Luke looked upset. He yelled, “We’re not over! I didn’t agree to breaking up, so we’re not over!”
“You can’t one–sidedly control a relationship. You need to respect my decision too.”
Luke stepped forward, looking like he wanted to hug me. Caleb rushed in from the corridor before Luke could touch me. He
planted himself firmly between us.
Luke’s eyes flashed fiercely. He hissed through gritted teeth, “You again? Who are you? What’s your relationship with Summer?”
“As you can see, he’s my boyfriend,” I said while holding on tightly to Caleb’s hand. I kept my gaze trained on Luke’s face.
Luke staggered back a few steps. He looked like he was going to have a mental breakdown. “You’re lying! You’re in cahoots with
him to lie to me. Isn’t that right, Summer?
“I’ve already broken up with Riley. I no longer have anything to do with her. Look at me, Summer. We grew up together, and we were a couple for six years. Do you really not want me anymore?”
My face was an emotionless mask as I stared at Luke. Caleb pulled out the repaired bracelet from his pocket. The shattered
emeralds had been replaced with other precious gems, displaying a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors as the light reflected off their
sparkling surfaces. It was a thing of beauty.
1/2
Chapter 8
+15 Bonus
Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached out my hand. I allowed Caleb to carefully clasp the bracelet around my wrist.
Luke shook his head wildly when he saw Caleb pulling me into a tight hug. “You’re lying to me! I won’t fall for it!”
He couldn’t stand to see us hugging each other and scurried away pathetically. I looked at Caleb, who was flushed as red as a tomato, and thanked him over and over again. Caleb stared at me, and his gaze was unwavering.
“I did it because I wanted to. I wanted to fix your bracelet for you. I wanted to pretend to be your boyfriend. Although, if the chance ever comes along, I want to be your real boyfriend.”
His sudden confession left me stunned on the spot. “I’m sorry. I’m not ready to start a new relationship.”
Laughter that was reminiscent of wind chimes tinkled in my ear. “No pressure. I was crushing on you for ten years, and now I finally get the chance to tell you. Since I’ve already waited for so long, I don’t mind waiting for you for a little longer. Thank you for giving me the chance to tell you.”
The snow outside the window eventually stopped falling. The South Point expedition had officially reached its end. We got onto the ship and started our journey home.
The sea stretched on into the horizon. It was vast and endless. As the ship sailed through the waters, large ripples were left in its wake.
Luke’s ship tailed ours from a distance away. If I pointed a telescope in the direction of their ship, I would find a person who was always standing on the deck and looking off into the distance.
However, I had no interest whatsoever in whatever Luke was up to. The only thing I wanted was to have him out of my life for good.
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