what I do. It’s exhausting.”

I froze for a second and happened to walk straight into them.

Ryan told the other guy and Caleb to leave first. Then he turned and blocked me in the corner.

“You went to the music festival with someone else instead of me? Emma, you’re getting bold now.

“You think that’s enough to make me jealous?”

He held my hand, his voice careless and lazy.

“Fine. I’ll apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped at you that day. Can we make up now?

“Did you check your application?”

After saying that, he hesitated for a moment before adding, “Did you happen to check mine too?”

I said nothing.

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

While we were still stuck in that stalemate, Sophie walked over.

“Ryan, they’re all picking on me. Come help me.”

Then she seemed to notice me for the first time, her voice filled with surprise.

“Oh, Emma, you’re here too? You didn’t come because you saw my Instagram Story, did you?

“Please don’t misunderstand. I just like lively places, so I asked Ryan to come. I’ve loved this band for ages.”

There it was again, that syrupy little act.

I had no patience for her performance. While Ryan’s attention shifted, I slipped out of the corner.

I was about to leave when Sophie reached out and stopped me.

“I’m sorry, Emma. Did I upset you by being here?

“I’ll leave. I just hope you and Ryan won’t fight because of me. He’s been in a bad mood because of you these past few days, and it really hurts me to see it.

“As long as he’s happy, I’ll do anything.”

After saying that, she lowered her reddened eyes and moved as if she were about to bow her head to me.

“What are you doing? Sophie, get up.”

Ryan shoved me aside and pulled Sophie into his arms, his face full of concern.

“Emma, can you stop losing it every time you see Sophie?

“We’re all going to spend the next three years together. Why do you have to be so petty?”

I stared at him and almost laughed.

“Do you honestly think the way you two act looks like normal friendship?”

He froze for a second, then sneered.

“What, so you finally can’t pretend anymore?

“Weren’t you the one who said she had it rough and asked us to take better care of her? So why are you getting jealous now?”

I stared at him.

The face I had known for more than ten years suddenly felt completely unfamiliar.

“If you love taking care of her so much, why don’t you just marry her?”

After saying that, I turned and left, ignoring Ryan’s furious shout behind me.

“If you walk away now, don’t ever come back.”

I did not even look back.

When I got home and sat down, I saw that Sophie had updated her Instagram Stories.

A group of them was playing Truth or Dare. Sophie had drawn a dare that required her to kiss anyone present.

Her gaze drifted toward Ryan, but he did not move for a long time.

“Ryan,” Sophie said softly, “you’re the person I know best here.”

“Oh, come on, Sophie. How are we not close to you? Are we invisible just because Ryan’s here?”

As the others teased and whistled, Sophie’s face grew redder and redder. She kept trying to explain in a panic, so anxious that tears came to her eyes.

Ryan was still sitting where he was.