CO6
After arriving at the airport in Germany, I randomly switched to a new SIM card.
My lab instructor and some familiar seniors were already waiting for me.
C
The senior girl immediately greeted me with a playful smack on the head. “You little rascal! You’ve ditched your seniors for a relationship!”
This left my already dizzy head feeling even more confused.
Before I could say a word, I collapsed into her arms.
Her surprised exclamation faded as my world began to blur.
9:52 AM
After the Love Fades, I Love You In the Fog
When I woke up again, I found myself in a hospital.
The senior girl was being scolded by the instructor, her expression reflecting utter despair.
The senior guy explained to me, “The teacher thinks she knocked you out cold.”
I gasped in shock; the instructor’s perception of her seemed a bit exaggerated.
I called out to both of them to clarify that my concussion was definitely from the car accident before boarding
the plane.
With that explanation, the senior girl looked relieved and grateful as she glanced at me.
Feeling guilty, I reassured them that I was okay and could rest before heading back to the lab.
After graduation, I had considered joining the lab, but knowing Ethan needed my help, I had turned down the
offer.
I still remembered the disappointment in the instructor’s eyes.
It was rare to find a student they truly liked.
“This time, I’m not leaving. I’ll stick with you all,” I declared.
“But if you get tired of me, don’t kick me out!”
The instructor nodded without asking about Ethan, instructing the seniors to take care of my needs while I
settled in.
Finally feeling at ease for the first time, I enjoyed a good night’s sleep.
My concussion symptoms were mild, so by the next day, I was able to move around normally again.
As I checked my phone, I saw a message from Jane.
She had been doing well at work and seemed happy, her Instagram was filled with food posts.
[Emma, congratulations on your new start!]
[Ethan isn’t worth it; I hope you find your happiness.]
[Thanks!]
A few colleagues who were closer to me also shared some videos.
[Emma, let me tell you–Ethan has been acting like a total tyrant lately; he blew up at that intern Sophie and made
her cry!]
[And guess what? After you left, Sophie took your place! But it wasn’t because of her skills; she totally got in through connections.]
[Whenever they let her handle a project, she’d run crying after five minutes! She’s failed several projects now- talk about being a big baby!]
I didn’t respond and simply joined my instructor’s research team.
It had been so long since I’d done any experiments that there was plenty for me to relearn.
During the day, I worked on experiments with my seniors, and at night, they took me out to explore.
We enjoyed local delicacies and shopped for clothes; life felt wonderfully pleasant.
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I even decided to style my hair into a wolf tail while my seniors helped me mix and match outfits more bolary.
One day, she even pulled me in for a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s too bad you’re still a freshman; otherwise, I’d definitely be chasing after you!” she teased.
“How are you so pretty? Just wait until we get back to the lab; you’ll have those freshmen swooning over you!”
I paused for a moment, touching my face–am I really that pretty?
In Ethan’s eyes, it seemed like he had always associated me with being tomboyish.
The thought lingered in my mind as countless memories flooded back, leaving me feeling unexpectedly hurt.
After buying a few pieces of clothing, I was getting ready to head back when my phone started ringing
9:52 AM
After the Love Fades, I Love You In the Fog
incessantly.
I picked it up to see a domestic number calling, but I didn’t feel like answering.
Just as I was about to leave the mall, I spotted a familiar man standing at the entrance.
My mind went blank, and the good mood I had just moments ago vanished instantly.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, feeling a surge of annoyance.
“I came to take you home,” Ethan replied, looking more haggard and thinner than before.
The senior girl stepped in front of me with a mocking smile.
Ph
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“Well, well, look who it is! What a surprise to see your ex–boyfriend blocking the way at night!”
“Why are you looking for Emma? Why not Sophie instead?”
“Do you really think Emma is just some kind of trash can for your leftovers?”
Having discussed Ethan with my senior before, she was furious about our breakup and would have loved to
confront him right then.
Now that he was actually here, her desire to confront him intensified.
“Take me home? Ethan, have you lost your mind? That’s your home, not mine,” I shot back.
“And what do you want to take me home for? Are you missing an audience while you woo Sophie? Did you think
I’d come back to play the role of your spectator? Turns out you have that weird kink too!”
My smile dripped with sarcasm.
He stepped closer. “No, that’s not it. We were never in that kind of relationship.”
“I’ve explained this to you before; why won’t you listen?”
Explain?
To him, all those vague accusations about me being petty, tomboyish, not feminine enough, and nitpicking were
somehow explanations.
Did he think those derogatory remarks had some hidden beauty that only I couldn’t see?
What a ridiculous notion!
If only I had bought a bottle of soda at the mall; with it in hand, I could have chugged it down and sprayed him
with it instead.
After mentally berating him a few times, I decided to let it go.
“Honestly, no matter how many times I repeat myself, you won’t absorb any of it. So let me say this one last time: as an ex, please act like you’re dead.”
When it comes to relationships, I’ve always believed in mutual feelings rather than trying to rekindle something
that’s already broken.
“I’m not some pet for you to play with whenever you feel bored and then toss aside when something new catches your eye.”
“You don’t need to tell me how close you are with Sophie; that doesn’t concern me.”
“Just remember this: today you might see me as an obstacle because of Sophie, but one day you’ll discar
for someone else.”
I looked him straight in the eye. “Ethan, do you think I’m some sort of doormat? Am I really worth trampling on
repeatedly?”
