Chapter 4: The Flight to Portwell

The next morning, while we were having breakfast in the hotel restaurant, I told everyone that I was leaving early.

Mabel was handing Ethan some bread, and the moment she heard that, she froze.

Ethan asked me first, "Alvin, are you feeling sick, or are you just not having fun on this trip?"

I smiled and replied, "I had a pretty good time, but I suddenly want to see some different places. So I think this is where our trip ends. Besides, I don't really know you that well. You don't need to worry about me like this. I don't like it."

Ethan immediately looked awkward.

Mabel frowned and criticized me. "Alvin, how can you be so rude? Ethan was just showing concern for you. Why are you purposely being rude to him? Are you upset because of what people said in the class group chat last night? You can be jealous, but don't take it out on Ethan just because he has a good temper."

When Mabel said I was jealous, there was a hint of pride in her eyes.

Even now, her first instinct was still to protect Ethan. She was even using my pain as proof of her own importance.

I took a deep breath and calmly looked at Mabel.

"This has nothing to do with those jokes. I don't care whether you like him or not. That's between the two of you. I just want to tell Ethan that I hope people can respect each other's boundaries. That applies to me and everyone else. I'm full. I'm going to the airport first. I hope you two have a great trip."

Mabel suddenly grabbed my hand. "Don't leave! If you're not jealous, then why are you suddenly leaving? I'll explain everything in the group chat, okay? Just sit down."

I pulled my hand away from hers. "I also hope you can respect my boundaries."

Mabel gritted her teeth and shouted. "Alvin, if you leave today, you will definitely regret it!"

I felt disappointed for a while, but later, I felt relieved.

Would I really miss something by leaving?

Even if I did, it didn't matter.

After all, because of Ethan, we had already missed countless chances with each other, hadn't we?

When I got home, my mom, Willow Colton, gave me a look. "So? How did it go?"

I looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

She clicked her tongue and explained, "Mabel's mom told me that Mabel saved money for a long time to put together a fireworks display so she could confess her feelings to you. Aren't you two officially together now?"

I lowered my head.

So this was what I had missed?

Without thinking, I swiped my phone screen and opened my social media.

Then I saw that Ethan had just posted something.

"Thank you for the amazing fireworks show, class queen. I had so much fun, haha!"

The picture showed a huge fireworks display and the two of them standing close together with their backs facing the camera.

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

Their love was so cheap.

I was lucky I missed it.

"Mom, I don't like Mabel anymore. I also changed my college application to Portwell. Please don't tell Mabel's parents yet."

Willow stared at me in shock. "You two had a fight?"

I only shook my head. I didn't want to explain too much.

"Mabel and I are finished. I'm going to Grandma's house for summer break. I'll come back before school starts."

In the past, whenever we fought, I was always the one who tried to fix things first.

But this time, I chose to let go.

So Mabel and I completely lost contact during those two months.

Before school started, Mabel's mom asked Willow if she needed to help us buy tickets for the same train.

Willow politely refused and told her that I would go to school by myself.

On the day I left for Portwell, I rested with my eyes closed during the nearly five-hour flight.

After the plane landed in Portwell, I took my phone out of my bag.

When I unlocked it, I saw many missed calls and unread messages from Mabel.