Because I forgot to text my boyfriend goodnight, he brought up breaking up again.

"It's always that damn internship of yours!"

"Emma, believe me, one word from me and you'll be done in New York!"

I'd been pulling overtime for three months straight trying to get that job.

Exhausted, I hung up.

Suddenly, bullet chat appeared in my vision:

[What's up with Emma? Not only didn't she apologize, she hung up before Liam did!]

[Liam stayed up half an hour past his usual bedtime waiting for her 'goodnight'! He was practically whimpering for it.]

[Liam's such a tsundere.]

Just then, I received a message from HR:

[Ms Davis, our full-time conversion slots in New York are filled. Would you consider a position in San Francisco?]

San Francisco?

Before I could process it, other jarring messages appeared:

[Internship is more important than me?]

[Emma, we're through!]

[Just wait for the termination notice.]

I typed out an explanation and hit send.

But a red exclamation mark met me.

Liam had blocked me. Again.

I'd lost count of how many times we fought.

The bullet chat, however, were overwhelmingly on Liam's side:

[Tsundere boy deleted our girl again! He instantly regrets it and is gonna be staring at his phone all night unable to sleep. So adorably pathetic!]

[Emma, go add him back! Liam's about to cry!]

[Liam's just all talk. He adores Emma deep down. His mom's always been against him dating her, but he insists it. If that's not love, what is?]

I couldn't be bothered to read more.

This wasn't the first time Liam had blocked me.

Last time, we were traveling abroad together.

He wanted to see a famous local show, but due to transit and weather, we arrived five minutes late.

Liam flew into a rage, blaming me,

"If you'd reminded me three hours earlier, we wouldn't be late!"

"Why didn't you check the damn weather forecast? Why didn't you research properly?"

"You just don't care about what I want!"

"We're done!"

It was the midnight of a foreign city.

He just left me in the strange neighborhood, having taken all our cash.

Alone, unfamiliar territory, and just then, news broke about young female tourists going missing.

Terrified, I sent him frantic messages to apologize and beg him to come back.

But halfway through my texts, he blocked me.

Luckily, two tourists from the US happened by and helped me out.

When I got back to the hotel, Liam was fast asleep.

He wouldn't open the door when I knocked.

I knew if I got the front desk to open it, he'd make a scene.

Finally, I slept on a sofa in the hotel lobby that night.

The next day, Liam finally came to me.

Seeing me looking wrecked, he apologized profusely,

"I was just so angry last night. Breaking up was just talk."

"Emma, I'll never do that again. I'm just… insecure. Please forgive me?"

"Honey, just look at me, I'll always come crawling back to you."

But afterward…

It was me who had to apologize countless times, bending over backwards to appease him.

And he'd say,

"Apologies need sincerity. I don't see it in you."

He practically wanted me to grovel.

It'd been four years since we started dating.

We were about to graduate from college.

Many couples drift apart at the moment.

Maybe it was time for our relationship to end too.

A few days later.

The overtime crunch eased up.

I went back to campus.

Right outside my dorm, I saw Liam.

I wasn't deluded enough to think he was there for me.

Sure enough, Chloe came sprinting down the next moment.

As she ran towards Liam, she "accidentally" stumbled and fell right into his arms.

Bullet chat popped up: [Liam's at it again, deliberately making Emma jealous.]

[Liam sees Chloe as just a hometown acquaintance. He has zero feelings for her.]

Right then, Liam scooped Chloe up in a princess carry, saying he'd take her to the hospital.

Chloe blushed, pouting, "No need for it! Didn't you promise to take me to Six Flags?"

"Liam, you wouldn't back out now, would you?"

Liam glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, "Of course not."

[Liam promised a date with Chloe in a fit of rage. Now he regrets it but can't back down. LOL!]

[Liam desperately wants Emma to stop him. If she just says no, he'd ditch Chloe in a heartbeat and be her little puppy again!]

Chloe had set her sights on Liam freshman year after seeing him perform at the talent show.

After Liam and I got together, she didn't give up, always flirting with him in French.

But she didn't know I'd learned it.

Liam had studied French for overseas development.

I learned it hard in case I would go to Paris with him.

In every aspect, I'd pushed myself so hard for a future with Liam.

But he seemed to have overlooked my efforts all the time.

A few hours later, I saw Chloe's Instagram.

She posted pictures from Six Flags, in which they were painfully intimate.

Someone commented: [Isn't Liam dating Emma?]

Chloe replied: [She's just Liam's lapdog. When has Liam ever admitted she's his girlfriend?]

Seconds later, Liam replied it with an [Yeah.]

My breath hitched.

So all my compromises, in his eyes, boiled down to one word – lapdog.

And the Six Flags post wasn't enough.

That evening, Chloe sent me a video of them in a hotel room.

"Did you ever take Emma to an amusement park, Liam?"

Liam was getting close to the camera, wearing only a robe, "Why bring up that hick during our date?"

I had asked Liam to take me to an amusement park.

He'd said it was no fun and ridiculously expensive, not worth a visit.

But today, he showed me he could accommodate someone else.

Just not me.

As he spoke, Liam glanced at the camera.

Clearly, he knew what Chloe was up to.

He suddenly smiled and pulled Chloe closer by the waist.

The video cut off at the moment.

Simultaneously, I got a text from Liam: [Bring that half-empty box of condoms over.]

Liam sent me the hotel address.

I thought for a long time and decided to go for putting a full stop to these almost four years.

Bullet chat flew across my vision: [As soon as the video ended, Liam pushed Chloe away!]

[Liam doesn't want to sleep with her at all. He's only thinking about Emma, waiting for her to come find him.]

[Guaranteed, the moment Emma shows up, Liam will kicks the other girl out. Emma gets to use that half-box on herself!]

I knocked for ages.

No one answered.

Through the door, I heard giggling and playful sounds.

The bullet chat said it was all an act for my benefit.

Chloe suddenly dropped a live-stream on Instagram.

It was titled "Lapdog Delivers Condoms"

The camera was aimed at the hotel room door.

Before I could react, the door swung open.

My face was suddenly live on stream.

How dare she conducted such barefaced humiliation!

I slapped the phone out of her hand.

Liam, who'd been silent until then, grabbed my wrist, "What the hell! Since when do you hit people!"

"Apologize to Chloe!"

[Liam's just being petty again! He was actually thrilled the second he saw Emma!]

[He's trying to provoke her and make her back down.]

Liam held my wrist in a death grip.

As I struggled, Chloe raised her hand and slapped me across the face.

Smack!

The sharp sound echoed in the hallway.

Liam looked momentarily stunned while Chloe giggled, "Okay, you're forgiven."

How ridiculous it was that I should be forgiven by this b**ch who was just humiliating me!

Besides, her phone had landed on the plush hotel carpet without even a scratch.

Liam let go of my hand, looking uncomfortable, "You hit her first."

At that moment, all my fight drained away.

Arguing felt pointless.

I just pulled the half-box of condoms from my pocket and held it out.

Liam's face darkened instantly, "Emma, what the hell are you doing!"

I smiled, "Isn't this what you asked me to bring?"

Liam looked furious.

Then, right in front of me, he pulled Chloe into his arms

Chloe poked Liam's chest, "Liam, just so you know, I'm not part of your lover's quarrel.

Liam snorted, "Lover's quarrel? With Emma? Please."

"Looking at her makes me sick."

I watched, expressionless.

Liam's eyes flickered with something like panic, "Fine!"

"Emma, don't regret this!"

He spat the words out like they were poison.

The door slammed shut in my face.

The bullet chat exploded: [What's wrong with Emma? Isn't she here to make up to Liam?]

[Liam's really pissed this time! He even offered himself up just to make Emma apologize!]

[No way! It's all Emma's fault for not apologizing!]

[It's definitely just an act for Emma's benefit. Even if Liam does sleep with Chloe, it's just to practice technique and get better for Emma.]

My stomach churned with disgust.

If love meant one person endlessly yielding and proving their loyalty, I wanted no part of it.

There was nothing left for me here.

I pulled out my phone and replied to HR: [I accept the offer. I'm thrilled about the position in San Francisco.]

Jobs were scarce.

One of my roommate was prepping for grad school, the other for law school.

I worked hard and luckily got this internship with a top firm in the industry.

HR said San Francisco happened to need someone with my exact project experience.

However, when I went for the rest days of my internship later, I found Chloe sitting at my desk.

A friendly colleague pulled me aside, whispering that Mr Sullivan had personally vouched for her — "Apparently, she didn't even interview! Mr Sullivan just said yes!"

The bullet chat informed me Mr Sullivan was Liam's long-divorced father.

Back then, I'd gone through three rounds of interviews for my internship.

I thought I bombed the last one and was devastated.

At a get-together with friends later, Liam had comforted me, "No big deal! Forget that company! Who needs them!"

His friend said, "Liam, didn't you say you knew someone there? Maybe put in a word for Emma?"

Liam said sternly, "Don't suggest that!"

"Asking for favors? I have more self-respect than that!"

"Get in on your own merit, or you'll be a joke inside!"

He was right.

I even felt ashamed for hoping that he would agree, just for a second.

Now, seeing Chloe there felt like a slap in the face.

The colleague continued, "Heed it was Mr Sullivan's son suddenly called about his girlfriend."

"The father and son hadn't spoken for years. The son said if his girlfriend got the internship, Mr Sullivan could come to his birthday party…"

I had no choice but to wait for the manager to assign me another desk.

Liam's vindictiveness was relentless.

He texted me just then: [Your desk's gone, isn't it?]

[I hold a grudge. Cross me, and you're finished.]

[You'd better behave yourself. I can make your full-time offer vanish too?]

Soon after, Mr Sullivan walked over to me, "Emma, right? I hand over your current project to Chloe."

The project was almost finished.

I'd worked overtime for weeks, barely taking weekends off.

I'd helped other colleagues whenever I could.

Though it was exhausting, I never complained once because I'd really learned a lot from the experience.

This project was my ticket to that San Francisco position.

I mustn't give it away.

"Mr Sullivan, I worked on this project from start to finish. I don't want to hand it off."

Chloe looked at me, feigning surprise, "Emma, you're just an intern. How much could you have contributed? Don't hog the credit.

Mr Sullivan frowned at me, "If you don't like the decision, feel free to leave."

Bullet chat appeared again: [Silly girl! Emma just needs to apologize to Liam now and everything will be hers.]

[Emma, stop being stubborn! Or you'll lose everything and cry later!]

I resigned that night.

Some Liam's friend called me, "Emma, when are you gonna make up with Liam?"

"A little fight's fine, but dragging it out is pointless."

"You know how crazy Liam is about you."

I hung up before he finished.

[Why is Emma so clueless?]

[I think Liam's being kind of harsh…]

[Let's be real, Liam's perfect except for being a bit tsundere. Liam's totally out of Emma's league, yet Emma is so arrogant that she's still playing hard to get.]

Out of my league?

What exactly made Liam superior besides his height?

I laughed bitterly at the bullet chat.

I used to find Liam's "tsundere" act cute too.

He was in line ahead of me at the cafeteria and got the last chicken wing.

Seeing my disappointment, he gave it to me.

It became a running joke, how Liam had been smitten from the moment he saw me, giving me his food.

Another time, there was a speech contest.

Liam's grades were outstanding.

Our instructor wanted to nominate him.

But he wanted to give the spot to me.

I refused and suggested we compete for the nomination fairly.

When Liam went up, he sang a song instead, effectively giving up the contest.

Everyone praised his chivalry, saying he did it for me.

I was deeply touched.

Not wanting to let him down, I practiced relentlessly for the regional contest.

However, Liam often fought with me during that time for I was too busy to stay with him.

"You care more about some contest than me?"

"Did you forget I gave you that spot?"

His guilt-trip worked well.

I felt sorry and kept appeasing him.

Working day and night, I collapsed with a high fever after the contest.

Later, I realized that he genuinely didn't like chicken wings, and that he only performed well on paper, but terrible in speaking in public.

I quit the internship.

Word got back to Liam.

He sneered, "It's not my problem. Don't tell me about her."

"I bet she was just caught slacking off and turned out to be useless."

This came from a roommate.

I replied politely to her, "Thanks, but you don't need to update me on him anymore."

Both roommates were worried for me.

Graduation was looming and now I had no job lined up.

I comforted them, "It's fine. I believed in my competence and ability."

Leaving the company meant I couldn't transfer to San Francisco.

But I contacted the San Francisco hiring manager directly.

I'd start from scratch and take an interview again.

I also applied elsewhere.

Former colleagues offered referrals for me.

While I job-hunted, Liam and Chloe were inseparable on campus.

Chloe always bragged among her friends, "Liam's chasing me now. I haven't said yes yet!"

I avoided them whenever possible.

I knew it was weak, but walking past them head-on was beyond me.

A boyfriend of nearly four years, someone I thought was "the one"… that kind of attachment wouldn't vanish overnight.

I was trying my best to adapt to a life without Liam Sullivan.

Life became a blur.

Applications, aptitude tests, interviews – they swallowed my time.

Thoughts of Liam became less frequent.

Once, walking while memorizing interview points, I bumped right into Liam and Chloe without noticing.

It was then that I realized whole days passed without me thinking of him now.

Hearing his name mentioned didn't sting anymore.

But just as I was getting over him, Liam called late one night.

He said, "Emma, you're serious?"

Breakups were never a game.

It was just I'd begged for him back every time before.

This time, I refused to do it.

Liam's voice turned icy, "Fine. Since you want to break up, give back everything I ever gave you."

I couldn't believe my ears.

I didn't just relied on him economically.

We'd exchanged gifts when we were together.

I gave him sneakers.

He gave me a bracelet.

I gave him a phone.

He gave me a laptop.

Now, that laptop held everything important to me.

My thesis, job contract, resume, research data, project files… everything.

Liam sneered when I stayed silent, "What? Aren't you willing to return it?"

"I never knew you were such a mooch."

[Liam's just trying to stop the breakup! He's desperate!]

[Emma doesn't know how much he loved those sneakers she gave him, how he always carries that phone…]

[Just apologize, Emma! After that act with Chloe, Liam felt awful. He finally find this excuse of "returning gifts" to reach out! He's waiting for you!]

Too exhausted to argue, I just said, "Okay, I'll bring it tomorrow."

Liam choked on the other end.

Then he snapped, "No! Bring it now!"

[Liam can't wait to see Emma!]

[He's impatient!]

[He doesn't want the laptop! He's waiting for Emma to beg him not to take it back. Then he'll use that to make her beg that they get back together…]

I laughed coldly, "Then you give back what I gave you."

"The phone and sneakers."

"Now."

"Emma! Are you insane? I can't just hand over my phone right now—"

I cut him off, "Then tomorrow. 8 AM. Dorm lobby."

I hung up, ignoring the chat flooding with accusations about me being heartless and ungrateful.

Very few chat defended me.

They drowned quickly.

I stared at the new job offer on my phone I'd just earned through these days of efforts.

A top company in San Francisco.

Better pay and benefits than my previous internship.

A new life was waiting for me.

Liam and I were done.

I bought an external hard drive and copied everything off the laptop overnight.

Next morning, I waited in the dorm lobby with laptop bag in hand.

Liam didn't show up until 8:30 AM.

With Chloe.

Chloe clung to Liam's arm, staking her claim, "Why are you still arranging meetings after breaking up with Liam? What's your game?"

"Trying to use a phone to force him back? Shame on you!"

Liam stood there in silence.