Just a few days, Bryce looked like a completely different person.]
His whole vibe was disheveled, smoking a cigarette.[]
His eyes were bloodshot like he hadn’t slept in days.[]
“So what’s the deal here.“]
Seeing the daytime lighting outside my window, Bryce finally believed I really wasn’t in the country anymore.[]
“Where the hell did you run off to?“]
I looked back at him calmly:]
“Bryce, I told you multiple times we were broken up. Me studying abroad doesn’t require updates to my EX. Stop harassing my mom.
“Ex?” Bryce laughed while smoking.
Laughing and laughing, his eyes got red.]]
THAL
“One water bottle… just because of one water bottle… you escalated to THIS level.“]
“So? What’s the problem.“]
“Jesus Christ… oh my
GOD…” Bryce was crying and laughing at the same time. “How can people like this even exist? I can’t wrap my head around it.“]
“You were desperate to go to the same college as me, and now you’re telling me that over ONE water bottle I gave someone else, you’re dropping out, leaving the country, and didn’t even give me a heads up? How is that fair, Maddison? I’m telling you right now–I don’t accept this. I absolutely do NOT accept this.“]
Me: “But you agreed to the breakup.“]
“That doesn’t count. I thought you were throwing a tantrum like always, that’s why I said okay.”
“What you thought doesn’t matter to me.“]]
I wasn’t buying his excuses either.[]
“Bryce, just like you got tired of me crying all the time, I got tired of crying ove
Bryce just froze: “When did I ever say I was tired of you crying?“]
I let out a bitter laugh: “What, you forgot your own words?“]
you again and again. I’m done.“[]
“That day River video–called me but didn’t say anything–I figured it was an accident. But I heard every single word you said in that private dining room.”
n.“]
“““Grybaby. Even a saint would get fed up.“|]
Bryce panicked:[]
“That was just me joking around! If I was really annoyed with you, I wouldn’t keep making up with you every time. I’m used to you getting mad at me–I can handle whatever you throw at me. But this time… why did you take it seriously, Maddie? I really don’t get it.”
“Those two weeks when you didn’t contact me, I was actually really bothered. I kept waiting for you to reach out first. We always worked things out before… why did you think I was tired of you?“]
“When I found out you didn’t come back to school, I completely lost it. I called everyone I knew asking where you were, panicking that something happened to you. I never imagined you’d just… leave like that. Overseas, no less. Maddie, how can you be so heartless…?”
Bryce’s eyes were red, tears streaming down his face.
I was getting annoyed and didn’t want to keep watching.
t.”
You done? If there’s nothing else, go find your precious bestie to vent to. I’m gonna eat.”
Bryce gave a bitter laugh.]
“You’re still hung up on River.“]]
“That means you still care about me, right?“]
Me: Huh?!
“Don’t block me. That’s my final boundary.”
Bryce’s voice was hoarse: “Don’t make me fly over there to find you, Maddie.“]]
Psycho.
I hung up the video call exasperated.]]
I believed Bryce would absolutely do something that crazy.
It was just one messaging app anyway. Whatever, I’d keep it.
I’d muted notifications anyway, so I wouldn’t reply regardless.]
For three straight days, I posted food pics all over my Instagram Stories.]
Mom noticed and curiously asked who was cooking.[]
I vaguely told her it was a male roommate I was sharing with, also an international student.[]
One night, not used to the foreign food, I was in the living room quietly crying from hunger.]
My roommate opened his door with major bedhead, looking annoyed as hell.[]
Scowling with his handsome face, he went to the kitchen and made me a bowl of chicken noodle soup.[]
**
44
I slurped down every last drop of broth.]
After that, he’d call me over whenever he cooked.[]
“His name’s Felix Hartwell. We’re meal buddies now.“]
Mom giggled knowingly.]
Later one day after class I went to the grocery store to buy some ribs, planning to have my roommate braise them.[]
Just got to the building and saw Bryce waiting there.]]
