Broken Links, Eternal Departure

The next day, I went to school alone, skipping the usual routine of having the driver pick up David on the way.

In the past, we'd always gone to school together.

When I arrived, David stepped out of his Maybach, his gaze fixed intently on me as if waiting for me to swallow my pride and greet him.

I ignored him, walking past without a glance.

Behind me, there was a stir, and then a loud bang as he kicked his car door.

Early in the morning, and he was already losing it.

During gym class, I was listening to music with my headphones on when my deskmate suddenly yanked them out. "Gloria, I heard David got into a fight. You should go check on him."

Since my infatuation with him was widely known, people often came to me with his news, even if it was trivial.

When I reached the basketball court, it was like a scene from a TV drama.

David had blood at the corner of his mouth, and standing beside him was a girl with long, waist-length hair.

She had a delicate face, with an innocent, gentle look. My deskmate whispered that she was the new transfer student, Diana Smith.

"Does it hurt?" Diana asked with teary eyes, carefully holding a tissue as she tried to dab his wound.

David, who normally hated anyone touching him, instinctively flinched away.

But upon noticing me, he stayed still, letting her tend to him.

The boy who'd been punched was being helped away by a few classmates.

"Don't leave. This isn't over yet." David pointed at Diana.

"You haven't apologized to her yet." The boy had a bruised and swollen face, but a few classmates tried to intervene. "Let him go to the nurse's office first."

David wouldn't relent. "I'm ordering you to apologize to her right now."

Diana shook her head lightly. "It's fine, really, David. I'm not upset."

Looking aggrieved, the boy eventually murmured an apology.

My deskmate asked why he got beaten up, and someone replied, "He made a few lewd comments to the new transfer student, and David overheard."

"David, the knight in shining armor," one person joked.

"He's such a man. I really like him."

"I ship this couple. They're such a perfect match; so sweet!"

The chatter continued until people noticed my presence and fell silent.

I knew the boy who'd been hit wasn't usually like that. He'd even helped me out before.

I walked over and offered him my arm to help him. He looked at me in astonishment.

"I'll take you to the hospital."

David's face darkened further as he rushed over to block me.

"If you help him today, don't ever show your face around me again," he threatened.

I glanced at Diana, who was cowering tearfully behind him.

"Who cares?"

"You've got some nerve, Gloria. Don't ever come to me again."

David was trembling with rage.

I ignored him, supporting the boy as we left the basketball court.

That's how David and I lost touch.

Our families were both from prominent lineages, and my mother was close friends with David's mom.

From a young age, he was often brought over to our house, and the first time I saw him, I fell hopelessly in love with that strikingly handsome boy.

I chased after him for ten years, and now, just like that, it was over.

Rumors began to spread that, for Diana's sake, David had turned over a new leaf. He stopped fighting and skipping school, as if he were a reformed playboy hero in a romantic drama.

When his friends invited him out to play billiards, Diana held onto his sleeve timidly. "Didn't we say we'd finish this worksheet together today?"

David had no choice but to shrug and tell his friends, "You see, things are different now. I'm being watched."

My deskmate, who was resentful on my behalf, insisted on updating me with every little thing about David and Diana.

Their relationship became the school's hottest gossip, with plenty of people shipping their "couple goals."

Some girls even felt sorry for me. "Poor Gloria, she chased him for almost a decade, only for a transfer student to steal him away."

But I shook my head. I didn't feel sorry for myself.

With a privileged background and no longer orbiting around him, I felt surprisingly free.

I had already asked my dad to look into top universities abroad so I could study fine arts. I had a natural talent for painting, and the only reason I hadn't pursued it before was because of my love-fogged brain.

"Gloria, could you give this talisman to David?" His mother stopped me one day.

His parents had divorced two years ago, and since then, his mother wasn't allowed to see him.

I wanted to refuse, but seeing the pleading look in her eyes, I softened and took the talisman.

I opened our long-silent chat. "Where are you?"

He sent me an address right away.

It was the racetrack, a place I knew all too well, as I used to accompany him there often.

When I stepped inside, the thick smoke stung my eyes.

Among the crowd, I spotted David immediately.

Wearing a helmet, he sat inside a car.

Seeing me, he pulled off his helmet with an irritated expression. "Who told you to come here? Didn't I say I never wanted to see you again?"

I tossed the talisman onto the floor without expression. "Your mom asked me to give this to you."

I turned to leave, but a red-haired guy blocked my path. "Is this your girlfriend, David? She looks nice," he said, whistling at me.

David took a drag from his cigarette, blowing the smoke into my face. I held my breath to resist the acrid smell.

"Of course not."

Just then, Diana walked in with her backpack to find David.

As soon as she came in, she started coughing because of the smoke.

Noticing this, David quickly stubbed out his cigarette, climbed out of the car, and shielded her.

"Oh, so she's the real girlfriend. I understand." The red-haired guy said with a grin.

Diana looked down shyly. "No. We're just studying. We're not dating."

David affectionately pinched her cheek. "Come on, just keep me company while I finish this race."

Diana pouted. "No, I'm scared. Didn't you promise me you'd quit smoking? Why are you smoking again? You liar!"

David glanced at me, perhaps recalling how, a long time ago, I'd asked him to quit smoking too. I'd had asthma since childhood and couldn't stand the smell, but he had only blown smoke rings in my face and said, "Can't do it."

I had no intention of staying. I just wanted to leave.

The red-haired guy stepped in my way again. "Hey, pretty lady, add me on Twitter."

"Come on, David," he laughed. "It's a two-person race. Get yourself a girl too."

I ignored him, but Diana tugged at my sleeve. "Gloria, race with David. I don't know how."

Sure, I used to race with him, but never again.

I pushed her away, disgusted. "What does that have to do with me?"

Diana stumbled back, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

Seeing this, David was furious, blocking my path. "What's wrong with you, Gloria? Can you not talk like a decent person?"

"What's wrong with you?" I raised an eyebrow, taunting him. "What's the matter? Can't bear to see me leave? Have you finally fallen for me?"

"You're delusional!"

"Then stop standing in my way."

This time, David didn't dare stop me. I walked away without looking back.

Diana's panicked voice came from behind. "David, I'm scared."

David coaxed her gently. "It's okay, just hold me tight."

I didn't care at all, nor did I have any interest in watching his race.