The day Ivy League letters arrived, David posted a screenshot of his perfect scores—identical to mine—with the caption: "I won the game, and I won you." Our class chat erupted. "Only the top two get this kind of epic romance?" "Most romantic confession ever." David stayed silent, spamming Venmo cash drops—until scholarship student Leah refunded hers. "Grandpa taught me self-respect matters more than handouts." David finally replied: "Fine. Dog-sit for us in Europe this summer—call it a paid gig." I thought it was rich-kid pity. Then at the party: "Smooth move disguising payments as group drops so Leah wouldn’t feel singled out." "Remember when David beat up that creep harassing Leah?" My hand froze on the door. So that’s why he missed my debutante ball. Not car trouble—he was brawling for another girl. David tossed cash on the bar, his voice cold. "Drop it. Vivian will throw another tantrum." Someone muttered, "Leah’s sweeter anyway." I walked straight to the racetrack and accepted Silas’s invitation. Fine, David. You want to play hero? I’ll set you free. 1 “Whoa, look who it is! The stunning Vivian finally graces us with her presence!” A group of guys nudged David, their eyes full of mischief. When he saw me, a genuine smile finally broke through his bored expression. “Viv, you’re on your period. No cold drinks.” He pressed a warm chai latte into my hands, the cup he’d been carefully shielding. I saw the long list of customizations on the label—extra cinnamon, oat milk, not too sweet—and a familiar ache tightened my throat. Eighteen years. It was long enough for him to memorize every little thing about me. But he’d forgotten the one thing I truly wanted: a love that wasn't divided, a loyalty that wasn't shared. I took a deep breath, the words “we’re over” on the tip of my tongue, but a series of gasps cut through the room. “Oh my god, is that Leah? I thought she’d show up in her faded old school uniform again.” “No way. She’s gorgeous. She could honestly give Vivian a run for her money.” Every guy in the room was staring, their eyes wide. Beside me, my best friend, Chloe, paled. “Viv… that dress. How could he give her that dress?” I placed a hand on hers, giving a slight shake of my head. “It’s fine. Let it go.” It wasn’t the first time David had given something of mine to Leah, after all. But he didn’t know this one was different. It was a matching set, a gift from his mother for my eighteenth birthday. She’d told us she couldn’t wait to see us wear them on our engagement day. I guess she never imagined David would be the one to give our future away. “Vivian, you wear your clothes once and then toss them. Think of it as charity,” David said, not even glancing at Leah as he meticulously peeled a grape for me. But the scent of those grapes, flown in from Napa, was enough to make my heart sour. Charity. He was always so charitable. He’d give away my clothes, my shoes, my bags—even a brand-new, unopened lingerie set—all without asking. Every time, he’d say he could just buy me more, that I shouldn’t be so petty. Just because I was the “princess” in his life, I was expected to surrender everything to Leah. David held the peeled grape to my lips, but I turned my head away. He raised an eyebrow, his cool eyes clouded with confusion. “Viv? What’s wrong?” I dropped my gaze, my voice as steady as I could make it. “Nothing. Let’s break up.” But the words were swallowed by the sudden blast of music from the karaoke machine. When I looked up, Leah was standing right in front of us. “Thank you,” she said to David. “What?” The music was deafening. Leah had no choice but to lean in close to his ear, the front of her dress dipping low to reveal a breathtaking view. My face went cold. I stood up, pulling Chloe with me to the control panel, and started scrolling aimlessly through the song list. 2 “Vivian, what is your problem? Who pissed you off this time? Don’t tell me it’s about the dress.” David leaned casually against the karaoke machine. He was talking to me, but his eyes were scanning the screen. A cold laugh escaped me. I found the “Happy Birthday” track and pinned it to the top of the queue. “Looking for this?” Eighteen years. It was also long enough for me to know exactly how his mind worked. David froze, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes. He was used to me getting jealous and angry over Leah. This calm indifference was new. He leaned in and kissed my forehead, as if rewarding a child. “There’s my girl. Finally growing up.” I subtly wiped my forehead, erasing the warmth of his lips. He still didn’t get it. I hadn't grown up. I was just learning not to care. David tapped the screen, and the blaring rap song that had been shaking the walls cut off abruptly. The cheerful melody of “Happy Birthday” filled the room. Leah’s head snapped towards him, her eyes wide with surprise. “It’s our resilient wildflower’s eighteenth birthday! Everybody, let’s wish her a happy birthday!” a friend of his announced. The room erupted. One of the guys even grabbed a fruit platter and knelt before her like a knight presenting a tribute. But her eyes were locked on David, drifting over the crowd to meet his gaze, silently mouthing the words, thank you. “It’s not an eighteenth birthday without presents!” someone shouted, and everyone started fumbling through their pockets. David’s gaze swept the room, finally landing on my wrist. “Viv, you’ve worn that bracelet for years. Why don’t you give it to her? It’s a perfect chance for an upgrade. My treat.” I stared at him, first in shock, then in utter disbelief. “David, are you serious?” That bracelet was the gift he’d given me when he first told me he loved me. No matter how many expensive, beautiful pieces my family had given me since, I had never taken it off. And now, he was telling me to give it away. “Of course I’m serious. It’s not even the latest design anymore. It doesn’t suit you.” He reached for my wrist, his tone casual, as if he were talking about a piece of lint. I went numb, letting him unclasp it and take it from me. Amid a chorus of cheers and whistles, David fastened the bracelet around Leah’s wrist. Just then, the lights went out. A waiter wheeled in a ten-tiered birthday cake, a towering confection of sugar and cream. No matter how hard I tried to be strong, my eyes burned. Even the cake was an exact replica of the one I’d had for my debutante ball. David really couldn’t bear to see her suffer the slightest disappointment. I couldn’t watch another second of this fairy tale. Prince Charming and his Cinderella could have the stage. I pushed the door open and walked out. Chloe, who could never stand to see me upset, called after me, her voice loud and clear. “Viv! Where are you going?” The next second, David dropped Leah’s hand and rushed out after me. Under the dim, yellow glow of the streetlights, he grabbed my hand, his voice laced with frustration. “Vivian, what is wrong with you tonight?” “Nothing. I’m just done.” I calmly pried his fingers from mine and kept walking. Behind me, I could hear the murmurs of our classmates. “What’s going on? Is Vivian actually jealous?” “Probably. I think I saw her tearing up back there.” Hearing this, the guys who had been fawning over Leah immediately jumped to her defense. “Jealous? What does she have to be jealous of? She’s a princess who has everything. Why would she be jealous of a scholarship kid?” “Exactly. And it’s not like David did anything wrong. He just gave Leah some of her hand-me-downs. She’s just being a drama queen, trying to ruin the mood because she’s not the center of attention.” I walked on, my steps heavy, the streetlight stretching my shadow long and thin behind me. No matter how much I wanted to hold on, it felt like David and I were destined to break. Before, whenever I got upset, he would have wrapped me in a tight embrace, never letting me walk a dark street alone. But this time, he just stood there, watching me go. 3 The sharp clack-clack of heels approached. Leah ran up to me, holding a slice of cake on a napkin. “Vivian, the first piece is for you.” She looked startled when she saw the tears on my face, but I could see the glint of triumph she couldn't quite hide in her eyes. I walked past her without a word, a single syllable leaving my lips. “Get lost.” Before I could even brush past the hem of her dress, she crumpled to the ground as if struck by a gust of wind. “Leah!” David was there in an instant, rushing over to help her up. He noticed her dress had slipped, and without a moment’s hesitation, he shrugged off his own jacket and wrapped it around her, shielding her from view. “Vivian, what the hell are you doing? It’s just a few things you have in spades, things you can get with the snap of your fingers…” He was scolding me, but as his eyes lifted to meet mine, he stopped short. The coldness in my gaze seemed to jolt him. He saw the Vivian who had clung to him for eighteen years, and for the first time, he saw something missing from her eyes. It was as if he were no different from any other stranger on the street. “You’re right,” I said, my voice flat. “They’re just things I can get with a snap of my fingers.” With that, I climbed into the custom Tesla Roadster that had just pulled up and sped away, leaving him in the dust. … “My sweet girl, wasn’t tonight your graduation party? How are you back so early? And where’s David?” When I got home, my grandfather was waiting at the door, peering left and right, surprised not to see David’s familiar car. I linked my arm through his and walked inside in silence. He knew immediately something was wrong. “Did you and David have a fight?” I lowered my eyes, thinking for a long moment before forcing a smile. “Grandpa, I don’t want to be with David anymore. And… I don’t want to go to Harvard.” He stilled, his old, wrinkled hands gently rubbing my arm. He didn’t ask why. “Alright. Whatever you decide, Grandpa will have your back.” A wave of heat rushed to my eyes. I buried my face in his shoulder and cried for a long time. When I finally went to my room, I was just about to fall asleep when a text from David came through. “Don’t forget to submit your application. To Harvard. The dream we’ve been waiting for.” “Get some sleep. I’ll be over first thing in the morning to see you.” The dream we’ve been waiting for. A pale, humorless smile touched my lips as a tear slipped from the corner of my eye. David, Harvard was always your dream. Not mine. I even chose to major in the sciences, which I’ve always hated, just to be with you. And it turned out I chose wrong. I didn’t reply. As I was about to put my phone down, another message popped up. It was from Silas—the guy who made even the toughest kids from other schools shake in their boots. But instead of something intimidating, he’d sent me a series of cute Hello Kitty pictures. “Can I get this design on my helmet?” I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. I replied with a simple “Sure, whatever you want,” and my phone went quiet again. The next morning, before David could arrive, I went to his house. Not for him, but for the little terrier I’d rescued and left in his care. I wasn’t expecting to walk in and find David and Leah playing with my dog on the living room floor. She was wearing one of my silk pajama sets. My sudden appearance made even the unflappable David flinch. He scrambled to explain. “Leah lives way out in the suburbs. Everyone was out so late last night, so I let her crash here—” “Do whatever you want.” I cut him off, my tone indifferent. I whistled for my dog, Buster, and he came trotting over, tail wagging. I gathered up his food, his bed, and all his toys, packing everything to take with me. “Oh, and one more thing,” I said, turning to the housekeeper with a polite smile before I left. “Could you please throw out anything that belongs to me? Or, you can just let that young lady take it home with her. She seems to have a taste for other people’s things.” Before I could walk out the door, David’s voice, low and simmering with anger, stopped me. “Vivian, apologize. And for God’s sake, drop the princess attitude. Did your parents teach you nothing about respect?” My eyes shot back at him, sharp as daggers. He flinched, realizing his mistake. My parents died in a car crash years ago. It’s always just been my grandfather and me. He rushed toward me, trying to pull me into a hug, but I shoved him away, hard. “Why should I apologize? When you give my things away, it’s charity. When I call her out on it, it’s an insult? What kind of twisted logic is that?” “You!” Any trace of guilt he’d felt vanished. Before David could say another word, Leah’s delicate hand covered his mouth. “Don’t, David. It’s all my fault. You were up all night taking care of me because I was drunk. You’re exhausted, you shouldn’t get worked up.” Then, she turned to me, her eyes brimming with tears, and bowed deeply. “I’m so sorry, Vivian. I know a poor girl like me can never compare to you. I’ll leave now.” I hugged Buster closer, a mocking smile on my face. A bottomless disgust churned in my stomach. Not just for this manipulative, two-faced girl, but for the blind, self-righteous boy who was falling for her act. “You’re wrong. You’re not just poor,” I said, my voice dripping with ice. “You’re more like a sewer rat, born with an instinct for coveting what belongs to others.” 4 I turned on my heel, ignoring the sound of sobbing that echoed from the mansion behind me. After getting Buster settled at home, I remembered I still hadn’t submitted my university choice. On a strange impulse, I sent a text to Silas. “Where did you apply?” He replied almost instantly. “Stanford.” I didn’t say anything else, just a simple “Okay.” Then I changed my application to Stanford and hit submit. I was about to go downstairs to tell my grandfather when I saw David and Leah walking in, holding a large bouquet of lilies. A sharp pain pulsed in my temple. I flew down the stairs. “Get out of my house!” My shout seemed to snap the last of David’s patience. “Vivian! What has gotten into you?” he roared. “You said those horrible things to Leah, and she didn’t even get angry. She came here to apologize to you!” “Do you have any idea how long she saved up to buy these flowers? She used half a year’s worth of her allowance! And you tell her to get out?” By now, my eyes were wild with panic. I shoved them both towards the door, my voice frantic. “David, you know Grandpa is deathly allergic to lilies! And you let her bring them in here?” My words finally registered. He remembered. “I’m sorry, they were the cheapest bouquet at the florist, I was in a hurry…” “Get. Out!” I screamed until my throat was raw, but it was too late. My grandfather had already stepped out of his study. He took one breath, and his face instantly swelled, turning a blotchy red. He clutched his throat, gasping for air. “To the hospital! Now!” In the emergency room, I paced the hallway, my heart hammering against my ribs. David stood by, watching me, at a loss for words. But when he saw Leah crying, he didn't hesitate to pull her into a comforting embrace. “Stop crying,” he murmured. “Her grandpa will be fine.” “Be fine?” My eyes were bloodshot. I felt like a caged animal. “David, you know he’s the only family I have left! And you brought lilies here to kill him! All because they were cheap? All to protect Leah’s pathetic, worthless pride? You were willing to risk his life for that? My grandfather’s life?” I thought, I hoped, he would show some remorse. But I never could have imagined the look on his face. It was utterly calm. “Vivian, do you have any idea how much you sound like a shrew right now?” His words nailed me to the spot. All I could do was watch as Leah fell to her knees before me. “I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! Whatever the medical bills are, I’ll pay you back! I’ll sell everything I have, I’ll do whatever it takes, I’ll pay you back!” Just then, our classmates, having heard what happened, arrived at the hospital. They saw the scene and rushed to pull Leah to her feet, their faces filled with righteous indignation. “Vivian, are you for real? It’s just an allergic reaction. He’ll take some medicine and be fine. It’s not like he’s going to die.” “I can’t believe we ever thought you were cool. You think just because you’re rich you can do whatever you want. Leah, don’t worry, the whole class will chip in before we let you suffer this humiliation.” The accusations rained down on me, a deafening storm that drowned out everything else. And yet, through the noise, one thing became painfully clear: the look on David’s face. The unwavering conviction that I was being completely irrational. In my most vulnerable moment, he stood with everyone else, on the opposite side, forgetting he had once promised to stand against the world for me. A wave of profound helplessness washed over me. The world tilted, and my legs gave out. David instinctively lunged forward to catch me, but I pushed him away, my body trembling. “Don’t touch me.” My eyes were vacant, staring into nothingness. I curled into a ball on the floor. “David,” I repeated, my voice a hollow whisper. “I don’t want you anymore.” He shot to his feet, his chest heaving with rage. “Vivian, you said it! Let’s just see how many days you can last this time!” He stormed away, his new friends trailing behind him. As Leah turned to follow, she shot a look over her shoulder, her face alight with an undisguised, triumphant smile. I didn’t care. My eyes were glued to the glowing “IN SURGERY” light. Suddenly, two figures appeared at the end of the hall, running against the tide of people leaving. “Vivian!” “Vivian!” At the sound of their voices, the dam finally broke, and a sob tore from my throat. And just like that, the boy who had once made my young heart flutter disappeared from my future forever. David, I will never forgive you.
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