When the Most Loved Becomes the Most Hated

As Ryan emerged from the room clutching his notebook, his voice was hopeful, "Madeline, let's go together when we fill out the college application forms in a few days."

I regarded him with a cold detachment. "Ryan, that night, I made it clear. I want to end our relationship, and you agreed. Your choice of university is no longer my concern. Now, get out of my house immediately."

Ryan turned sullen, yet he suppressed his impatience and gently comforted me. "I was only kidding that day. How could I truly want to part with you? Look! I bought this especially for you. Do you like it?"

From his pocket, he produced a small box, which he opened to reveal a necklace, delicate and exquisitely crafted.

Yet, I knew its worth since I had seen it in a store.

It cost a mere hundred dollars.

It was discarded in a corner, and its style was hopelessly outdated.

Elena had a blemish on her face, but Ryan had subsisted on plain bread for two months, saving to splurge on expensive skincare products for her.

She had flaunted her new products on social media, captioning it, [You are my blatant partiality and my well-known selfishness.]

The image of those skincare products was accompanied by a cute emoji and a thumbs-up from Ryan.

His penny-pinching finally made sense, yet it stung to realize I had been so naive. I had worried about his financial struggles and even shared my own hard-earned savings with him.

Seeing Elena's post, I felt like a fool.

In contrast to the love he showered on Elena, his affection for me seemed cheap and tawdry.

The fissures in our relationship were laid bare that day.

Taking the necklace, I tossed it into the trash when he stared at me with expectations.

His eyes were immediately blazing with fury. "Madeline! I've gone to great lengths to appease you! What more could you possibly want?"

Without so much as a glance, I replied, "I want to break up with you. I want you out of my sight."

With a thunderous slam, Ryan departed. "Madeline, you are utterly unreasonable!"

The last time I had seen Ryan so enraged was when he had defended me from a drunken assailant.

Now, as he stormed out, I closed the door with a heavy finality.

It no longer mattered.

I had no intention of comforting him.

On the bustling streets, Ryan and I crossed paths.

I was closing up my street stall when Mia vanished.

Panic-stricken, I scoured the streets, and my voice became hoarse from calling her name. But Mia still didn't show up.

Finally, I went to the police station.

At the police station, just as dusk fell, Ryan appeared with Mia in tow, meeting my frantic search.

He handed her to me, cautioning, "There are many people on the street. Be careful next time."

I embraced Mia tightly, tears and scoldings mingling.

Ryan frowned. "Why are you so harsh? It's not the child's fault."

Mia felt guilty and whispered, "Sir, don't blame my sister. She works so hard, setting up the stall daily. If not for the stall, we wouldn't have money to live.

"Madeline, I'm sorry. I just wanted to buy you some hot dogs. I heard your stomach growling with hunger. I promise I won't wander off again. Don't be angry."

Wiping away my tears, I murmured, "I'm not angry. I was just so afraid I'd never see you again."

Ryan frowned and inquired, "Where are your family members?"

Mia shook her head. "Sir, I only have my sister."

My parents had perished in a car accident during my high school years.

Apart from the monthly government compensation, I had taken Mia to the streets after school, selling something to sustain us barely.

I didn't want to reveal my dire circumstances to a stranger despite his aid in finding Mia.

I thanked Ryan for his help and led Mia home.

The next day at school, I encountered Ryan again.

Both of us were surprised to realize we attended the same high school.

Known as the school bully, Ryan had persistently sought my tutoring upon learning of my academic prowess.

In gratitude for his earlier assistance, I agreed to help him.

During holidays, he even assisted at my stall, tending to Mia.

One evening, as I returned from the stall, Mia stammered, "Madeline, I noticed the way Ryan looks at you is different."

I asked, "How is it different?"

"Just like when the sandwich seller next door looks at his wife. Madeline, are you going to marry him in the future?"

Mia's eyes twinkled with mischief. After that, she went to bed.

Mia's playful banter only served to annoy me.

Deep down, I couldn't ignore the subtle changes in Ryan's demeanor.

But at that point, my focus was solely on studying and earning money to support Mia; romance was a distant thought.

I began to distance myself from Ryan, even relocating our street stall to a different area.

One day after school, Ryan intercepted me.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked.

His eyes were filled with sadness and confusion.

I offered a vague excuse, hoping to dismiss him.

However, as I was returning home from the stall with Mia one evening, a drunken man accosted me.

He began to undress, looming over me.

Mia attempted to intervene, only to be kicked to the ground.

In my terror, Ryan showed up like a Superman.

His fury was palpable as he punched the drunk, sending him fleeing.

After ensuring the drunk wouldn't return, Ryan righted the stall, cradling a sobbing Mia in one arm. "Come on, I'll take you home," he said.

The moonlight cast a long shadow over us both.

My heart raced, and something deeper stirred within me.