The Fireworks of Love Will Gradually Fade

"I saw it," I replied, nodding as I kept my voice calm.

"Then didn't you hear me say it was given by Larissa?" Bryan pressed, a smug undertone creeping into his words.

I paused for a moment, slightly stunned by his persistence, then reached out and took the ring from his hand. His eyes widened, panic flashing for a brief second.

"What are you doing? Don't mess around, don’t throw it away! I like this ring!" Bryan raised his eyebrows, quickly slipping back into his familiar, self-assured attitude. The one that liked to toy with my emotions, push my buttons just to see me react.

I met his gaze evenly and slid the ring back onto his finger. "The ring is very beautiful, Bryan. Wear it well and don't lose it."

Without waiting for his response, I walked calmly into the study. The truth was, I had recognized the ring the moment I entered the room. Larissa had posted it on Instagram Moments weeks ago, bragging about how it was custom-made abroad and worth hundreds of thousands.

But I knew better. It was the kind of ring you could pick up at a street stall for about three dollars, cheap plastic. And it wasn’t just this ring—most of the clothes Larissa flaunted were knock-offs and the gifts she gave Bryan were of equally poor quality. I’d tried to warn him many times, but Bryan never believed me. He insisted Larissa only gave him the best, that she had impeccable taste.

I remembered one time in particular when Larissa gifted Bryan a jade pendant, supposedly worth $70000. I had it appraised out of curiosity, only to find out it was a fake, valued at no more than 8 dollars. I excitedly showed the appraisal report to Bryan, thinking this would finally open his eyes. He took one glance at it, shrugged and tossed it in the trash can.

“What if it’s fake? I just like it,” he said, as if that was all that mattered.

At that moment, I understood everything.

It wasn’t about the authenticity. It was never about the quality of the gifts or the truth behind Larissa’s façade. Bryan didn’t care. He treasured the cheap, meaningless trinkets she gave him because they came from her, just as easily as he’d dismiss the thoughtful and expensive things I offered.

That’s when I realized why he had no trouble gifting the watch I had bought him to one of his friends. Why he clung to every scrap of attention Larissa threw his way, even if it was wrapped in lies. He loved Larissa and everything connected to her, no matter how fake it was.

And because of that, I had been terrified—terrified that Bryan would leave me and go back to his first love. That fear made me more and more desperate, bending myself into something unrecognizable just to keep him around. I was so foolish back then, too naive to see the truth.

But now? Things were different.

When I finished writing my transfer application and stepped out of the study, Bryan was gone. The room was silent, his presence erased as quickly as he had left. I could tell he was angry. He must have been furious that I had rejected his attempts to manipulate me, that I hadn’t played into his game this time.

But honestly? His anger no longer mattered to me.

For the first time, his games had no effect on me. Bryan and his temper could storm all they wanted—what did it have to do with me now?

I was done chasing validation, done with proving my worth to someone who didn’t care.

I didn’t care anymore. I no longer searched for him desperately, like before, only to find him standing there with his arms crossed, looking down at me with that cold expression, waiting for me to spill out apologies one after another.

Now, I only took care of myself, just like I had done the night before.

What’s more, I had made up my mind to leave the city and do something meaningful. I decided to follow in my parents' footsteps and teach in remote mountainous areas, where children needed it the most.

Since I was young, I had admired my parents. I had always dreamed of becoming a teacher who could provide more children with the opportunity to learn. I achieved that dream, but then I fell in love with Bryan and somewhere along the way, I tied my life to his.

Everything I did revolved around him— I thought about what meals to cook for him, how to make him happy, what gifts to buy him. I helped him improve his lesson plans and even attended extra training courses for him.

In short, my world had become Bryan.

And what did I get in return for all the energy I poured into him? Bryan’s unpredictable hot-and-cold behavior. Larissa’s smug provocations. I ended up emotionally drained, unable to focus on my classes and I sank into depression.

But now, finally, I felt at peace.

I called my father the night before and told him about my decision.

“Son, the conditions in the mountains are harsh. It’s not like the bustling city. Have you really thought this through?” he asked gently, concern evident in his voice.

“I’ve thought about it,” I said with a smile. “You and Mom managed to persist and so can I.”

The chaotic, desire-driven world of the city no longer appealed to me. The mountains, with their lush greenery and untamed vitality, would offer something the city never could—clarity and purpose. Nature itself was the best medicine, enriching my spirit.

Besides, no matter how tough life in the mountains might be, it couldn’t be worse than the mental torture I had endured day after day with Bryan.

My father didn’t mention Bryan, because Bryan had never wanted me to tell my family about our troubles. It was just another way he had kept control.

Days passed and Bryan and I barely exchanged words. I no longer woke up early to make breakfast for him, nor did I wash his feet at night. I stopped worrying about his needs altogether.

For the first time in a long while, I lived for myself.

Even my students noticed the change, telling me I looked brighter and happier.

That morning, Bryan slammed the door again as he left. I ignored it, as I had learned to do. But as soon as I arrived at school, I received an unexpected call from one of Bryan’s close friends.

“Selena, are you even human? Do you have a conscience? How can you treat Bryan like this?”

I held the phone to my ear, stunned, as his voice raged on.

“If you don’t love him anymore, just say it! Why are you torturing him with your cold silence? Do you think you have the right to do that?”

I closed my eyes, listening to the anger in his voice and realized something I hadn’t before.

They had no idea what I had endured.