Chapter 4

The day before the graduation gala, Carter and I were assigned as co-hosts.

Right before the show started, Carter came backstage to find me.

"We need to talk."

I didn't even look up. "I have nothing to say to you."

Carter suddenly grabbed my wrist and dragged me into an empty classroom nearby.

"Carter! What the hell are you doing?"

The sound of the door locking echoed through the room.

I rattled the doorknob violently, but it wouldn't budge.

"I'll let you out once the gala is over."

"Mia has wanted to stand on that stage since she was a kid. I promised her I'd make her dream come true."

"You're already the best host in the department. Missing one show won't kill you."

A suffocating tightness gripped my chest.

"To you, everything that matters to me is just some trivial joke!"

I pounded my fists against the door.

"The research fellowship was trivial, going public was trivial, me being cyberbullied and having water poured on me was trivial!"

He didn't reply.

Before he walked away, he only muttered a low sentence:

"Stop making a scene."

His footsteps faded away.

I stood alone in the dark classroom as the opening music swelled outside.

A few minutes later, Mia's sweet, cheerful voice echoed through the speakers, followed by Carter's deep, warm tone.

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

I slid down against the locked door and let my tears fall in silence.

I had spent years waiting.

Waiting for Carter to hold my hand and walk out in front of everyone.

Waiting for him to say, "This is my girlfriend, Sera Miller."

But all I got was Mia.

From beginning to end, everyone knew they were more intimate than any real couple.

The gala finally ended, and the door was unlocked.

Carter stood outside, holding a bouquet of flowers. His eyes lingered on my swollen, red eyes.

"Stop crying."

I walked right past him.

Carter grabbed my arm, looking as if he wanted to say something, but his phone rang.

Caller ID: Mia.

Without a single second of hesitation, he let go of my arm.

"Hey?"

His face fell instantly.

"Don't cry. I'm coming right now."

Hanging up, he looked back at me.

"She's really upset."

"I've already requested time off. Your mom's birthday is in a few days. I'll go back with you to celebrate, and we can finally go public."

"Can we please stop fighting now?"

My fingers trembled slightly.

I had waited four long years for those words. I had waited until I wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, and only then did they finally come.

But hearing them now just felt incredibly pathetic.

"Do you seriously still think I went to Europe just to throw a tantrum?"

An irritated look flashed across Carter's face.

"What else would it be?"

I said quietly:

"Forget it. My mom doesn't need you to celebrate her birthday anymore."

He was finally pushed over the edge, his voice rising sharply.

"You were the one who chose to go abroad! You were the one who disappeared and pushed me away! Why are you playing the victim now?"

"Sera, do you even have a heart?!"

His phone rang again.

This time, he didn't even look at me. He turned and ran.

"Mia, I'm almost there."

That familiar, intimate nickname jabbed lightly into my heart.

But it didn't hurt anymore.

After my thesis defense, I packed my bags and decided to move to the North.

While waiting at the airport, I opened the university forum and uploaded our photos one by one.

From seventeen to twenty-two.

From high school uniforms to graduation gowns.

The title was just one sentence:

[About Carter and me.]

Then, I sent the security footage of Carter locking me in the classroom, along with evidence of him enabling the cyberbullying, straight to the Academic Dean.

I received a Snapchat message from Carter:

[Where are you? I'm outside your apartment.]

I turned off my phone and boarded the plane.