My boyfriend stormed out again. The reason? I worked late and didn't scoop the cat litter the second I walked in. This time, I didn't run after him. Suddenly, a stream of floating text—like live comments on a Twitch stream—started scrolling across my vision. 【What is wrong with the FL (Female Lead)? The ML (Male Lead) is standing right outside. He didn't even push the elevator button; he’s waiting for her to chase him!】 【The ML totally noticed she has low blood sugar just now. If she just opens the door, he’ll definitely come back and cook her something delicious. He won't hesitate!】 【The ML is just super insecure, that’s why he’s throwing a tantrum about the litter box! Actually, all he needs is an "I love you" from the FL and he’d walk through fire for her. Who wouldn't love a man like that?】 【FL, hurry up and comfort him! The ML is about to cry!】 【Yeah, he regretted it the moment he ran out. He’s probably eaten up with guilt right now, scratching at the walls. Boohoo, this is so angsty!】 I was hesitating, hand hovering over the doorknob, when my phone buzzed. It was a text from my boyfriend, Liam. [Liam: Chloe, let’s break up!] [Liam: Move out before I get back!] My heart seized, and my eyes instantly stung with tears. [Chloe: Okay.] 1 I put my phone away, wiped my tears, and dragged my suitcase out of the closet. The floating comments went wild. 【Omg, the ML is just being awkward! He’s dying to come back and hug her, but he’s stubborn and has a toxic mouth. Saying "break up" is just his way of showing insecurity!】 【Exactly! His parents divorced when he was a kid and both remarried quickly. He has abandonment issues! The FL knows this! Why is she actually packing? Girl, don't! He loves you so much, how will he live if you leave?】 【That trash mouth of his! You can't believe what he says when he's angry. Just open the door, he’ll come wagging his tail back to you. Don't pack, what will he do without you?】 【No one in this world loves you more than he does. You guys survived high school, went through four years of college, and finally graduated. You’re his whole life! If you leave, what happens to Liam? And what about Jelly?】 I started folding clothes, forcing myself to ignore the barrage of text floating in the air. I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened. Every time he says "break up," he demands I move out. And every time we make up, he acts cute, pouts, and tells me he didn't mean it. I remember the first time Liam kicked me out. I was terrified. We were supposed to go on a trip the next day, so I worked overtime to hand off all my projects properly. I wanted to enjoy the vacation stress-free. But Liam felt I didn't care about the trip because I got home past 11 PM. He didn't listen to my explanation. He didn't care that I hadn't eaten dinner. He shoved a suitcase into my hands and slammed the door in my face. I stood there for half the night, starving. It was winter. I didn't even have my coat. I was shivering violently in the hallway. Liam never opened the door. If a neighbor hadn't found me passed out from hypoglycemia and banged on the door to wake Liam up, who knows what would have happened? Liam was scared to death that time. When I woke up, he swore up and down: "Chloe, I love you so much." "If I say hurtful things when I'm mad, please promise not to take them seriously, okay?" "You know I’m insecure. As long as you give me enough security, I won't get mad anymore." I believed him. So, every time we fought after that, and every time he told me to get out, I told myself he was just angry. I knew he was awkward. I knew he was insecure. So, I made him the center of my universe. But now? I’m tired. Eight years. Eight years of bowing my head, of apologizing, of being kicked out every time he had a mood swing. I am truly. Exhausted. 2 Packing didn't take long. I made myself a bowl of instant ramen. I felt a tug on my pant leg. I looked down. It was Jelly. As soon as I crouched down, Jelly jumped into my lap. Jelly was originally a cat belonging to one of Liam's junior classmates, a girl named Bella. She got tired of raising it after less than two weeks. Liam brought the cat home, and it became my responsibility. Scooping litter, vet visits, vaccines, deworming—it was all on me. If I ever slipped up, Liam would look at me coldly. "If it wasn't because you liked it, why would I have brought Jelly home?" "Chloe, when did you become so irresponsible?" And coincidentally, this breakup was because I hadn't changed the litter fast enough, and the apartment smelled a bit. While eating my noodles, I checked my phone. I saw that Bella, the "junior classmate," had posted on her social media. [QAQ, my poor homeless senior is so pitiful. I guess I'll reluctantly take him in. (๑>ᴗ<๑)] The photo was half of Liam's face, holding a drink at a bar. 【The ML is so pitiful. Look, he’s drunk but his eyes are glued to his phone. He’s still thinking about the FL!!】 【Girl, don't be mad! He only went to the Junior’s place to make you jealous. He doesn't like her at all, she’s just a tool to him!】 【Yeah, look at his phone, he’s staring holes into it. If you send one text right now, he’ll instantly turn back into your puppy dog.】 Before I could finish reading the floating comments, a video came through from an unknown number. In the video, Liam was leaning back, eyes closed, resting his head on a woman's chest. The woman asked, "Liam, if you sleep at my place tonight, won't your girl dump you?" Liam let out a cold sneer. "I'll just freeze her out for two days. She'll be begging to carry me back home in a sedan chair." The woman laughed, her voice trembling with amusement. "So she's a simp then? The kind you can't get rid of even if you try?" I held my breath. Then I heard Liam give a low, "Yeah." The video ended. I stared at the ramen in front of me. I couldn't take another bite. So. The heartache I felt for him, the step-by-step retreat I made for his "security"... In his eyes, and in everyone else's eyes... It just made me a doormat. A simp who comes when called and leaves when dismissed. I looked at the cup of noodles. Cold, with a layer of congealed grease floating on top. Disgusting. 3 Eight years of a relationship, boiled down to one small suitcase. "Meow... meow..." Jelly seemed to sense something and bit tugged at my jeans. I hesitated for a second. Considering I’ve been the one caring for Jelly for the past year, and knowing Liam wouldn't want the hassle, I picked the cat up. We were leaving together. It was 2 AM when I checked into a hotel. Early the next morning, I opened Zillow and started scrolling. Within an hour, I found a small studio apartment near my company. It was tiny, but the commute was practically zero. When we first graduated, we didn't live there. Liam loved to sleep in. Every morning was a battle to wake him up. He’d been written up twice for being late. I was the one who suggested we move closer to his company. Back then, I thought love could conquer all. As long as it was convenient for Liam, a one-hour commute for me was nothing. Later, when his startup succeeded and he bought a place, it was also near his office. We lived there for three years. Now that I’ve moved out, I can finally save those two hours of my life. I moved into the studio that same day. "Chloe, aren't you heading out? The subway is going to stop running soon," a coworker reminded me as I worked late. I looked at the unfinished report and shook my head. "I moved nearby. I'll head back after I finish this." "Whoa! Chloe, you finally came to your senses and moved?" My colleagues had always thought it was insane for me to waste two hours a day commuting. Inconvenient and a waste of life. Hearing I’d moved closer, everyone dragged me out for late-night drinks to celebrate. I went home and crashed, dead to the world. The next day, right after work, I got a text from one of Liam's friends. [Sister-in-law, did you and Liam fight? He’s at my place acting like a drunken maniac.] I paused. [Not a fight. A breakup.] He immediately sent a voice note back, his tone dripping with condescension. 4 "Chloe, come on, that’s not cool. You know how he is. In all these years, how many times has he said 'break up'? Has he ever meant it?" "You used to be so understanding. Why are you being so stubborn this time?" "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you come over now and say a few nice words, he’ll cool off and go home with you." "If you don't show up, and he decides to make the breakup real, don't come crying to me later." It was laughable. Even his friends were convinced I couldn't live without him. Before I could reply, the call ended. A second later, a location pin popped up. I blocked the number. Liam's friends had always treated me with indifference anyway. Since Liam and I are done, there’s no need to keep his friends in my contacts. 【Why does the FL look actually angry? The ML had his friend call on purpose to give her an out! Couples don't hold grudges overnight!】 【Exactly! The ML is just awkward. He loves her to death, otherwise, why would he give up his dream university to go to the same one as her? Sigh, our girl is just triggered. The ML has puked three times already, he’s gonna hurt his stomach.】 【Am I the only one who thinks the ML is just toxic? Why is it that when a girl acts up she's crazy, but when a guy acts up he’s just 'insecure'? It’s speechless behavior.】 I saw the last comment and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Exactly. Liam is toxic. In the beginning, he was okay. But ever since he "sacrificed" his dream school for me, he became impossible. Every time we fought, if I didn't apologize immediately, his friends would call. They’d guilt-trip me about how much he gave up for me. Do you have a conscience? they’d ask. But when we were filling out college applications, I told him repeatedly that I didn't mind a long-distance relationship. I told him that even if we were thousands of miles apart, he was still the most important person to me. But Liam stubbornly applied to the same school as me. When I asked him to confirm if it was truly what he wanted, he stayed silent. Then, the day after the deadline, he got blackout drunk. His friends called me then, too. Calling me selfish. Saying I forced him. That was the first time I realized his "dream school" wasn't the one we went to. Back then, I was moved by his "sacrifice." I rushed over and took care of him. But over the years, whenever he was unhappy, his entourage would remind me of my debt to him. It felt like because he gave up a college for me, I owed him my entire life. "Chloe, let's go, time to eat." 5 We worked late again, too late for delivery. We decided to hit a nearby bistro. I used to skip these gatherings because I was terrified of missing the last train. Now, knowing my apartment was a ten-minute walk away, I said yes. We were a group of five or six. After dinner, we decided to hit a bar. As soon as we sat down, I noticed the table next to us was loud. I glanced over instinctively. It was Liam and his crew. And, of course, his "junior," Bella, was there too. "Liam, a bet is a bet! You have to kiss someone here for three minutes! Hurry up, hahahaha!" Truth or Dare. My glance happened to lock with Liam’s. I didn't linger. I looked away immediately. Liam seemed to pause. A moment later, he replied slowly, "Fine." Cheers erupted from his table. "I didn't think Liam would actually play along! So, who are you picking? Hahaha!" Someone teased, "We're all dudes here, surely he picks Bella? Unless he wants you?" "Oh, stop it, you guys are annoying!" Bella covered her face, acting shy. "Come on, Liam, pay up. Pick someone now or I'm volunteering myself!" "Hahahaha, Liam's virtue is at stake!" The noise from the next table got louder. The floating comments started pleading again. 【FL, what are you doing? Don't you see the ML staring at you? He doesn't want to kiss anyone else, his brain is full of you right now!】 【He hasn't been home for days, he doesn't even know you moved out! He’s waiting for you to bow your head. Don't be stubborn now! If he gets pushed into a corner and actually kisses the side-chick, what then?】 【He’s not talking because he’s waiting for your reaction! Just look at him! You don't even have to go over there, just make eye contact and he’ll come over like a good boy. He won't look at anyone else!】 I picked up my drink and took a sip. As I put the glass down, my hand slipped, and the drink spilled across the table. "Oh no, Chloe, are you okay?" A colleague flagged down a waiter to clean it up. The commotion obviously caught the attention of the next table. The rowdy group went silent. Several pairs of eyes turned to me. Bella stood up aggressively and marched right up to my face.
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