When Fate Faltered

Suddenly, I recalled all the big and small gatherings over this past year. There had been so many moments just like this.

Joel would take off my hearing aid. His eyes looked gentle as he spoke, though I could never tell what he was saying.

Later, he would put the hearing aid back on me.

Everyone would say he was whispering sweet words, making vows, promising he would never let me down.

If my ears had not been cured…

If I had not heard those unbearably harsh words coming out of his gentle, sweet voice…

I might never have known the truth.

Mandy suddenly exclaimed, “Oh!”

She let go of the arm around Joel’s shoulder and apologized to me bluntly, “Sorry, Helen. I’m used to messing around like this with the guys. Don’t be jealous, okay?”

Joel laughed and quipped, “Stop it. You’re like a teenage boy and don’t look like a woman at all.”

After that, the two of them started chasing around the place as if no one else were there.

Everyone looked used to it.

I closed my eyes and turned to leave. However, Mandy’s eyes were sharp. She reached out and blocked me.

Her eyes were full of disapproval. “Everyone came to your birthday party out of respect for you and you’re just leaving?”

Joel touched my head, coaxing me helplessly.

“We haven’t even opened the birthday presents everyone brought you. Don’t throw a tantrum, okay?”

I frowned and instinctively dodged his touch.

Ignoring the sudden darkness in Joel’s expression, I told him slowly and clearly, “We’re breaking up. Don’t contact me again.”

Then, I walked out of the private room without looking back.

On the way home, my phone kept lighting up with messages.

Joel sounded confused and upset in his text.

“What are you making a fuss about now? Everyone put in the effort to celebrate your birthday and prepare gifts for you, and is this how you show your appreciation?"

“Mandy was just too excited. She is straightforward and easygoing, not pretentious like you girls, so she put her arm around my shoulder. Didn’t she let go right away and apologize to you?”

A few other friends also started tagging me one after another in the class group chat.

“Helen, aren’t you being a bit too much?”

“You just stormed off for no reason. What did we do wrong?”

“Damn, our good intentions were wasted on someone who doesn’t appreciate them!”

I found it ridiculous and replied coldly, “Who’s the one being too much here?”

Then, I blocked them one by one and left the class group chat.

When I got home, I briefly told my parents what had happened.

I pressed my lips together. Facing my parents’ worried expressions, the sour, swelling pain in my chest suddenly surged up, and my voice broke. “I don’t like him anymore…”

“I don’t want to go to college in Eidolon City with him, and I don’t want to… marry him…”

My mother gently wiped away my tears. “Sweetheart, this isn’t a big deal.”

“Tomorrow your dad and I will go cancel the engagement. Apply to whichever college you want. We will support you. You have us behind your back.”

My father led me to the living room and handed me the cake knife.

“The cake hadn’t even been delivered yet. Perfect timing. Let’s celebrate a simple birthday together with just the three of us.”

“Eighteen years ago, when you were born, your dad smiled so hard his face wrinkled up. Birthday girl, don’t cry anymore. Come on, cut the cake and make a wish, okay?”

I broke into a smile through my tears. With my parents’ blessings, I made a wish and blew out the candles.

Just as I was about to cut the cake, the sudden ringing of the doorbell interrupted us.

I steadied myself and opened the door, only to find Joel standing there.

Rain was falling in a fine drizzle outside.

Thunder rumbled from time to time, streaks of white lightning cutting through the sky.

Joel was soaked from head to toe. Water dripped steadily from his hair, but he did not seem to care.

Smiling, he held out a beautifully wrapped jewelry box.

“Look! I picked out your birthday present especially for you.”

“Stop sulking, okay? Everyone’s still waiting for you back at the private room and don’t just say you want to breakup just like that anymore, all right?”

I looked at the diamond bracelet inside the box.

Suddenly, it felt familiar.

The necklace Mandy had been wearing today seemed to be from the same brand.

I did not react at all or reach out to take it.