Chapter 5

My mom snapped, standing up instantly. "You dare talk back to me? Who do you think wants you anyway?"

"You're just like your spineless father! You'll never be half the girl Serena is!"

I shut my bedroom door.

She spent half the night screaming curses outside.

I put on my headphones and began packing my bags.

The next morning, I went out to buy supplies for the mountains.

Snake repellent, bug spray, a first-aid kit...

When I returned, the front door was slightly ajar.

I heard laughter coming from the living room.

First, it was Serena’s voice.

"During the engagement party, when Chloe walks onto the stage, we should trigger a little prank to scare her. It'll be great for her anxiety."

"Should we throw a fake snake or a dead rat?"

Ethan went silent for a long time.

Serena sounded annoyed. "Why are you making that face? If you're going to take her side, then just ignore me!"

He finally sighed. "Fine... but this is really the last time. I don't want Chloe getting too traumatized."

He claimed he cared, yet he agreed to it anyway.

My mom laughed along. "A little scare is good for her. She’s been talking back lately. This will teach her a lesson."

The afternoon sun was blazing hot, but I felt freezing cold.

My own engagement party was going to be turned into a public humiliation prank.

But it was fine. It really didn't matter anymore.

The room inside went quiet.

I pushed the door open.

Ethan immediately stood up, looking nervous, and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"We were just planning the perfect engagement party for you, Chloe."

"Okay," I murmured.

Serena leaned in. "Hey Chloe, I'm taking Ethan out for a bachelor night tonight. You don't mind, right?"

"I don't mind."

But at 2:00 AM, my phone rang. I had to drive to a bar to pick up the two of them, completely drunk.

Serena’s makeup was smudged with tears as she clutched Ethan’s sleeve.

"If you hadn't refused to go to the same college as me... if you had just confessed to me back then, I wouldn't have lied and said I didn't like you."

Ethan covered his eyes with his hand, his voice thick and raspy.

"I regret it too... I shouldn't have gotten drunk and kissed Chloe just to make you jealous. I shouldn't have stayed with her."

"But she looked so pathetic when she smiled..."

I leaned against the doorframe of the bar, my knees going weak.

On the night of our high school graduation, we had all gotten drunk.

Ethan, completely wasted, had pulled me into an alley, kissed me, and whispered, "I love you so much."

That was the first time anyone had ever told me they loved me.

I had felt like the luckiest girl in the world, my head spinning with joy.

He had fallen asleep on my shoulder, and I hadn't dared to move an inch, my heart racing all night long.

Ten years. It was all a mistake.

I let out a mocking laugh at myself. Of course. Why would anyone ever love a girl like me?

I hauled both of them into the car and took them home.

The next morning, Ethan and Serena came to pick up my mom, saying they were going to the venue early to set up.

I knew they were going to set up their "surprise."

Ethan stood at the door, smiling.

"Take your time getting ready, Chloe. No rush."

I nodded, watching their car drive away.

Lucy was waiting for me at the train station.

When I arrived, Ethan Snapchat-messaged me: "Take your time, we aren't fully ready yet."

In the background of his voice note, I could hear Serena shrieking with laughter.

"No, this fake rat doesn't look real enough! Find another one!"

So that was their surprise.

I didn't reply.

My mom sent a voice note in the family WhatsApp group:

"Chloe is always so slow and can't handle big crowds. We're delaying the start of the ceremony to let her prepare."

I smiled, muted my phone, and stepped onto the bus with Lucy.

Right before my phone lost signal in the mountains, I received one last voice note from Ethan.

"Where are you? You can come now. We’re ready."

In the background, Serena laughed, "Hurry up, Chloe! Your surprise is waiting!"

I turned off my phone and never looked back.

Meanwhile, at the hotel banquet hall.

Ethan and the others waited.

The double doors were suddenly pushed open.

Serena screamed and threw the prop rat.

But the only person standing at the door was the hotel manager.

"Miss Miller asked me to deliver a message. She won't be attending her engagement party. She hopes you all have a wonderful evening."

Ethan's smile shattered.

My mom froze in utter disbelief.