ManyWriters

1
From seventeen to twenty-seven, I was head over heels for Everett for a decade, and everyone knew it.
Three years ago, we finally made it official, but Everett still did whatever he wanted, completely disregarding my feelings.
Even on my birthday, he could fly thousands of miles away just because his childhood sweetheart said she "wanted to see snow," leaving me all alone here.
I had finally accumulated enough disappointment with him, and after breaking up, I fled overseas.
I thought that would be the end between us, but Everett, who would normally frown even when I tied his tie for him,
Stood out in the snowy night for hours, his eyes red-rimmed as he asked me:
"Delia, do you really not want me anymore?"

After Ten Years As a Lovestruck Fool, I Choose to Leave

Seeing that I finally stopped being stubborn, my dad was happier than anyone.


The events that happened on my birthday had already become a joke in our social circle, while Everett only flew back to this city with Isadora five days later.


When Everett returned, he tried to send me a message as usual:


But it wasn't until he opened our chat window that he realized I, whom he had set to block messages, had already sent him a message on the night of my birthday.


Everett laughed angrily and called me for the first time in days, without any sense of guilt towards me, bombarding me with accusations:


"Delia, what drama are you trying to pull now?"


In Everett's eyes, no matter what I did, he found it annoying and thought I was just causing trouble.


These past few days I've been sick, with my nose terribly stuffed up. I answered irrelevantly in a nasal voice:


"Delia, I'm the one asking you questions. What drama are you trying to pull now?"


"Can you stop getting jealous of Isadora over every little thing?"


I'm holding my phone and gazing out the window, feeling quite surprised. Just as Everett and Isadora returned from their snow-viewing trip, snowflakes began to fall in our Southern city.


"You hate how I'm always clinging to you, you hate when I wipe your sweat, you hate the soup I make for you, you hate how I'm always jealous of Isadora..."


Even though I had resolved to forget about Everett, as I listed these things one by one, my heart still twisted in pain like a knife. My words were tinged with a hint of choking emotion.


"You also hate me as a person. You've never truly seen me as your girlfriend."


"If that's the case, let's break up. Consider it me letting go of myself, and you letting go of me."


Everett's breathing grew heavier. After a long while, he finally spoke through gritted teeth:


"What's wrong with you, Delia? If you're sick, go take some medicine. I'm busy, I don't have time to deal with this!"


I just saw Isadora's social media post, announcing her trip to Tokyo next month.


Coincidentally, it was a two-week trip that perfectly covered the date of my third anniversary with Everett.


Everett on the other end sounded agitated, probably waiting for my response.


But I no longer wanted to sink deeper into Everett's quagmire, so I hung up the phone abruptly.


While I was at it, I deleted his number and blocked him.


Chapter 2