Rewriting the Script: Stepping Out of His Shadow

I knew Liam was going to confess his love to the new transfer student. Everyone was waiting for me to break down and make a huge scene. But I simply didn't show up. At that moment, I was sitting on a bed wearing his roommate's hoodie, Blinking innocently and asking: "I got your bed wet, what should we do?" Ethan looked away and tossed me a towel. "Go dry your hair first. I'll change the sheets before you lie down again." ... Liam was planning to confess his love to the beautiful new transfer student. He had given everyone a heads-up beforehand, asking them to keep it a secret from me. But little did he know, those gossips couldn't hold it in and had already leaked the news to me. The whole school knew how I felt about Liam; I practically wanted to marry him on the spot. This time, Liam had truly fallen for the transfer student. Everyone was waiting to see how I would hysterically crash the event. This kind of emotional drama always attracted the most attention. They all expected me to lose control and turn the scene into a chaotic mess. However, even after Liam successfully finished his confession, I never appeared. The dense crowd of onlookers gradually lost interest. Even Liam's face didn't show much joy. With his arm around his newly-won girlfriend, he pulled out his phone to check. The screen was empty, devoid of any calls or messages. Liam frowned slightly. Then he called out to the crowd: "Drinks are on me tonight! Everyone here is invited!" The gathered students immediately cheered in excitement. Only then did I slowly step out from the shadows of the bushes where I had been hiding. Someone sharp-eyed immediately shouted: "Chloe! Chloe is here!" "I knew it, how could Chloe possibly stay away?" Liam jerked his head up. The moment he saw me, the corner of his mouth ticked up almost imperceptibly. I ignored the people waiting to watch a joke and walked straight toward Liam. "Chloe." Liam pulled his new girlfriend closer. He looked at me, his tone flat: "You can't force feelings." "We've known each other for so many years. I don't want to say anything too harsh and ruin our past friendship." "From now on, I'll still treat you like a little sister." "If you need help, you can still come to me." With that, he lowered his voice: "There are so many people watching. Don't throw a tantrum, just go back." "Liam." I interrupted him, taking a slow step forward. He frowned again: "Chloe, be reasonable." I smiled faintly and handed him the bracelet I had just taken off my wrist. "I just came to give this back to you." Seeing the bracelet, Liam's face instantly darkened: "Chloe, what kind of trick are you playing now?" "Take the bracelet back, and from now on, I won't bother you anymore." Liam stared at me, his voice growing icy: "I don't care about this little bit of money." "If you don't want it, just throw it away." As soon as he finished speaking, I turned and tossed the bracelet into a nearby trash can. "You should throw away all the things I gave you before, too." With those words, I left without looking back. Liam stood frozen in place until my figure completely disappeared. His expression remained incredibly ugly. A friend beside him quickly tried to smooth things over: "Hey, Chloe's just trying to save face, putting up a front." "Just wait and see, Liam. She'll regret it tonight." "Who knows, maybe right after we leave, she'll come crying back to dig through the trash." Hearing this, Liam sneered: "Let her make a fool of herself." "If it weren't for our families' connections, who would want to deal with her." "Alright, alright, don't be mad. Tonight is for celebrating, don't let her ruin the mood." Liam glanced at his beautiful new girlfriend beside him. And completely pushed Chloe's annoying face out of his mind. Anyway, by tomorrow, Chloe would be back to her usual self. Waiting for him downstairs at his dorm, pestering him to go to class together. He had seen this routine far too many times over the years. By the time I reached the riverbank, it was pouring rain. I stood in the rain holding an umbrella, recalling the dreams that had been repeating over the past few days. In my dreams, because of Liam confessing to Mia. I cried and made a scene. To force him to break up, I jumped into the river right here that very night. But what was the result? I nearly lost my life. Liam stayed with me at the hospital for only five minutes before leaving resolutely. The Hastings family, who had adopted me, felt my suicidal behavior was too embarrassing. And because of Liam's cold attitude, they decided I was no longer useful to them. They forced me to drop out of school and sent me back to my biological parents, who were involved in every vice imaginable: drinking, gambling, and worse. In the end, my life spiraled downward, and I died in a strange place. After my death, the person who collected my broken remains was surprisingly the one I had always kept at a distance out of fear. Meanwhile, Liam, immersed in the sweetness of his new marriage, never appeared from beginning to end. These past few days, the events from my dreams have come true one by one. If it weren't for those dreams, right now I would probably be frantically calling Liam's phone. Then, threatening suicide, preparing to jump. I am so grateful for this dream, which felt like a rebirth. Allowing me to rewrite my destined tragic fate step by step. On the third attempt dialing that number, he finally answered. I gripped the phone tightly, pressing it gently to my ear. The name Ethan hovered on my lips for a long time before I slowly spoke it. The torrential rain drowned out all the noise of the world. Only Ethan's voice, tinged with a bit of laziness, sounded deep and low: "Chloe?" "Ethan, it's raining really hard." "I'm stuck by the river and can't get back. Can you come pick me up?" There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. I gripped the umbrella handle nervously, my palms sweaty. In my dream, when Ethan collected my remains, he seemed to have cried. His tears fell drop by drop onto my decaying body and stark white bones. I could feel that burning heat even in the dream. Later, he carried a small vial of my ashes with him for the rest of his life. And lived a lonely life. I couldn't help but shed tears, my voice choking with emotion. "Why are you crying." Ethan's voice suddenly came through. Still that same cold tone, even carrying a hint of impatience. "I didn't say I wouldn't come get you." "Then when can you get here?" "Wait there. Twenty minutes." "Okay, then I'll wait for you, Ethan." He didn't say anything more and hung up. Fifteen minutes later, I gave my umbrella to a mother and son taking shelter from the rain. So when Ethan arrived, I was already soaked to the bone. When he got out of the car, his thin lips were tightly pursed, his face as cold as a layer of frost. I pushed aside my wet bangs, looked up at him, and smiled brightly: "Ethan, you're so punctual." "Chloe, you might as well just die of stupidity." With a cold face, he grabbed my arm and stuffed me into the car. Then he threw a soft blanket at me. "Dry yourself off. Don't get my car dirty." He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, then neatly turned the car around. "Okay." I obediently wrapped myself in the blanket. And couldn't resist sneaking peeks at him while he focused on driving. When he was expressionless, he always seemed aloof and unapproachable. There were quite a few girls in school who liked him, but none dared to confess. He and Liam were roommates. I used to go to Liam's dorm often, and every time I did, Ethan seemed very annoyed with me. Just like now. Even though he came to pick me up, his attitude was still icy. When he shoved me into the car just now, his grip was incredibly strong. My wrist was still throbbing, marked by a red ring. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't see that he had secretly liked me all along. I slowly lowered my head, my eyelashes fluttering slightly. The events from the dream hadn't missed a beat. But now, so many things were different from before. Would Ethan... still care about me? If he didn't actually like me, and I was clinging to him like this, was I making things difficult for him again? "Going back to your dorm?" Ethan suddenly turned his head and glanced at me. My heart gave a thump. My brain short-circuited, and I blurted out: "No, let's go to your place." He gripped the steering wheel, letting out a light chuckle: "Liam isn't coming back tonight." "I know." I clutched the edge of the blanket, my fingers twisting it until my knuckles turned white. "I'm not going there to see him." The car braked abruptly, pulling over to the side of the road. He turned and stared at me, his eyes as cold as ice, sending a chill down my spine. "Chloe, don't use me as a prop for your little games." "I didn't mean it like that..." He didn't speak, just stared at me for a few seconds before pulling out his phone. "I'll call you a car, you go back yourself." "Ethan..." I bit my lower lip, my hands acting faster than my brain. With a whoosh, I snatched his phone away. "Chloe." He looked at me, his face showing neither anger nor disgust. Just a very deep look, like a pool of dark water, swirling with emotions I couldn't decipher. My nose suddenly stung, and my eyes grew hot. "Ethan, I don't want to go back to the dorm... they always laugh at me." "And home... I don't dare go back there either." "Can I... just stay at your place for one night..." I hid the phone behind my back, my voice growing softer and softer. "Of course, if you really find me annoying and don't want to see me... then never mind." As the last word fell, tears slid down my cheeks. One after another, so quietly that not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Ethan didn't say another word. But he restarted the engine and stepped on the gas. The car drove all the way back to campus, finally parking steadily under his dorm building. I followed him into the building. He opened his closet, pulled out a clean hoodie, and handed it to me: "Bathroom's over there." He was tall; the hoodie dragged down to my knees when I put it on, like a dress. After showering, I just slipped on the hoodie and walked out bare-legged. Ethan glanced at me and immediately looked away. I walked past Liam's bed and sat on the edge of Ethan's bed. My wet hair was still dripping, and soon dark patches seeped into the bedsheets. I smelled completely of the shampoo and body wash Ethan used. In the small room, the scents slowly mingled. Like an invisible, warm breath quietly slipping into the air. Ethan pulled out a pack of cigarettes and cleared his throat: "I'm going outside for a smoke." He went to the balcony. I curiously observed his bed— Light pink sheets and quilt, neatly arranged. A laptop and a few books on the desk, spotless. Just as I was leaning in to look at the small trinkets on the desk, My phone suddenly vibrated with a buzz. Two words danced on the screen: Liam. I didn't answer. He immediately called again, over and over, endlessly. I simply muted it and shoved the phone into my bag. "Ethan!" I called out toward the balcony. He immediately turned, put out his cigarette, and walked back in: "What's wrong?" I was sitting on his bed and had to look up to see him. He met my gaze for two seconds, then quickly looked away. But I caught a glimpse of his ears quietly turning red. "I got your bedsheets wet... where are you going to sleep tonight?" He looked at me, then looked down at the water stains on the sheets. His Adam's apple bobbed. He turned, grabbed a towel, and handed it to me: "You dry your hair first. I'll change the sheets before you lie down again." With that, he went to the cabinet to find fresh sheets. I gripped the towel, thinking of how red his ears had been just now, and couldn't help but curve the corners of my mouth. By the time I came out after drying my hair, he had already changed the sheets. "You should sleep." "What about you?" He pulled out his chair and sat down, not looking up: "I'll play some games for a bit." "Oh." I flopped listlessly onto his bed. Just as he pulled out his headphones, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, looked up at me, and then answered the call. "Liam, what's up?" My heart gave a sharp tug, and I didn't even dare to breathe. "Yeah, I'm in the dorm." "Who saw Chloe come to our building?" He looked at me again, his lips parting slightly, just about to speak— I suddenly stood up, straddled his lap, and wrapped my arms around his neck. Just as he was about to push me away, I leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Ethan, just say I'm not here." My fingertips touched the skin on the back of his neck; it was terrifyingly hot. I clearly saw the veins on the side of his neck bulge, his Adam's apple sliding up and down violently. The sound of his heartbeat pounded against my chest through our clothes. I looked up at him, and he looked down at me. His eyes slowly changed, growing dark and heated. "No, I've been here the whole time." "She didn't come here. Yeah, ask someone else." With that, he hung up the phone directly. Tossing the phone aside, one hand slipped past the fabric of the hoodie and firmly grasped my waist. With a forceful press, he pulled me securely into his embrace. My entire body went numb, a boom sounding in my ears. My first instinct was to run. But Ethan held me tighter, his voice incredibly hoarse: "Chloe." He called my name, his voice low and deep, like sandpaper scraping against my eardrums. I froze completely in his arms. The hand on my waist was scorching hot like a branding iron, transmitting continuous heat through the thin fabric of the hoodie. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, and that heartbeat thumping like a drum. Thump, thump, making my heart race. "Chloe, do you know what you're doing?" I couldn't tell the emotion in his voice; it was just very heavy, pressing down on me so I could barely breathe. I looked up, crashing into his unfathomable eyes. Too many emotions I couldn't understand were churning in them, looking as if they wanted to suck me in. I didn't make a sound, just stubbornly looked back at him. "Playing me?" The grip on my waist tightened, almost crushing me. It hurt. But I didn't pull away. "No." I finally found my voice, a little shaky. "Ethan, I'm not playing you." He let out a scoff, a laugh full of mockery. "Then what are you doing? Liam doesn't want you, so you find a random stand-in?" "Liam's roommate, close at hand, very convenient, right?" His words were like knives, stabbing into my heart one by one. In my dream, he was like this too. He always felt that I approached him for Liam's sake. So he always suppressed his feelings, not daring to show the slightest bit. My nose stung, and tears almost fell again. "That's not it." My arms around his neck tightened, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck, my voice muffled. "I'm tired, Ethan." "Chasing after someone who doesn't love me is really tiring." "I don't want to live that kind of life anymore." His body noticeably stiffened. The grip on my waist also loosened a bit. I could smell the faint scent of tobacco on him, mixed with the same body wash fragrance as mine. A very strange combination, yet it made me feel inexplicably at peace. "And then?" he asked. "And then, I want to switch to someone else." I looked up, meeting his gaze directly, speaking every word with utmost sincerity. "Ethan, I want to switch to you. Can I?" The air was frighteningly quiet. I could even hear the rustling of the wind blowing through the leaves outside the window. He didn't speak, just stared at me. That look was too complex—there was scrutiny, doubt, and a trace of something I didn't dare confirm... anticipation. I was so nervous my palms were sweating, my heart about to jump out of my throat. If he refused... If he pushed me away... I didn't know if I'd have the courage to try again. Just when I couldn't hold on much longer, he suddenly lowered his head. Something warm pressed against my lips. My mind went blank, completely stunned. His kiss wasn't gentle at all. With a somewhat punishing force, he bit at my lips. I let out a pained "Mm" and tried to pull back. He used the momentum to deepen the kiss, his other hand cupping the back of my head, not letting me retreat. The tip of his tongue pried open my teeth, aggressive and undeniable, conquering my defenses. I was dizzy from his kiss, my whole body going soft. I could only cling to his shoulders to barely maintain my balance. I don't know how long it took before he finally let me go. I gasped for air, my lips numb and aching. His forehead rested against mine, his breathing also a bit unsteady. "Chloe, have you thought this through?" "Yes." I nodded, my voice terribly hoarse. "No regrets?" "No regrets." He stared at me steadily for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. That was the first time I saw him smile. Not a cold smile, nor a mocking one. A genuine, heartfelt smile. Though faint, warmth colored the corners of his eyes and brows. "Okay." He only said one word. But it was like a grand fireworks display going off in my heart. I couldn't help but smile too, reaching out to touch his flushed earlobe. "Your ear is so hot." His body paused. He grabbed my hand, his eyes growing deep again. "Don't move." I obediently said "Oh," not daring to act up again. He lifted me off his lap and stood up. "You sleep in the bed." "What about you?" I followed behind him like a little tail. He pulled a blanket from his closet and tossed it onto Liam's empty bed. "I'll sleep here." "Oh." I climbed into his bed and ducked under the covers. The blanket was full of his pleasant scent, making me feel very secure. He lay on the bed opposite, turning on his side to look at me. Only a dim desk lamp was on in the dorm, the lighting very low. We just looked at each other quietly from a short distance away. "Ethan." "Hmm?" "When... when did you start liking me?" He was silent for a while. "Don't remember." "Liar." "Go to sleep." He rolled over, his back to me. I pouted and lay down too. Although he didn't say it, I knew it must have been a long time. So long that even he had forgotten when his heart first fluttered. Just as I was groggily falling asleep, my phone buzzed again. I picked it up to look; it was a WeChat message from Liam. [Chloe, what the hell are you throwing a tantrum about?] [Is this fun?] [Call me back immediately.] Looking at those few lines, I only found it ridiculous. Before, any casual sentence from him could tug at all my emotions. Now, only annoyance remained. I was just about to block him when Ethan suddenly sat up on the opposite bed. He walked over to my bed and held out his hand to me. "Give me your phone." I froze for a moment, then obediently handed him the phone. He took the phone, his fingers swiping across the screen a few times. Then, right in front of me, he blocked and deleted Liam's WeChat, phone number, and all other contact information. After doing all this, he handed the phone back to me. "From now on, don't cry over him again." Looking at him, a soft spot in my heart melted. "Okay." He ruffled my hair, turned, and went back to his own bed. "Go to sleep, we have classes tomorrow." "Goodnight, Ethan." "Goodnight." That night, I slept exceptionally peacefully. No nightmares, no waking up with a start. The next morning, I was woken up by a commotion. "Ethan! Open the door! I know you're in there!" It was Liam's voice. Liam's exasperated yelling came from outside the door, each shout louder than the last. I instinctively grabbed the blanket tightly, my heart pounding. Ethan had already sat up, his face expressionless, but his brows were furrowed, clearly annoyed by the noise. He casually grabbed a T-shirt from his chair, pulled it on, and got out of bed. "Don't open the door..." I whispered, a little panicked. With Liam's temper, if he saw me here, who knows what kind of scene he'd make. Ethan looked back at me, his eyes calm, and that sense of security inexplicably calmed me down. He didn't speak, just walked straight over and pulled the door open. As soon as the door opened, Liam rushed in like a gust of wind. "Ethan, let me tell you, Chloe she..." His words came to an abrupt halt when he clearly saw the situation in the dorm. When he saw me huddled under Ethan's covers, with only my head showing, he completely froze. The air seemed to solidify. A few seconds later, Liam's face turned from white to pale blue, then from pale blue to black, as colorful as a painter's palette. He pointed at me, his fingers trembling, unable to speak for a long time. Finally, he whipped around to face Ethan, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. "Ethan, what the fuck is the meaning of this?" Ethan leaned against the doorframe, his expression impassive. "Exactly what you see." Liam's eyes instantly turned red, like an enraged bull. "You don't mess with a friend's girl. Don't you know the rules? She's mine!" "She's not." Ethan's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear. "Hasn't been since yesterday." "You!" Liam was furious to the point of incoherence. He shoved Ethan aside and rushed to the bed in a few strides. "Chloe! Get the hell out here! To spite me, you'd really do anything!" He reached out to grab my arm. Before his hand could touch me, it was intercepted by another, stronger hand. Ethan gripped his wrist, the force so strong that Liam's face contorted. "Liam, don't touch her." Ethan's voice was freezing cold. I threw off the covers and got out of bed. I was still wearing Ethan's oversized hoodie. The sleeves were so long they covered my hands, and the hem just barely covered my thighs. I walked over to Ethan and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "Liam, are you misunderstanding something?" I looked at him calmly. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore." "Nothing to do with each other?" Liam looked like he had heard a huge joke. "Chloe, don't play this game with me! You think finding a random guy will make me jealous? Does degrading yourself feel good?" His words were ugly, every syllable laced with poison. In the past, I would probably have broken down crying. But now, my heart was completely peaceful, I even wanted to laugh a little. "I was pretty stupid before." I looked at him, enunciating each word clearly, "But I'm not blind." "You..." Liam's face flushed a deep purplish-red. "Who I'm with is my own business." I pulled at the overly long sleeves, hiding my hands. "It has nothing to do with you anymore." "Chloe!" Liam threw off Ethan's hand and roared, "Do you have to do this? Our relationship of so many years, you're just cutting it off like that?" "Your relationship was given to someone else in front of the whole school yesterday." Ethan took a step forward, blocking me behind him. He was half a head taller than Liam, looking down at him with cold eyes. "Now, get out." "Ethan, you've got some nerve." Liam pointed at him, then pointed at me, laughing in anger. "You two just wait." He dropped this harsh threat and slammed the door as he left. The massive sound of the door closing echoed in the dorm, making my ears ring.

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