Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Silence fell over the lab instantly.

"Stop throwing a tantrum," Travis snapped under his breath, scowling.

I quietly took off my lab coat and handed the lab keycard to Melanie.

"Here's the access card."

Melanie's eyes lit up with delight as she muttered softly.

"You should have been this smart from the start. You never stood a chance against me."

I ignored her, turning around to give my teammates a few final reminders.

"Make sure you keep an eye on the titration parameters. None of this is my concern anymore."

"Clara!"

Travis rushed over and grabbed my arm, forcing me to look at him.

"I am talking to you!"

After everything, I finally managed to swallow the bitterness in my throat and kept my tears at bay.

I placed my hand over his and pried his fingers off.

"Travis, I'm serious. I've thought about this for a long time."

"I planned on ending things cleanly before, but since this happened, let's just finish it now so I don't leave with regrets."

Travis frowned deeply.

"Why can't you be more understanding? Melanie is an orphan! What's wrong with me helping her out? Don't you have a shred of compassion?"

A girl on the team grabbed my hem with red eyes.

"Can we still ask you for help with our coursework, even if you're not in this lab?"

Another teammate cursed directly at Melanie.

"What does this girl even know? What if she ruins the whole project? Just because your dad is the chair doesn't mean you can mess around like this!"

Melanie crouched down, covering her face and crying hysterically.

"It's all my fault for making Clara hate me. I just wanted my name on the paper, I never wanted to hold everyone back..."

She left her words unfinished.

I knew she was confident Travis would never let her leave.

She had used this exact act seventeen times before, and it worked every single time.

To my surprise, Travis hesitated.

"Clara, let's meet in the middle. I'll give you a better project later, but stay on this one so the team doesn't fall apart. Just let Melanie take the primary credit, okay?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

Meeting in the middle?

He simply wanted to bleed me dry.

The last flicker of love in my heart was completely snuffed out.

Summoning an unexpected surge of strength, I shoved his hand away and glared at him.

"No need. I'm off this project, and from now on, it has nothing to do with me. Neither do you."

"Goodbye forever."

Without glancing back, I walked straight out the door.

Back at my dorm, the countdown began taking its toll.

My body grew frail, and dizziness hit me in violent waves.

With no projects and no classes left, I filed a leave of absence with the department.

When I finished packing my bags and walked outside, Travis was standing beneath the oak tree nearby.

Seeing my suitcase, he rushed forward to grab it.

"What are you doing? Dropping out of school over a tiny disagreement?"

I yanked my bag back.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Travis's voice rose an octave.

"How does it have nothing to do with me? I'm your boyfriend! You don't get to leave without telling me!"

"I already told you we broke up!"

"I didn't agree to it!"

"I don't give a damn what you agree to!"

Our voices clashed, neither of us backing down.

Eventually, a sudden lack of oxygen made my vision blur, forcing me to lean against my luggage.

Travis finally noticed something was off and stepped forward to support me.

I slapped him across the face with everything I had.

"Travis, you disgust me."

A bright red handprint bloomed across his fair cheek.

I had always been gentle and accommodating, never once raising a hand to him.

He held his cheek, completely stunned, his breathing ragged.

"Fine! You actually hit me!"

"If you want to break up, then we're done! Let's see who crawls back first! Don't you dare beg on your knees for me to take you back, because I won't!"

I gathered my last breath and yelled back.

"You'd better keep your word and stay out of my life forever!"

I wheeled my suitcase away without looking back.

Using my remaining energy, I hailed a cab and headed out of the city.

Behind me, Travis stood frozen with his bruised pride, shouting toward the departing taxi.

"Don't ever expect me to take you back!"

I didn't care anymore.

A metallic taste surged up my throat.

I quickly pulled out a tissue to catch the mouthful of blood.

The driver caught a glimpse in his rearview mirror and panicked.

"Miss, should we head to the ER? You look terrible, and we have an hour and a half drive to the train station!"

I knew he was terrified I might die in his backseat.

I wiped my mouth and shook my head.

"Don't worry. I won't die just yet."

With the System in place, even if a truck ran over me, I wouldn't die until my seven days were up.