Chapter 3

3

The next day, I asked Selina to meet.

We met at a BBQ place. She sat across from me, looking clearly distracted.

At first, neither of us spoke, until she grew impatient. I finally asked my first question.

"Selina, what do you think of my roommate?"

She looked awkward for a second before regaining her composure.

"Why are you bringing him up again? Is this about him giving you those snacks last night?"

I watched her silently, not answering.

"Alright, fine," she snapped, sounding annoyed.

"Why are you so sensitive? I admit he is good-looking, but I am not shallow. Since I am with you, I wouldn't do anything inappropriate. We have been together for three years; why don't you trust me?"

Seeing her say that without blinking, even managing to turn the blame back on me, made me realize something.

The relationship I had worked so hard to preserve for three years was nothing but a joke.

Selina kept fidgeting with her phone. After eating almost nothing, she made an excuse to leave.

I followed her from a distance and soon saw Chase.

She ran into his arms, looking overjoyed.

I stayed hidden in the crowd as I moved closer.

"Noah keeps doubting everything. It is so annoying."

"He is always hovering around me, never giving me any personal space."

Chase asked, "Then why are you still with him after three years?"

Selina curled her lip. "There isn't anyone else around better-looking than him, so I just settled for now."

"But now I have you. The moment he mentions breaking up, I will never look back. He is boring and dull. Being with you is so much more fun."

"Oh, right, you didn't know this, did you? I didn't even like him that much when I first pursued him."

"Back in high school, I realized he had a crush on me. I was so surprised when he followed me to this city for college! I was just bored that day at the tea shop, so I pursued him on a whim. Who knew he would be so easy to get? Haha..."

Hearing that felt like being doused in icy water.

I felt cold all over.

So these three years really were a joke...

No, I had been a joke since high school.

I watched them laughing as they walked into a hotel, and they didn't come out for a long time.

I leaned against the wall and called Selina.

The first call didn't go through.

Neither did the second.

The third, the fourth...

I kept calling until she answered, her voice sounding breathless and husky.

"Noah! Are you insane?! Why are you calling me so many times?!"

Listening to the lingering desire in her voice, my heart felt like it had been hollowed out, but I couldn't feel the pain anymore.

"What are you doing, Selina?"

"I," she paused, "was working on my thesis, and I was trying to rest."

I smiled and shook my head, whispering, "Selina, let's break up."

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