Chapter 2

The rain showed no signs of stopping.

I dragged my feet through the puddles, my mind completely numb.

Suddenly, a pair of blinding headlights rounded the corner.

Before I could react, the car clipped my side.

I was thrown onto the wet asphalt.

Dirty water splashed all over me, stinging my eyes. The world became a blurry, chaotic mess.

Within two minutes, a young girl jumped out of the car, crying hysterically.

She frantically tried to help me up.

I wanted to tell her I was fine, but the pain in my knee was too sharp.

Her boyfriend quickly hopped out and supported my weight.

The girl was still crying, hitting her own head. "It's all my fault! I should have listened to you. I should have let you drive..."

"Hold the umbrella," the guy told her gently, wrapping his jacket around her. "Don't get too close to the road, it's slick."

Then he turned to me. "Hang in there, ma'am. We’re going to take you to the hospital right now."

The girl nodded rapidly. "Yes! Please don't worry, my boyfriend is here. He won't let anything happen to you."

I sat in the backseat of their car.

Listening to them, a realization washed over me.

So this was what it felt like to be protected.

At the hospital.

The girl, Gaby, watched guiltily as the doctor stitched up my knee.

The doctor mumbled in surprise, "You're tough. Most people would be sobbing their eyes out by now."

The needle piercing my flesh was agonizing.

But I remembered a time, years ago.

I was curled up on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night, having a severe stomach spasm.

I called Julian seventeen times. When he finally called back, he just said, "I'm in the middle of a meeting. Take an Uber to the ER yourself."

After that, I learned how to do everything alone.

My phone buzzed. It was a screenshot from Penny.

It was Chloe’s latest Instagram post.

A slideshow of photos: fireworks at Disneyland, the finale of a broadway show, a museum gallery.

And the last photo showed two people bungee jumping together.

The caption read: It feels so good to have someone who actually cares.

My fingers froze on the screen.

Julian had a severe fear of heights. I knew that better than anyone.

Once, I wanted to go to a rooftop bar just to look at the stars, and he flatly refused, calling it unsafe.

Yet, he did this for her.

Penny sent another message: Maya, check the company WhatsApp group...

In the main company chat, Chloe was dropping subtle hints that she was dating Julian.

She was bragging about how sweet and attentive he was.

My eyes burned.

Gaby asked softly, "Does it hurt bad? I’m so sorry..."

I choked out, "It's okay. I can handle it."

But she handed me a tissue. "Just because you can handle it doesn't mean you're not tired."

Only then did I realize I was crying.

My phone started ringing.

It was Julian, his voice carrying his signature impatience. "Maya, where the hell are you? Do you know what time it is?"

Before I could even speak, he sighed. "Forget it. I'm used to you having zero concept of time."

Then, as if to justify himself, he added, "Don't take what Chloe posted in the group seriously. She's just playing around."

"I won't hold tonight against you, but if you keep acting like this..."

"I'm at the hospital," I interrupted him, my voice shaking. "The doctor said—"

"And?" his voice instantly iced over. "Is that your excuse for being late? Maya, you’re not a child anymore."

"Do you know how much effort I put into getting you to where you are today? Am I supposed to keep paying for your laziness?"

In the past, whenever he said things like this, I would always find excuses for him.

He’s doing this for my own good. He wants me to be better.

So I can stand proudly by his side.

So for six years, I ran myself ragged trying to keep up with him, never daring to pause.

But lying on this hospital bed, looking at my bruised, bloody knee...

I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

"Julian, let's break up."

The line went dead silent for a long second.

Then, he hissed through his teeth, "Maya, you always do this. The second things don't go your way, you run away like a coward."

"Fine. Do whatever you want. But don't expect me to take you back easily this time."

The call ended.

Gaby suddenly hugged me.

"Oh my god, your boyfriend is a monster! Dump him!"

She glared at her boyfriend, Leo. "All men are trash! None of you deserve us!"

Leo looked incredibly helpless but didn't dare to argue.

I looked at Gaby’s tear-stained face and let out a small, genuine laugh.

"It's okay. After all these years, it's finally time to let go."