He Gave Her the Romance, I Gave Him Goodbye

There was a romantic rule in the field of astronomy.

The first asteroid a researcher discovered had to be named after someone they loved most.

In my seventh year of enduring hardship by Adrian Foster's side, he finally discovered a new star.

On the day of the press conference, I, Clara Reed, wore my most presentable dress, waiting for him to call my name on stage.

When I went to the lounge to bring him water, I overheard his partner trying to dissuade him in a low voice.

"Adrian, Clara has been with you for seven years, if you give the naming rights to Lily, how devastated is Clara going to be? This isn't fair to Clara at all."

Adrian toyed with a lighter, his tone completely matter-of-fact.

"Clara is too dull. Naming a star after her would be tacky. Lily is a violinist. Her name fits the romance of this star much better. Besides, Clara is almost thirty. She's already lost the looks she once had. Who else would want her besides me? She gets marriage, Lily gets romance. What else could she possibly be unhappy about?"

A draft swept through the corridor, chilling me to the bone.

My throat burned sharply, every breath carrying a faint metallic taste.

I looked at the cup of warm water in my hand. I didn't push the door open and turned back toward the hall.

I went straight to the registration desk and submitted a document.

"Please revoke my co-authorship attribution."

I didn't want the star anymore. And I didn't want Adrian anymore either.

......

"Clara, are you treating authorship like a joke? Isn't today chaotic enough already?"

Adrian's low voice came from behind me.

It carried his usual arrogance.

I stopped walking.

I was still holding the freshly stamped cancellation form.

When I turned around, he had already walked up to me.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

He carried the scent of tobacco and woody cologne.

It was the niche fragrance Lily Morgan had given him a few days ago.

"The press conference starts in two hours." He looked at me coldly. "So you're causing a scene at the registration desk now? Do you want to turn the whole research group into a joke for the media?"

I looked at him.

Looking at the face I had loved for seven years.

The metallic taste in my throat still hadn't faded.

But I still didn't cry.

And unlike before, I didn't rush to explain myself just because of a harsh word from him.

"I'm not joking."

I handed him the form.

My tone was so calm that even I found it surprising.

"The process requires the project lead's signature. Mr. Foster, please sign it."

Adrian didn't take it.

He stared at me.

His gaze moved back and forth across my face.

As if trying to find even a trace of anger or jealousy.

But he found nothing.

"Do you even know what revoking co-authorship means?"

His tone darkened.

There was a hint of irritation in it.

"It means all future honors related to this asteroid will have nothing to do with you. Clara, you're almost thirty. If you leave this project, which observatory can you even restart at?"

I listened calmly.

Without arguing back.

I simply placed the pen into his hand.

"This is my decision. None of your concern."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

He thought I was being unreasonable.

He thought I was using my future as leverage to force his compromise.

"I already explained why Lily got the naming rights."

He lowered his voice, as if giving away his last bit of patience.

"She's a violinist. She needs this kind of romantic gimmick to raise her visibility. And you're a researcher. What use do you have for such empty fame? You get the marriage, you get the promises. What exactly are you still unhappy about?"

I lowered my eyes.

My gaze fell on the cufflink on his shirt sleeve.

It was also a gift from Lily.

He had said it suited him well, more tasteful than the rigid cufflinks I had bought him.

"I'm not unhappy." I said softly. "I just think that since the star has been named after her, my name shouldn't still be attached to it. There's no room left for me."

Adrian let out a cold laugh.

He snatched the form away.

He pulled off the pen cap.

"You think this will make me change the naming decision? Clara, don't mistake my tolerance for permission to push your luck."

The pen tip pressed hard against the paper.

Leaving a dark mark beside the asteroid's temporary designation.

His fingers stiffened briefly.

The paper tore slightly, but he quickly covered it up, and signed his name smoothly, without hesitation.

"Fine. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. Just don't come back asking me to restore your name after you've cooled off."

I watched him push the signed form back toward me.

His movement was decisive.

Without the slightest hesitation or reluctance.

Seven years ago.

I joined the expedition to the high-altitude observatory station for the first time.

At night, I was so oxygen-deprived that I trembled all over, my lips turning bluish.

It was Adrian who pushed his oxygen tank to me.

He stood in the telescope control room, pointing at the trajectory of a streak of light on the screen.

"Clara, the universe is cold, but people should always stay for a little light."

Back then, I thought I was that little light in his eyes.

Later, I understood.

He was talking about the stars.

Never me.

I picked up the signed form, and checked it once more, confirming the signature and date were correct.

"Thank you, Mr. Foster."

I turned and walked to the registration desk, and handed the form to the staff inside.

"Please stamp and archive it."

The staff member froze for a moment.

They looked at Adrian standing not far away, then at me.

"Ms. Reed, once this is archived, your name will no longer exist in the system. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

The stamp came down heavily, producing a dull, heavy sound.

It placed a full stop at the end of seven years of my youth.

Adrian stood in the shadow of the corridor, watching me.

There was certainty in his eyes.

He thought this was just a pause in a joke-like drama.

He believed that as long as he didn't back down, I would eventually return and admit I was wrong.

He pushed the signed departure review form toward me.

"Clara, don't regret it."

I lowered my eyes at those words.

Adrian Foster.

Seven years ago, I stayed in the desert for that name.

Seven years later, I could finally walk out for myself.