"Edmund agreed to let you go to Antarctica?"
"Why would I need his permission to go anywhere?"
"But aren’t you and he...?"
"Edmund and I are just friends."
Victoria didn’t even flinch as the words left her lips. To her surprise, she felt a strange calmness wash over her.
She understood why her best friend had asked.
For the past five years, she had loved Edmund with everything she had.
She had learned to cook, do the laundry, handle housework, all for him.
When he said he preferred girls in dresses, she tossed out all her jeans and jackets, replacing them with an endless collection of frilly gowns.
When he said he didn’t want their relationship to be public, fearing it might interfere with his studies, she kept quiet, fading into the shadows as the quiet woman behind him.
Even though everyone knew they were living together, Edmund never acknowledged her on social media.
Not a single photo of her appeared in his posts.
Everyone knew they were together, yet they also knew that Victoria wasn’t Edmund’s girlfriend.
Despite this, she had sacrificed her chance to join the Antarctic research team for him.
Some whispered behind her back, mocking her as a lovesick puppy.
Others said she’d never be anything more than what she was to him now.
Back then, Victoria didn’t care.
Now, she cared even less.
On the other end of the phone, her best friend let out a relieved sigh.
"It’s good to hear you’re thinking like this."
"When Isabella went abroad, Edmund couldn’t get her off his mind. And now that she’s back, he’s practically wagging his tail, begging for her forgiveness."
"If we’re being polite, we’d call it sentimental. But if we’re being honest, he’s just greedy, eating from one bowl while eyeing the next."
"Those two are a match made in hell. I just hope they stay together and leave the rest of us in peace."
Victoria couldn’t help but laugh aloud, but her laughter was cut short when a familiar voice called her name.
"Victoria?"
She looked up and saw Isabella, arm linked with Edmund’s, walking toward her.
"I thought it looked like you. It really is!"
Isabella’s smile danced with mischief, while Edmund looked visibly uncomfortable, his hand instinctively trying to pull away. "Victoria? What brings you here?"
Victoria’s eyes fell on the bowl of food Edmund was holding. He didn’t like buffalo wings, so they were clearly for Isabella.
Isabella noticed Victoria’s glance and explained with a deliberate, almost teasing tone, "I suddenly craved buffalo wings, so Edmund came with me to grab some."
"I’m sorry for being gone so long; I couldn’t even remember where the restaurant was."
"I hope you’re not upset I took him away."
Though it sounded like an explanation, it carried the sharp edge of a taunt.
"Why would I be upset? We’re all friends," Victoria replied with a calm, composed smile.
"But what a coincidence, I was here for buffalo wings too. After all..."
Her gaze swept over the pair before continuing, "After all, my takeout still hasn’t arrived. I wonder if it got delivered to the wrong address."
Her words made Edmund furrow his brow and just as he opened his mouth to explain, Victoria waved at them brightly.
"But now that I smell yours, I’ve suddenly lost my appetite. The meat doesn’t seem fresh; it smells slightly off."
"Well, I’ll be going now. Enjoy your meal."
Back at her apartment, the evening had already settled in.
As her eyes swept around the familiar space, the scattered remnants of their shared life made her feel momentarily unmoored.
She and Edmund had met in their sophomore year.
Though they studied different subjects and were in separate departments, fate had brought them together in the same classroom.
As Victoria closed her umbrella, the edge brushed against Edmund’s chest, a light graze that felt heavier than it should have.
Rain had already soaked through the thin fabric of his shirt, leaving faint, damp patches scattered across his chest.
Flustered, Victoria stumbled over her apology, but her words faltered when she caught Edmund’s gaze; his eyes, damp but piercing, held a quiet intensity.
His thick lashes framed those strikingly clear eyes; their corners tinged with a faint redness from the sting of the rain.
"It’s fine. I was walking too fast," he said, his voice low, yet it resonated within her, stirring something deep.
Falling for him had felt effortless, as though it had always been meant to happen.
Victoria memorized the name on the cover of his textbook, traced his school and class and eventually learned about the ex-girlfriend he’d broken up with when she went abroad.
But none of that diminished her enthusiasm, not even for a moment.
She had always loved with all her heart and hated with equal clarity.
Over time, Edmund had unknowingly grown accustomed to having her in his life.
They ate together, sat side by side in every class, celebrated every holiday and gradually embraced each other in every sense.
That night, Edmund kissed every inch of her skin as though he was trying to merge her into his very soul.
Again and again, he whispered her name, "Victoria, Victoria..."
"Promise me, you’ll never leave me!"
At that moment, Victoria truly believed that they would be together forever.
Now, as she fed their photographs into the shredder one by one, her heartfelt surprisingly steady.
The matching couple figurines on the desk, alongside the bouquet of blue roses, were swept into the trash without a second thought.
On the bedside table sat the stuffed bear, a prize from last Christmas.
They had been shopping that day when they stumbled upon a couple’s three-legged race in the mall.
Out of thirty-six pairs, they had taken first place.
A couple in the next lane tripped in the race, crashing directly into Victoria’s right shoulder. Almost instinctively, Edmund had pulled her into his arms, shielding her from the impact.
As they finally received the prize, Victoria’s gaze fell on Edmund’s pale face and she noticed the fine droplets of sweat gathering on his forehead.
When she pulled up his sleeve, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his entire right arm bruised, dark and swollen.
Panic surged through her, but Edmund’s uninjured hand gently pat her head, his voice calm as ever.
"Protecting you is my duty."
The stuffed bear, large enough to fill an entire seat, was something Victoria had intended to toss right into the trash.
But just as she descended the stairs, a small child peeked out from behind the fence.
"Sister, are you throwing the bear away?" the child asked with a hesitant voice.
Victoria couldn’t help but nod, seeing the spark of hope that appeared in the child’s eyes.
"Do you want it?" she offered.
And just like that, the stuffed bear was spared from the trash, now the child’s new companion. At least it wouldn’t go to waste.
After getting rid of the last remnants, Victoria spotted Edmund approaching.
He must have just dropped Isabella off at her dorm, considering the timing.
"What did you throw away?" Edmund asked, his tone curious and a little wary.
"Just some useless things," Victoria replied casually, her voice light as she turned away, not looking back.
Fortunately, Edmund didn’t push her further. Instead, he shifted the topic to their earlier encounter.
"I really did have something urgent to deal with at school. As for Isabella, we just happened to cross paths on the way back."
"So, don’t overthink it. I really..."
"I know," Victoria cut him off with ease, her tone flat and composed.
"You two are friends, right? Friends help each other out. There’s really nothing for me to overthink."
It was odd, though.
By all logic, Victoria should have been furious.
She should have demanded answers; why was he always with Isabella? Why were their lunch plans tossed aside every time Isabella appeared? What was going on between them and what did she even mean to him?
But instead, she said nothing.
But now, Victoria didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, she seemed to find excuses for him, as if smoothing over the air between them.
So why did Edmund feel no sense of relief, like he had just narrowly escaped a trap?
He stood there, lost in thought, his gaze distant, until Victoria sighed softly and walked over, patting him on the shoulder.
"What’s going on? Don’t tell me the buffalo wings left you all confused?"
"You didn’t finish the noodles at lunch. Are you planning to make up for it tonight?"
Victoria’s smile was effortless, her voice light and teasing, the brightness of her presence filling the space.
For a moment, Edmund almost believed that nothing had changed.
In the past, Victoria adored the noodles he made.
But today, for some reason, whether his cooking had lost its touch or some other reason, she only ate half before setting her spoon and fork down.
"Why aren’t you eating?" he asked, unable to ignore the strange feeling in the air.
"Probably because I had lunch too late," she replied, her tone casual. "I’m just not that hungry yet."
She’d savored the soup he made in the past, but that had been because she loved him. Now that her heart had shifted, even the soup felt lackluster.
When the memory of lunch crossed his mind, his conscience heavy, Edmund didn’t push the matter. Instead, he silently went to the kitchen, washing the dishes in quiet reflection.
As he moved through the apartment, from the kitchen to the living room, Edmund didn’t seem to notice anything was missing. Perhaps his guilt had clouded his awareness, or maybe he simply didn’t care enough to look.
Fresh from her shower, Victoria twisted her damp hair into a loose bun with a pencil. Her face, free of makeup, glowed softly under the gentle warmth of the yellow light.
Suddenly, Edmund couldn’t help but recall the rainy day when they first met. He stepped closer, his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist.
Her scent filled the air for a brief second, familiar and comforting. In the past, whenever he did this, Victoria would smile at him, sometimes even turning to kiss him with the same warmth she always had.
But tonight, she didn’t turn around.
A sharp unease struck Edmund.
"Victoria?"
Victoria didn’t respond. Instead, she gently brushed his hand away from her waist.
"I need to finish this report tonight. You should rest," she said, her voice steady, though there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes.
"I’ve already explained everything to you," Edmund said, his voice darkening with frustration. "Do you really have to act like this?"
The steady rhythm of keys tapping filled the room as Victoria glanced up at him, her gaze tinged with helplessness.
"I really need to finish this report," she replied, her tone cool and composed. "If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can say."
That night, Edmund, simmering with anger, retreated to the guest room. He didn’t notice the missing stuffed bear nor the emptiness that lingered.
The next day, Victoria sat at her desk, scrolling through websites, searching for gear for her upcoming trip to Antarctica.
Though her academic record was impeccable, she had little experience with fieldwork. The idea of working in Antarctica, so vast, so unforgiving, was still just a concept to her, something learned from textbooks, not lived.
She spent the entire afternoon scrolling through endless pages but made little headway.
Then, a notification popped up, a friend request.
The name on the screen immediately caught Victoria’s attention. It was from a senior who was also going on the expedition.
When she had submitted her application the day before, her advisor had mentioned him and urged her to add him. But between running into Edmund and Isabella, she had completely forgotten about it.
Without hesitation, she accepted the request. Almost instantly, the senior sent her a detailed list of essentials for the trip to Antarctica as if he had known what she needed.
Relieved to have found someone who could help, Victoria quickly sent her thanks.
Clearly busy senior replied with a simple “No problem” before falling silent.
Victoria didn’t mind. She followed the list closely and quickly ordered everything she needed, her heart light with the knowledge that the preparations were finally coming together.
