When I'm having a meal with my family at home, I find out that my childhood sweetheart, Melanie Johnson, has given up on an opportunity to get promoted and transferred to the military base in the north for the sake of my cousin, Wilson Chandler.

"Wilson's competence is only good enough for him to study at a local college in town. It so happens that Mrs. Holland is in poor health as well. I've already applied for a local college for you. We shall stay in this town together."

My mom adds, "That's right. I did promise your uncle that I'll take good care of Wilson, so you need to help me take care of him too. You should just give up on Valmore College—it's useless for you anyway. When you marry Melanie in the future, you'll have to follow her to whichever military district she's going to."

Before I can even speak up, Wilson's eyes redden instantly, making him look very aggrieved.

"This is my fault for being a total loser. My parents aren't here anymore, not to mention I'm the reason why Charlie can't attend his dream college. Why don't you all just leave and do whatever you want? I'm fine being alone."

The moment Wilson starts playing the pity card, both my mom and Melanie panic instantly and start doing their best to comfort him.

Meanwhile, I return to my room quietly and withdrew the application that Melanie helped me submit. Luckily, I manage to apply to Valmore College one second before the submission deadline ends.

Honestly speaking, I intend to study at Valmore College not just because I can be closer to Melanie in terms of distance, but I also want to watch the snow with her there. I want us to walk together in the snow till our heads turn white from the flakes, signifying the longevity in our relationship.

But now, the person standing next to me as I watch the snowfall doesn't matter to me anymore. It's just that I need to watch the snowfall no matter what.

Charlie's POV

The moment I hit "submit" on my application to Valmore College, my door burst open.

My mother, Kasey Chandler, stood in the doorway with a serious expression. "Charlie Holland! Get out here now! Who were you giving that look to at the dinner table? Wilson is your cousin! How can you be so rude? Apologize to him now!"

I didn't move from my chair. Staring at the "Submission Successful" message on the screen, I said calmly, "I don't have anything to apologize for."

"What?" Mom stormed over and grabbed my arm. "You're going too far! Are you saying my words don't mean anything anymore? You're apologizing today, whether you like it or not!"

She hauled me out of my chair and yanked me toward the dining table as I stumbled along.

My cousin, Wilson Chandler, had swollen eyes and was hugging Melanie Johnson, my girlfriend.

"Charlie, apologize to Wilson!" Mom ordered as she clutched my arm tightly.

Wilson immediately waved his hands. His voice trembled as he said, "No, Aunt Kasey. It's my fault. I made Charlie upset…"

Melanie chimed in, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Charlie, knock it off. We agreed that you'd go to the same college as me. There's nothing unreasonable about it. You're just making a fuss for no reason.

"Wilson isn't well. He can't handle this kind of stress. Apologize, and this will all be over."

I looked at the three of them, and suddenly everything felt absurd.

"I'm making a fuss?" I smirked. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I've already changed—"

Before I could finish, a loud slap rang across my face.

Mom had hit me with full force, knocking my head to the side. My vision flashed dark.

"How dare you talk back?" Her voice cracked, trembling with emotion.

"Charlie! After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me? Don't you remember how hard things were after your dad passed away? I had to raise you on my own! We almost didn't make it through. And who helped us? Your Uncle Terry!"

Sobbing, she pointed a shaky finger at me. "He wasn't exactly well-off himself, yet when you were hospitalized with that fever, he was the one running around borrowing money just to cover your medical bills!

"And when he had that amazing job transfer opportunity, he turned it down just so he could stay close and look after us. I'm indebted to him for life! I'll never be able to pay him back!

"Now that your Uncle Terry and Aunt Juliet are gone, I have to take care of their only son. I have to do right by him! That goes for you, too. Don't you dare bully him!"

Mom's voice trembled with tears, but it only fueled the rage building inside me.

I couldn't hold back any longer and yelled, "Yes, Uncle Terry helped us! But how much did you give his family when Dad was alive? You handed them all the money Dad worked so hard for, so they could buy houses and cars!

"When I had that fever, yes, he covered the bills, but then he turned around and told everyone that you were holding him back. In the end, you felt indebted to him, so you paid him back ten times over!

"He didn't get that job transfer because he didn't have the skills! He failed the assessment! But he came back and made you feel guilty by telling you it was to take care of us. He just wanted you to think you're indebted to him for life!"

I roared it all in one breath. Each word was like a blade, slicing through the hypocrisy wrapped in "familial love".

Mom froze and stared at me in disbelief.

Tears flooded my face, and I cried out, "Mom, if you feel like you owe him, then pay him back yourself! Why do I have to be dragged into this? Why do you have to use my future and happiness to pay your debt?"

I suddenly turned to Melanie.

"And you, Melanie Johnson!" I pointed at her with a trembling finger.

"You only get a few days off each month, and you always make excuses not to be with me. Do you think I don't know Mom has been secretly setting you up with Wilson? And you think you have the right to decide which college I should go to?"

As soon as I said that, the room fell dead silent.

Mom clutched her chest. Her lips quivered, but the words simply wouldn't come.

I could see the guilt flash across Melanie's eyes.

Suddenly, Wilson dropped to his knees in front of me.

"Charlie! I'm sorry! It's all my fault!" He cried out while banging his head on the floor.

"I shouldn't have come to bother you! I'll leave right now! I'll never come back! Please, just stop arguing. It's all my fault…"

He seemed like he'd been wronged beyond measure, as he was lying on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Wilson!"

Melanie lunged forward to steady him, but Wilson suddenly clutched his chest and coughed violently. His face turned deathly pale.

She snapped her head up and glared at me. The guilt in her eyes was instantly replaced by a blinding fury.

She marched right up to me and raised her hand.

I met her gaze without flinching and spoke calmly. "Melanie, if you slap me, it's over between us."

Her hand froze in midair, as if she were paralyzed by the emptiness in my eyes.

The next second, Wilson's coughing intensified, followed by the agonizing sound of him retching.

The last shred of hesitation disappeared from Melanie's face.

"You're impossible!" she snarled, and her hand came crashing down.

It was harder and louder than Mom's slap.

The force sent me stumbling backward, and I crashed into the edge of the dining table. A sharp pain shot through my side, and a metallic taste flooded my mouth.

Wilson immediately grabbed Melanie while crying. "Melanie, I-I'm fine. Don't blame Charlie."

She pulled him into her arms, her face full of pain. "He's done this to you, and you're still defending him? You're too kind."

Mom shot me a vicious glare. "Charlie, get on your knees and apologize to Wilson!"

I let out a bitter laugh and gave one last look at the "family of three" huddled together.

All the feelings I had left for them died at that moment.

Stumbling to my feet, I ran out of the suffocating house.

I ended up sitting by the sea for what felt like forever.

I pulled out my phone and found a message Melanie had sent me six months ago.

Melanie had said, "You've always wanted to see the snow in your dad's hometown, right? The colonel says I'll be transferred to the northern military district in six months. When you go to Valmore College, we can go see the snow together and walk through it until we grow old."

At the time, I was so moved I almost cried.

It was clear now that it was only ever my dream, and mine alone to realize.

I stayed by the sea until dawn before finally heading home.

That entire night, neither Melanie nor Mom bothered to ask where I had been.

The only thing that kept updating was Wilson's social media. He posted videos of them surrounding him, trying to cheer him up.

When I got home, I opened the door and found my blanket and pillow thrown onto the living room floor.

Mom coldly said, "If Wilson spends another night in that room with you, you'd probably bully him to death. From now on, you're sleeping in the living room."

Melanie's eyes were bloodshot as she walked over to me. "Mrs. Holland is right. Your temper needs some work. If you're still like this when you come with me to the army after we get married, no one will let you have your way anymore."

Ignoring them both, I bent down to pick up my blanket and tossed it on the couch. I crawled under it and closed my eyes.

I didn't sleep a wink that night. All I wanted was some peace and quiet.

Mom scoffed. "You're just like your late father, stubborn as hell."

Smiling, she hooked her arm through Wilson's. "Come on, Melanie and I will take you shopping for new clothes. You're going to college soon. You need to look sharp."

With that, the three of them left happily, not sparing me a second glance.

I didn't wake up until the afternoon. The house was eerily silent.

My throat felt parched, so I went into my bedroom and took two large gulps from my thermos.

By the time I tasted the mango, it was already too late. My breath caught in my chest, and a rash spread across my body.

Panicking, I searched desperately for my allergy medicine, but the medicine box was empty. Instead, I found mango juice in Wilson's backpack.

I didn't have time to think. Clenching my teeth, I called for an ambulance before losing consciousness.

When I woke up, I saw Mom sitting next to my hospital bed, her face filled with irritation.

"You really can't stand to see me have a peaceful day, can you? You actually tried to kill yourself?"

I quickly shook my head. "Mom, I didn't! It was Wilson! He poured mango juice into my thermos on purpose!"

The next second, a sharp slap landed across my face.

"Bullshit! You've been bullying Wilson since he moved in. He would never do something like that! How did I end up with a son like you?"

With that, Mom stormed out of the ward, leaving me in tears.

Just then, the door slammed open again, and Melanie walked in. She looked at me with a touch of pity.

After a sigh, she said, "I admit I haven't been paying enough attention to you lately, but Mrs. Holland asked me to take good care of Wilson. I couldn't say no. She's watched me grow up. I can't break her heart.

"I promise, once you're both in college and Wilson has his own friends, I'll spend all my time off with you, okay? Please, don't cause any more trouble."

I stared into her eyes and asked, "Will you believe me if I say it was Wilson who got me into the hospital?"

I shoved my phone in her face, showing her the picture I took of the mango juice in Wilson's bag, along with the purchase receipt.

Melanie's brow furrowed.

For a moment, a spark of hope lit up in my chest. I wanted her to believe me just this once.

But the next words out of her mouth made me feel like I had been dumped into an ice-cold pit.