And I, who have been hurt so much by you, won’t pity you anymore.
46
Parker was quickly given a suspension from school.
Along with it was submitted the evidence of his cheating, that USB drive.
With the truth revealed, everyone knew about his mental illness, and I received apologies from many people, including that school beauty.
But there were also congratulations.
Like from Fiona.
Fiona had noticed Parker’s bipolar disorder not much later than I did.
So she came to me, hoping to have him dealt with.
“A few times when he went out drinking crazily, he kept calling your name,” she said, smiling as she handed me the USB drive. “Calling your name, saying he liked you one moment and cursing you for being aloof the next. That’s when I thought he might really be sick.”
Besides the suspension, I heard Parker’s parents finally divorced.
Years of torment, struggle, and drama, finally ended with his mental illness.
Parker’s mother quit her job, planning to take good care of him.
When his mother called me, I was still sitting by Luke’s hospital bed reading a book.
*Zoe, for what happened before… I apologize on his behalf. In the future, could you… come see him sometimes?”
But I gently refused her.
Luke missed the joint exam, but his body recovered quickly.
He was so angry he couldn’t stop himself, ruffling my hair again:
10:35 AM
<
“You actually took him down behind my back, without even telling me, making me look useless!”
I laughed, comforting him: “Isn’t it enough that I’m useful?”
Luke would be discharged soon.
I suddenly asked him: “Back then at the infirmary door, were you going to confess to me?”
He was stunned, moving his arm awkwardly: “…Why are you suddenly asking this?”
His answer was obvious.
“You spoiled rich kid who falls for looks.”
I rolled my eyes at him: “Weren’t you afraid I might be one of those extreme love fools, loving Parker so much I’d die for him, enduring his abuse a thousand times and still treating him like first love, then turning around and telling on his best friend for having improper thoughts
about me?”
“No, no, no,” Luke kept denying, “Impossible. After all, you look quite smart, I don’t believe it.”
“Moreover… who said it was just for looks?”
47
Luke was actually very good at studying.
Before I transferred, he had come to our school for a competition.
His group of friends, in twos and threes, looked like a bunch of delinquents, bad boys.
Yet someone joked: “Luke, with your charm, wouldn’t you randomly captivate a bunch of girls?”
This guy was so pleased with himself: “You flatter me, my charm is rare, a bunch is still modest.”
That’s when I passed by him.
At that time, I hadn’t been isolated yet, and Parker’s condition wasn’t so serious.
“There’s a film crew outside the school gate, maybe you can apply for a role as a spoiled rich kid.”
I hugged my books, my mouth faster than my mind, saying this without even looking up as I walked past him.
Luke’s gaze lingered on me.
And I walked into the teaching building, not even sparing him a glance.
“Oh, Luke, this one wasn’t captivated.”
At that time, Luke’s list of school rule violations was as thick as a book.
Except for the “early dating” one.
He turned his head and saw the school’s display board.
In the most prominent position was my name and photo.
So he felt safe letting me help deliver love letters.
Luke stared at that photo, thinking for a full ten seconds.
Finally, he came to a conclusion.
In the most prominent position was my name and photo.
So he felt safe letting me help deliver love letters.
Luke stared at that photo, thinking for a full ten seconds.
Finally, he came to a conclusion.
“Forget it, I admit defeat.
Everyone laughed out loud.
But in the young man’s heart, that empty space began to secretly sprout.
From then on, Luke’s diary had two more lines.
[Don’t be a spoiled rich kid.]
[Want my name to be next to hers.]
(The End)
