Chapter 2

2

Seeing me smile and say I understood, he leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"Good girl."

"Xavier."

He wanted to say more, but Zia interrupted him.

"My stomach feels a bit uncomfortable."

Zia's car was a flashy sports car, a world away from mine.

"Let's go then. I'll take you home."

Xavier took the car keys from her.

Zia nodded and jogged over to the passenger seat.

She leaned over to block Xavier's view as she buckled his seatbelt. When she stood back up, she gave me a provocative look.

Then, Xavier sped off right past me.

I sat in my car, letting the night wind and dust blow through the window. I dialed my parents who were already overseas.

My mother's voice came through.

"Are you sure you want to move here? You know that once you come back, you have to accept the arranged marriage. No more chasing after your own romantic ideas."

I gripped my phone tight and gave a heavy, "Yes."

My mother asked.

"You've been together for seven years. Can you really just let go?"

I simply said.

"One hundred days of silence. I've already considered us broken up."

On the first day of our fight, he had screamed at me, thrown things, and stormed out of the house. Then he vanished.

It was pouring rain that night. I searched for him for three days and nights.

I only found out yesterday that the moment he left, he got into Zia's car.

While I was drowning in guilt and pain, he was at a hotel with Zia for three days straight.

For the next hundred days, he stayed by her side. He traveled with her, taking photos in every city and posting them online.

Someone sent me his handle. I clicked in and saw a comment on his latest post.

"If she's pregnant, why aren't you getting married?"

He replied quickly.

"I've already picked out a perfect, domestic woman for marriage."

"As for Zia, she belongs to the world. I don't want to be her cage. I'll let her keep the baby as a memory of us."

In our seven years of dating, this was the first time I saw him compromise for anyone.

We officially met at a college debate. Afterward, we bumped into each other on a campus path.

"Move. You're blocking my smoke."

He didn't even look up.

But when I actually stepped aside, he slapped the cigarette pack against my chest.

"Just kidding, straight-A student. You stared at me during the whole match more intensely than the judges did."

"Do you like me?"

I reflexively caught the pack, stunned. My face turned bright red as I was caught.

I had planned to pursue him slowly, but before I could react, he kissed me.

"I like you too."

Within a few days, we were official.

To stay with him, I resolutely rebelled against my family's arranged marriage. I wanted freedom.

My mother was so angry she didn't contact me for five years.

We dated for seven years like that.

In my eyes, he was a bit willful and immature, but it didn't matter. I was willing to spoil him.

But his willfulness slowly turned into sharp thorns.

On the day of our last fight, I was upset because he kissed Zia in front of everyone. I was so angry I dragged him home.

Once home, he smashed the furniture.

"Can you stop being so dramatic? How am I supposed to show my face outside if you act like this!"

I grabbed his hand, trying to calm him down, telling him he couldn't play around like that.

But he slapped me across the face.

"You're really no fun. I only stayed with you because you're rich and obedient. If I knew you'd be such a nag, I never would have looked at you."

I froze, looking at him in disbelief.

Maybe it was the adrenaline, but I only remember his face being flushed with rage at the end.

"Get lost! I don't need you controlling me!"

Then he stormed out.

The next time I heard about him, I tried to reach out, but he had blocked me.

Thinking of this, I closed my eyes.

He wasn't just throwing a tantrum. He just didn't want me interrupting his time with Zia.