Goodbye Expired Love

Leticia had recovered most of her health, and there was no problem in communication.

I stood in the corridor of the hospital, looking at the yellowed fallen leaves, and finally said it out.

"Ryder, why don't we separate?"

Ryder stood there quietly, and the cigarette in his hand had been burned for a while.

There was a hesitation in his eyes that I couldn't understand.

"We're doing well, why do we need to separate? Don't think too much."

He caressed my head, and when I didn't speak, he added, "When Leticia goes home, I'll spend some time with you, okay?"

His hand was warm as before, but I couldn't say anything as if I was numb.

He bent down and hugged me again, whispering in my ear, "I know I've been busy taking care of Leticia and forgot to be with you. Can you forgive me?"

I still couldn't bring myself to continue speaking, and the corners of my eyes gradually turned red.

He had privileges with me for a long time.

He allowed me to tolerate and accept his lack of love for me.

Leticia and I were in the same high school.

She had excellent grades and was glamorous, while I was the opposite.

No one knew we were sisters, and we never mentioned it.

In the second year of high school, someone spread this.

I started to attract attention, but often, these gazes were not friendly.

Being teased and bullied had made me introverted.

One time, on my way home, I was blocked by a group of people who demanded that I take off my glasses and shout that I was a bastard.

I struggled desperately and my glasses fell off in the process.

Suddenly, another group of people appeared and drove them away.

One person walked up to me. Seeing me standing still, he said with a smile, "Can't see without your glasses, huh?"

I blushed and quickly squatted down to pick up my glasses.

He suddenly bent down, leaned close to me, and laughed with his head tilted.

"Why do you lower your head when you look so good?"

From that day on, I began to pay attention to him.

I knew everything about him, from his good grades to his popularity and his favorite food.

Everyone thought he was focused on his studies and didn't have a crush on anyone.

But I knew that he would go to the art studio in the art building every Friday afternoon after school.

He would just stand quietly outside the classroom, watching a girl painting.

That girl was Leticia.

My birthday was in late autumn, and it happened to be the day before Leticia was discharged from the hospital.

I didn't receive any messages on my phone.

I guessed they forgot again.

When I was young, my mother would occasionally forget it, but a few days later, she would remember it and make a table full of dishes to make up for it.

But on Leticia's birthday, my mother would take me to choose a gift for her in advance.

I opened the chat box with Ryder and typed, "Today is my birthday, can you come back early?"

After thinking for a while, I deleted the words one by one.

Even if I sent it, all I would get was his excuse.

In the late autumn, there was a hint of coolness in the air.

I wore my coat tighter and looked at the navigation on my phone when I was heading to the bakery.

I mentioned this nearby shop to Ryder many times, but in the end, I came alone.

The cake I ordered was ordinary. It had a blue heart in the middle.

As I walked back with the cake, it started drizzling.

When I bumped into someone, I tightened my grip on the bag.

I quickly apologized, but unexpectedly, that person impatiently coughed.

That guy's ridicule and pressure made me realize that things couldn't just end like this.

I pretended to be calm and said, "I can give you money if you want."

The guy pushed my shoulder, and the people around him whistled.

Without hesitation, I turned around and ran with the cake in my arms.

I took out my phone and dialed Ryder's number, hoping that he would answer. This was the only call I hoped he would pick up.

But besides the busy tone, there was only my panting.

The pedestrians had already taken shelter from the rain, and I ran for dozens of meters before the man behind me grabbed my hair and pulled me back.

The cake flew out in an instant.