I crouched by the entrance of the local ice cream parlor, grabbing the arm of the man rushing past me. "Hey, the sundaes are buy-one-get-one! Want to split an order with me?" He lowered his phone and his gaze briefly swept over the banner advertising the "Couples Special." "Oh," I said. "Are we getting back together then?" Caleb narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "No can do. I'm spoken for." "I've got a new girl," he added. "She gets pretty jealous." I froze. He turned away. "Actually, pack the ice cream up to go. She loves it." 1 I still hadn't fully processed what was happening. The cheerful barista had already boxed up the two sundaes. "You two make a lovely couple. Enjoy your evening!" she beamed. Caleb’s expression remained flat. He took his sundae and started walking. His sleek black Range Rover was parked right by the curb. It was sweltering out, so I had been squatting by the entrance of the fruit shop next door, mooching their AC while licking my ice cream. Before getting into his car, he threw me a look that was half-amused, half-mocking. "Need a ride, 'girlfriend'?" I glanced at his passenger seat. It was decked out with a fluffy pink seat cover and a cute stuffed animal. It practically screamed that it belonged to someone else. "No, I'm good," I mumbled slowly. "I live close by..." Before I could even finish my sentence, he sped off. "Hey, hey! Don't block the door!" the shop owner yelled. "Ah, sorry." My legs were aching from squatting so long. As I stood up, I lost my balance. The sundae in my hand hit the pavement with a splat. Ugh, what a waste. A whole boyfriend traded for a dropped ice cream. I smacked my lips, disappointed, and turned to walk home. My studio apartment was simple and clean. I quietly took down the old, framed photo hanging on the wall. In it, a young man with crinkling eyes was smiling brightly, holding a girl's hand like it was his most prized possession. In stark contrast, the girl's face was blank, almost painfully cold. I stared at it for a few seconds longer, then tossed it into the trash can. Tsk. No wonder I looked so awful when I tried to smile. No wonder he broke up with me all those years ago. "Meow." The stray calico I'd picked up rubbed against my legs. I popped open a can of wet food for her. I’d bought it yesterday during a "buy two, get one free" sale at the supermarket. When you're used to being broke, missing out on a deal physically hurts. I almost regretted not asking him for a breakup fee back then. Just then, an unknown number called my phone. I answered. It was Caleb. His voice was still as cold as ice. "If we're getting back together, aren't you going to add me back on Instagram?" "Do you know how annoying it is to call you?" I quietly muttered an "oh" and was about to say something else. But then, a woman's sweet, whiny voice drifted through the receiver. "Caleb, I'm hungry..." He hung up immediately. The dial tone echoed in my ear. Honestly, that whole "getting back together" thing was a joke... I wanted to tell him to just forget it. But remembering the voice I just heard, it didn't feel right to call him back. I typed in his Instagram handle. User not found. His phone number? Also out of service. I slowly hugged my phone and lay back on my bed. Caleb had forgotten that he was the one who deleted me. 2 Later, I remembered to use the phone number from the call to add him as a contact. He accepted the request quickly, but didn't say a word for half the day. I quietly snooped through the six years of his life since he left. His social media feed was quiet and monotonous. Until last year, when a vibrant girl in a red dress appeared—she looked a lot like I used to. From that day on, Caleb posted more often. His smile wasn't as blazing as it used to be, but it radiated a quiet, steady happiness. I stared at the screen, a little dazed. Halfway through scrolling, the screen went black. It seemed he suddenly remembered and blocked me. I slowly finished my last bite of instant ramen. I tossed my phone aside and wrapped myself tightly in my blanket. I didn't sleep a wink all night. For the next few days, it was like both of us had completely forgotten the incident. I prepped my lessons, went to the middle school to teach, fed the cat—my life was a simple two-point line. He was busy with his tech company, flying out for negotiations and meetings. Occasionally, I'd see him on the local news. Caleb Thorne, Tech Prodigy, Rises to Power, Acquires Rival Firms. Whenever Chloe came over, she'd bring groceries. We'd sit on the couch, munching on watermelon, and watch the news together. His success had made a lot of wealthy heiresses eager to throw their hats in the ring. "Mr. Thorne, you've rejected all proposals for an arranged marriage. May we ask why?" a bold reporter asked on TV. Caleb narrowed his eyes, his demeanor composed yet aloof. But a fleeting, almost imperceptible warmth flashed in his eyes. "I have a girlfriend." Everyone assumed it was the girl living in his mansion. Chloe poked me, hesitating before asking, "Didn't you just say you guys got back together? Is he going to marry you?" "I mean, the way he chased you back in high school... the whole town knew about it." I stared at the polite, distant man on the screen. I shook my head. I tapped her lightly on the head. "Dummy, who becomes someone's girlfriend over a scoop of ice cream?" Caleb clearly didn't care about me at all. "I know, but he was the Caleb who loved you more than anything in the world!" She counted on her fingers. "You guys skipped class together, won stuff at the arcade, had your first kiss." "Every time you even looked at him, that cold, untouchable guy would come running like an eager puppy." The memories felt so distant now. "By the way, tell me honestly... did you really dump him because you cheated?" I hummed softly and shook my head truthfully. Chloe fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject. "It's okay, don't be sad. It's not like we're short on men." I looked up and said slowly, "I was fine to begin with." She choked on her words, tied on an apron, and went into the kitchen to cook. "Tsk. I should have known you don't have a heart. Hurry up and help me." I thought things would just go back to normal. Until one night, he initiated a text. [Let's grab dinner tomorrow night.] [I'll wait for you downstairs.] I had just gotten out of the shower when I saw the message. Right, it had been six years since the breakup. Maybe it was because I was getting older, but I just felt lazy. I was still living in the same small apartment we used to share. After staring at the screen for a while, I finally remembered to decline. [No thanks, I have plans tomorrow.] His reply was brief. [I'm only waiting three minutes.] Cold, distant, and impatient. It hit me then. He was no longer the Caleb who catered to my every whim. But honestly, I really didn't want to go to that dinner. I thought about it for a moment, then started typing. [Ah, I'm really sorry. I didn't actually mean anything by it. It was just that the ice cream special was so rare, and it was so hot out...] [And you were the only person on the street I recognized. It would be rude to ask a stranger to split an order, at least we used to date...] [Let's just drop it. It's better for everyone.] The more I wrote, the messier it got. I deleted the whole thing. I just sent one sentence. [I was joking about getting back together the other day. Sorry about that.] I sat there holding my phone for a while. He didn't reply. I sighed. All that bitterness from six years ago... let's just leave it in the past. 3 I didn't think much of it. He was probably too lazy to argue and just blocked me again. But when I came home from teaching that afternoon... I ran right into Caleb at the school gates. He was leaning lazily against his car, drawing a crowd of staring schoolgirls. "Is that Caleb Thorne? Wow, he's so handsome!" "Yeah, he was the state valedictorian eight years ago!" Caleb was staring blankly at the oak trees on campus. I quietly tried to walk past him, but he called out. "Maya." "Long time no see. Turns out you've been teaching at Lincoln High this whole time." Lincoln High was our alma mater. A mocking glint appeared in his eyes. "What, feeling nostalgic? Couldn't bear to leave?" I blinked, letting out a confused "ah." "Yeah, I couldn't bear to leave. They offered me double the salary." Caleb's expression darkened. "Hmph. Still as obsessed with money as ever, I see." I honestly couldn't read his expression. He pulled open the car door and got in. "Get in." I said slowly, "I really can't go..." Caleb calmly rolled down the window. "The seafood boil is half off today." I asked in a small, uncertain voice, "Can I get it to go?" He looked like he was so annoyed he was going to laugh. "Whatever you want." I quickly climbed into the backseat. He was driving a different car today, a Porsche Cayenne. It looked barely used, and the passenger seat was free of all those pink accessories. Caleb drove in total silence. I leaned against the window, neither of us speaking. Honestly, I didn't understand why he came looking for me. I clearly told him it was a joke, and he didn't seem like the type to cling to the past. He caught my eye in the rearview mirror. Looking irritated, he pulled out a cigarette. My eyes flickered. I opened my mouth to speak. He was holding the cigarette pack and accidentally pressed a button on the dashboard. A sweet, playful female voice filled the car. "My dearest Caleb, are you in a bad mood again?" "Don't smoke, okay? Let me sing you a song." "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." I froze, and he seemed startled too. He instinctively put the cigarette back. A warm, incredibly soft smile spread across his face. It was almost frightening how happy he looked. Leaving me sitting there, truly and completely uncomfortable. We arrived quickly. It was a casual seafood joint by the pier. Caleb went inside to order, and I leaned against the railing, enjoying the ocean breeze. A drunk, overweight man stumbled over and slung an arm around my shoulder. "Hey there, gorgeous. Where's your boyfriend?" I quietly pushed his arm off and took a step back. The guy was persistent, continuing to harass me. I caught Caleb's eye from a distance. He just stood there, watching quietly. It wasn't until a few men nearby couldn't stand it anymore and stepped in to stop the guy... That Caleb finally sauntered over. The drunk guy seemed to recognize him and sobered up instantly. "Mr. Thorne, I didn't know she was with you, I was just..." Caleb smiled and patted the guy on the shoulder. "You can mess with her. It has nothing to do with me." I stared at him. He shrugged, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "What, I said we're getting back together, I didn't say I had to treat you well." With that, Caleb grabbed the tray of seafood and beers and walked away. 4 He leaned back in his wicker chair. I stood there, refusing to sit. "Eat something first. The to-go boxes won't hold all of this." I finally felt like something was off and asked quietly. "Mr. Thorne, did you read my message?" He looked at me calmly, his tone careless. "What message? I don't have the free time to stare at your chat window all day." I still didn't move. He grew impatient. "Are you going to eat or what?" I looked down. Everything on the table was what I usually loved. And I was really hungry. I reached out and tried a skewer. It was so spicy that tears instantly sprang to my eyes. "Cough, cough." "Doesn't it taste good?" He watched me with unabashed scrutiny. "Oh, I forgot. This is how I like it." "In the past, I always went along with your bland food. Tonight, you can just deal with it." I stayed quiet, rinsing the food in my water glass before eating it. But it only seemed to get spicier. Aside from the heat, the seafood was fresh and tender. He squinted at me for a moment, then raised a hand to call the waiter. "Bring another order of everything on the table. Make it mild this time." He paused. "And grab a slice of strawberry mousse." I pulled out a wet wipe and said slowly. "Never mind. I want to go home." Caleb raised an eyebrow. "What, is that all it takes to make you feel wronged?" It wasn't that bad, really. It was just that the spice was burning my stomach, and that burning sensation was slowly creeping into my chest. It felt incredibly uncomfortable. I just wanted to go home immediately. I couldn't even be bothered to pack up the leftovers. He stood up, pushing the plates away. "Fine. Let's go. I'll take you." I opened my mouth to decline. As if anticipating my refusal... He added, "We're in the marina district. It's ten miles from your place." "And you have no sense of direction. Do you want to walk until dawn?" Caleb naturally grabbed my hand. I struggled uncomfortably, but just like in the past, he held on tighter. I couldn't pull away, so I just gave up. As we were walking out... I pulled out my phone, planning to snap a picture of the restaurant to share the hidden gem with Chloe later. Caleb, who had been staring off into space, suddenly lunged. He swatted the phone out of my hand. "Don't take pictures!" His voice was loud, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. They all turned to look at us. He said coldly, "If I see a picture of us online, I have ways to ruin you." I was stunned. It took me a moment to process what he said. My phone hit the ground, the screen shattering completely. I bent down to pick it up, wiping the dirt off the screen. It was a shame, really. It was a brand new phone. I said slowly. "I didn't want a picture of us, and I certainly wasn't going to post anything online." "I just thought the food was good and wanted to bring a friend next time." 5 A flicker of guilt flashed through Caleb's eyes, quickly replaced by his usual coldness. He pursed his lips. "I'll buy you a new one." "That model is old anyway. It's from last year." I shook my head quietly. "No need. There's no reason for you to buy me anything." "I'll call a friend to pick me up. Have a good night, Mr. Thorne." Caleb narrowed his eyes, grabbing my wrist with a cold sneer. "What do you mean, no reason? Weren't you the one begging to get back together?" I finally realized what he was talking about and let out an "ah." I waved my shattered phone. "Didn't you read my message? I was really just joking." "What are you talking about?" He frowned and pulled out his phone. My messages were on 'Do Not Disturb'. It was pretty obvious who had done that. I said apologetically. "I'm so sorry. I really just wanted the discount on the ice cream. If I made you misunderstand, I feel terrible..." "Maya!" His face darkened, cutting me off. He practically gritted his teeth. "So, it was all for a scoop of ice cream?" I blinked, confused. "Yeah." "...Fine. Maya, you are really something." He let out a few cold laughs. He kicked a nearby tree hard, sending a shower of oak leaves raining down on me. "Do you have any idea how much I want to strangle you every time I see that blank, indifferent look on your face?" He seemed to finally explode. "You're an emotional cripple! Who else but me would ever put up with you?" "Don't regret this." Caleb walked away, exuding a freezing chill. I stood there, frozen. The people walking by were giving me weird looks and whispering. "So she's emotionally stunted? She doesn't even know how to love someone." "Her poor boyfriend. Dealing with a selfish, cold partner... no wonder he was so mad." "Ugh, people with that kind of mental issue shouldn't even date. They just ruin other people's lives. She belongs in a psych ward..." I looked down at the ground. Caleb was angry again. The breakup six years ago flashed in my mind. He was just as furious and desperate back then. "Maya, why don't you ever say you love me!" "Say it! Why am I always the one trying? Why do you always look like you couldn't care less about me!" "Did you want to break up this whole time?!" He slammed his fist on the table, loud and hoarse. We were in a crowded place. The broken glass cut his hand, staining it red, and his eyes were bloodshot. I was genuinely terrified. I didn't know how to respond. Seeing him like that, I was so scared. Memories from my childhood came rushing back. I covered my ears and screamed. "Then let's just break up!" As soon as those words left my mouth, everything finally went quiet. But later... even though I took all my medication, it didn't help. When I finally went looking for him, he already had someone new. Someone who actually knew how to love him. I didn't know when, but a light drizzle started falling from the sky. I lied to him. No one was coming to pick me up. I quietly knocked on the door of the clinic next door. "Doctor, can you cure emotional detachment?" A man in a white coat happened to be leaning against the doorframe. He glanced at me and spoke lazily. "I guarantee a cure. Give me three sentences, and you'll be fixed." I widened my eyes. He coughed. "First sentence: I love you." Me: "???" I took a closer look at the man in front of me. He had pale skin, a tall, lean build, and both hands stuffed in his coat pockets. He had a cold, aloof face, but his eyes shone like stars. They were bright and incredibly gentle. I was a little distracted. He was almost too beautiful. I was worried I'd stumbled into some shady host club... 6 The head doctor next to me was still enthusiastically winking at me. I silently turned to leave. "Hey, miss!" He flashed his medical ID. Graduated with a Master's from a top medical school. Dr. Liam Hayes. I vaguely remembered seeing him on the news, doing volunteer work in Africa, curing tropical fevers or something. Well, he was a famous doctor, it seemed. "My name is Liam. Nice to meet you, Ms. Weaver." His eyes crinkled as he extended a long, elegant hand. I shook it hesitantly. "How do you know my name?" He rubbed his nose. "You guys were pretty loud out there. I accidentally overheard." I looked down. "But don't worry, we doctors have strict professional ethics." "Patient confidentiality is guaranteed." He quickly explained. I said flatly, "No need to keep it a secret. It's not a big deal anyway." With that, I turned to walk away again. "I can really help you!" "Um, if you don't want to talk about it, do you want to grab some crawfish?" "..." This weird doctor was a total chatterbox. His thought process was all over the place. "Why don't you come inside and sit for a bit, wait out the rain?" Liam opened the door for me and handed me an umbrella. The rain was pouring now, splashing right in my face. I didn't take it. He clicked his tongue and brushed the raindrops off his shoulder. Just as I was about to step out the door... Liam called out, "I can help you win him back." In that instant, my tears suddenly started flowing, mixing with the rain. I didn't know how long I'd been holding them back. The tears burst out like a broken dam. I couldn't stop them, no matter how hard I tried. My whole body was shaking, and I was practically choking on my sobs. My fingernails dug deeply into my palms. "What does it matter to you?" I turned to look at him, feeling anger for the first time in a long time. "I don't need to win him back! There's no chance for us! He hates me!" Liam seemed stunned. "I'm sorry. I was out of line." "...I just wanted to help," he said quietly. Just a stranger. I calmed down quickly. I wiped my eyes and tried to make a joke. "Is this your Hippocratic oath in action? Saving the dying?" He smiled too, nodding. "Then please, tell me, is there any hope for me?" I dropped the umbrella and slowly walked back inside. "Does someone like me, who can't feel emotions, even deserve to live in this world?" "I don't know joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. I don't know how to connect with people..." Liam turned on the heater and poured me a cup of hot tea. "I disappoint them. I let down the people around me. I'm disappointed in myself." My throat hitched. "They're right. I'm a cold, unfeeling monster." I talked faster and faster, spilling more and more, not even knowing what I was saying. By the end, my voice was shaking. His gorgeous eyes curved into crescents. He let out a soft laugh. "You make it sound like a terminal illness." "It's nothing, miss. That's hardly a sickness." "And I'm a miracle worker! There's nothing I can't do..." He started going off-topic again. "Like this one time in Africa, a little girl had terrible ear pain. Everyone did all these tests, thinking it was early-stage leprosy. But I was the one who finally realized she just had a bug in her ear..." I silently stared at the ID badge on his chest. "But you're a dentist. How are you going to fix my heart?" Liam patted my shoulder confidently. "It's all connected." "Just like an earache and a toothache." "..." He smiled like a sly cat. "Let me teach you how to date." I frantically waved my hands. What if I ran away again? Liam laced his fingers together and sat in front of me. He started to look serious. "You've only had one relationship, right?" I nodded. "Then why do you think that one experience defines your whole life?" I paused and looked up at him. "But in my youth, Caleb was the best person in the world to me." He stopped smiling.
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