C07
Ethan froze for a moment.
Almost instinctively, he started to respond, “No, I never thought that. I just want to spend my life with you.”
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of communicating with him for the first time.
No matter how many words were exchanged, he wasn’t listening, so I decided to walk away.
9:52 AM
After the Love Fades, I Love You In the Fog
E
I grabbed my senior’s hand and headed straight for the school bus.
Ethan tried to follow us onto the bus but was stopped by the driver, who kindly yet firmly said, “Sorry, sir, but you
can’t get on this bus.”
As the bus pulled away, I glanced back to see Ethan jogging after us for a while before I turned my gaze away. My senior watched me closely, clearly worried that I might soften at the sight of him.
After that encounter, I started going out less with my senior.
If I needed anything, I would simply ask her to help me out.
Life became quite enjoyable.
Besides working in the lab, I also helped teach some introductory courses for freshmen when I had free time.
Lately, I had developed a fondness for androgynous clothing. At the start of the semester, several students asked for my contact information and whether I was a boy or a girl.
I smiled and politely declined their advances, managing to escape their enthusiasm by the end of class.
When I returned to the lab one day, a few blonde–haired girls followed me closely.
“Teacher, can we get your contact information? No other intentions; we just want to be friends.”
“We’re having a party tonight…”
It was only when my senior arrived that she finally rescued me from their eager attention.
To show my gratitude, I invited her over to my dorm for dinner.
“Order whatever you like; we’ll cook whatever you want,” I said.
“And let’s invite our instructor and the senior guy too.”
My cooking skills had improved thanks to Ethan.
After living together, he developed stomach issues from late–night work sessions, and worried about his health, I gradually learned how to cook for him.
time.
Eventually, I became quite adept at preparing basic home–cooked meals.
Thinking it had been several days since I last saw Ethan, I planned to go grocery shopping with my senior this
However, just as they say, fear brings what you dread.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, there stood Ethan like a sentry at the entrance with several bodyguards
surrounding him.
His intimidating presence made me feel frustrated.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
Ethan pressed his lips together and replied softly, “I want to take you home.”
My senior was ready to fight and charged toward him, but Lquickly pulled her back in concern.
Ethan’s gaze was intense but eventually softened as he spoke again.
“Give me one day–just one day with you.”
“I promise this time I’ll choose you without hesitation; if you still don’t feel anything for me afterward, then I’ll let
you go…”
I sighed and reluctantly agreed to his request.
My senior wanted to come along but was blocked by his bodyguards.
I urged her to return to school and promised her that later we could prepare something delicious for them.
Once she left and confirmed she was safe, I finally felt a sense of relief wash over me.
Ethan’s expression brightened with excitement as he eagerly reached for my hand, but I dodged his attempt.
9:52 AM
After the Love Fades, I Love You In the Fog
–་་ས་་པ འཔi་པཔ་པ་་ཆ་་9་ད་་
TILII CAVIN
་་་
יע
A fleeting vulnerability flashed across his eyes, but he didn’t press the issue.
“Then just stay close to me, and we’ll walk together.”
He led me straight to the local amusement park, the largest in the area.
Before becoming an orphan, I had begged my parents to take me there, and they would smile and say I had to
wait until I was older.
By the time I was old enough, they only had smiles and no longer any desire to go.
When I was dating Ethan, I had mentioned wanting to visit the amusement park to understand a childhood wish.
He would always say, “I’ll take you once you’re less busy lately.”
Over time, his excuses changed. “You’re too old for that; amusement parks are for kids.”
As he chided me for my immaturity, he would take another girl into the park.
Sophie had posted about visiting amusement parks in various cities, both known and unknown to me, on
Instagram.
[My amazing boss took me again today,] she would caption.
[Another day filled with happiness.]
I stood motionless in front of the carousel.
Ethan thought I wanted to try it and was about to buy tickets when I stopped him.
“No need; I’m too old to ride the carousel. That’s for little girls.”
He seemed to realize something and became flustered. “No, you can ride it too; you should give it a try…”
But I had lost the mood.
As we walked, I noticed an ice cream stand and couldn’t help but recall the various desserts Sophie had posted
on Instagram.
No girl dislikes sweets.
When we passed a cake shop, I wanted to buy a couple of small cakes, but Ethan stopped me.
“You’re not a little girl anymore; eating too many sweets will just make you gain weight that your metabolism can’t handle. You don’t want to end up a big fatty, do you?”
Ethan hesitated, but I cut him off.
“I’m older now, so I gain weight easily from too many sweets.”
“I can’t compete with those young girls anymore.”
After touring the entire amusement park, I didn’t ride a single thing.
Ethan then took me to a high–end store to browse makeup, clothes, and perfumes.
I recognized a familiar fragrance and picked it up to smell. The scent was fresh and delicate.
Ethan thought I had finally found something I liked and was about to make the purchase when I realized.
“The scent is lovely, but the person it suits has changed.”
“This fragrance is more fitting for a young girl.”
“Why don’t you buy it for Sophie?”
Ethan shook his head, his voice dejected. “It’s just you and me now; can we not mention her? Just focus on you
and me!”
I turned to look at him.
“If we don’t mention her, does that make her disappear?”
He avoided eye contact, looking guilty.
We left the store empty–handed again.
The sky grew increasingly dark.
9:52 AM
After the Love Fades, I Love You In the Fog
The sky grew increasingly dark.
For our final stop, I didn’t listen to him and instead chose the supermarket I had planned to visit with my senior
but never made it to.
As I pushed the cart, I carefully selected ingredients, comparing prices and putting suitable ones in the basket.
They were all dishes our instructor and seniors loved, with some of my favorites mixed in.
I paid before Ethan could, rushing back to the designated parking spot for the school bus.
He stubbornly stood by my side, refusing to leave.
I glanced at the now pitch–black sky and let out a heavy sigh.
“I think you understand the choice you need to make.”
He didn’t respond.
Looking back at him, I noticed his tears streaming down his face.
He made no further attempts to stop me as the bus arrived.
He must have given up.
Sitting in my seat, my phone vibrated with a barrage of messages from the trio.
I opened them and replied one by one.
[Time to cook! Red–braised pork ribs, Coca–Cola chicken wings…]
[What else do you guys want? Come out and get the food!]
[Eat your fill!]
Outside the window, a shower of crystal–clear ice crystals fell, slowly melting on the glass before being replaced by a blanket of icy flakes, concealing all traces of the outside world.