Broken Links, Eternal Departure

I had clung to David Foster for ten years.

He once told his friends, "Even if every woman on earth disappeared, I'd never like her." And then he fell for the new transfer student, staging a daily love drama in front of me.

Heartbroken, all I wanted was to escape.

Yet on the day I was leaving the country, he chased me to the airport in utter despair, pleading, "I like you. Don't leave me, please?"

——

In a private booth, everyone was playing truth or dare. David lost and chose truth.

When asked about his feelings for me, he tugged at his collar.

"I don't like her. Even if every woman on earth disappeared, I wouldn't like her," he said, with a careless indifference that stung in the smoky room.

"You're being too harsh. She's liked you for so long," someone muttered.

"David, you're heartless. Gloria has been so good to you."

Others spoke up for me, but David was unmoved. "I only believe in love at first sight, not growing feelings over time."

A wave of disappointment washed over me.

When I lost in the next round, I chose dare. The punishment was to kiss someone for a full minute.

Just when everyone assumed I'd choose David, I pointed casually to a guy sitting nearby.

David's face darkened instantly. "Gloria Yukio, I'll give you one more chance. Choose again, and I might forgive you."

I smirked, "No need. I don't like you anymore."

I stood on my tiptoes, closed my eyes, and leaned in to kiss the other guy.

But just as my lips were about to meet his, David stormed over, punching him hard enough to draw blood from his nose.

The room descended into chaos.

I tried to leave, but David grabbed my arm tightly. "I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me?"

What a lunatic. Wasn't he the one who said he could never like me? Who was he trying to impress now?

Expressionless, I yanked my arm free and returned to my seat.

But David wouldn't let up. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not jealous," he said.

But to everyone else, he looked exactly like a jealous boyfriend.

"I'll do Gloria's dare for her," he declared, pulling a junior girl over and kissing her roughly.

The kiss went on for ages.

When they finally parted, a string of saliva connected their lips—an image that disgusted me.

The crowd cheered. "Nice move, David!"

"That was intense!"

How boring!

I stood and left the booth.

The late autumn night was indeed chilly, but my heart was colder.

Wrapping my coat tighter, I opted to walk home.

My phone suddenly rang. Seeing David's name, a wave of irritation surged within me.

Taking a deep breath, I answered.

"Gloria, who are you throwing a tantrum for tonight?" His voice came through, still in that condescending tone.

"Get back here. We're just getting started," he commanded.

David was a heartless man. No matter how warm I tried to be, he would remain cold.

He loved to say vague, ambiguous things, sparking hope only to crush it completely.

Once, I found his push-pull game enticing, but now I knew the truth, he simply didn't care. If he did, how could he bear to see me hurt?

I chuckled, "David, I'm done playing this game. It's too boring."

"I won't ever like you again."

With that, I hung up and threw my phone into the grass by the roadside.