Chapter 5

Jax sent another little note, asking me to leave first today.

I was used to it, so I ignored him.

That evening, Jax came to my house for tutoring, carrying a strawberry-flavored ice cream.

Actually, strawberry was my least favorite flavor.

But I don't know when, Jax started buying this flavor every time.

Now I realize it's Serena's favorite.

Perhaps all the good things I received from Jax were just casual acts he did for Serena.

A dense, aching pain spread from my heart.

I said coldly, “You should go back. Don’t come to me for tutoring anymore.”

It was the first time I’d ever refused him.

As soon as the words left my mouth, my throat tightened.

Because I liked him, I couldn't accept his deception.

I couldn’t pretend nothing had happened and foolishly stay by his side.

Jax raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Were you mad because I didn’t walk home with you this afternoon?”

He ruffled my hair, “I know you’re clingy, but you have to let me have my own things too.”

I shook my head, “Exams are coming up soon, and my schedule is really tight. I don’t have time to tutor you.”

“You can find a tutor, or, ask Serena to help you.”

Serena always studied hard, consistently ranking at the top of her class, so she’d probably be very willing to help Jax.

Jax quickly rejected the suggestion.

“No.”

“Her family has very high expectations for her; she needs to work hard to get first place. She doesn’t have time to tutor me.”

“You know my basics, so you tutoring me is more suitable.”

I suddenly couldn't speak.

My nose stung, and my eyes felt hot.

Right.

One was a good student, struggling but resilient.

The other was a clingy follower who always trailed behind him.

Jax didn’t want to hold Serena back; she needed to strive for her own future.

And me, with my good family background and loving home, was apparently born to make concessions, always revolving around him, Jax.

Seeing that I remained silent, his tone softened, a hint of pleading in his voice:

“Didn’t you always want us to go to the same college? So you have to be responsible for me.”

So he still remembered our agreement.

I looked at that familiar face and suddenly found it utterly strange.

I held back my tears, staring into his eyes, and asked each word distinctly, “Are you really planning to go to the same college as me?”

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Then, he smiled guiltily and changed the subject: “Alright, Lily, stop messing around.”

“I’ll walk home with you tomorrow…”

Before he could finish, I slammed the door shut and leaned weakly against it.

A bitter feeling welled up inside me, unstoppable.

The tears could no longer be held back, falling one by one.

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