In the fifth year of our relationship, my girlfriend and I were ready to get engaged.

But on the day of the engagement, she was kissing her travel companion in a foreign country thousands of miles away.

She made a post on Instagram saying, "To Freedom."

I calmly broke up with her.

But she said over the phone, "Don't be silly. It's just a kiss."

I didn't make a fuss. I decided to move on.

1

[I'm back. Come pick me up at the airport.]

The message from my girlfriend arrived just as I finished cleaning up the mess from our wedding banquet.

Yesterday was supposed to be our wedding day, one I had spent three months preparing for.

Two months ago, she went on a solo trip abroad, giving me the silent treatment out of spite.

We only managed to reconnect three days ago, when she promised me that she'd be back for the wedding.

But on the day of the wedding, I waited from dawn until late into the night, facing our family and friends alone. I called her countless times, but never got through.

It wasn't until midnight that she updated her social media.

In the nine-square grid of photos, she was on a foreign street, her cheek kissed by a young man I didn't know.

The caption read: "To freedom."

After tidying up the house, I still went to the airport.

My girlfriend walked up to me with her suitcase, gave me a big hug, and was as cheerful as if nothing had happened.

"Did you miss me? I've been exhausted for the past two months!"

In the past, I would've smiled, hugged her back, and let the issue slide.

But now, all I felt was resistance.

I gently pushed her away and asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you even remember what day it was yesterday?"

...

"Of course." She took off her sunglasses and nodded indifferently.

...

Then she said, matter-of-factly, "It was just a wedding banquet, wasn't it? You've got money. We can always throw another one.

"You made me so angry before, so you deserved a lesson. Don't you agree?"

She was referring to the argument we had two months ago, after we took her mother to a follow-up appointment at the hospital.

Her mother had accidentally seen photos of her hugging and even kissing another man in her album. She had cautioned her daughter, saying that since she had a boyfriend, she shouldn't be getting so close to other men.

Her mother wasn't in good health, so she didn't argue back. But once we got home, she blamed me for not standing up for her.

The next morning, she packed her bags and took off on a trip abroad.

I sent her countless messages, trying to make peace, but she didn't reply to any.

Now, looking at her, acting so nonchalant and even smug about making me upset, I felt disappointed and heartbroken.

...

Of course, she remembered what day it was yesterday. After all, she had agreed to return just three days before the wedding.

"Alright, I'm finally back, so stop sulking," she said as she reached for my hand.

...

I dodged again.

She was unhappy. "I've finally got my mood right to come back and be with you, and this is how you treat me?"

Just as I was about to say something, my phone in my pocket rang.

When I answered, my mother's anxious voice rang out. She said that my father had fainted and was in critical condition.

"I'll be right there!"

I immediately became anxious, and without paying attention to my girlfriend, I turned around, got in the car, and headed for the hotel.

I took my dad to the hospital, and the doctors pushed him into the emergency room.

My mother sat on a bench in the corridor, sobbing.

"Your girlfriend went too far.

"Your father has been waiting his whole life to see you get married and start a family.

"And what did she do? She disappeared on the wedding day, and it made your father so angry that he coughed up blood…"

My mother held my hand as she spoke.

"Listen to me, son, break up with her!"

I was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Okay."

For five years, I had been bending over backward to keep our relationship steady.

But I was exhausted.

So, I chose to let go.

I took care of my father in the hospital for three days.

It wasn't until three days later, when the doctor said his condition was stable, that I found time to go home.

As soon as I walked in, my girlfriend stormed up to me and slapped me hard across the face.

"Harvey Keller, was that really necessary? All I did was go on a trip, and you responded with this silent treatment!

"If you don't want to be with me anymore, then let's break up!"

This wasn't the first time she had threatened me with a breakup.

In the past, whenever she said it, I would always back down, doing everything I could to win her back.

But now, I didn't see the point.

I agreed without hesitation. "Let's break up then."

She looked at me in disbelief. "Say that again?"

"You want to break up; I'll grant your wish."

I tried to force a smile but failed, so I gave up.

"You're a jerk, Harvey Keller!"

Not receiving the usual treatment, my girlfriend was very upset and gave me a hard shove.

Then she turned, walked into her room, and started packing her things.

Before leaving, she warned, "Don't regret it!"

I won't regret it.

I still remember when I first met her in college.

She was bright, full of life, with a love for freedom. Her biggest dream was to save up enough money after graduation to live and travel all over the country.

When she talked to me about her dream, she seemed to glow with light.

It made my heart race.

I pursued her for a long time, but she didn't agree to be with me until one time when her mother suddenly fell ill, and she called me for help.

I helped her take her mother to the hospital, and during that time, I personally took care of her mother for three months so that she could complete her graduation project.

Three months later, she graduated successfully and agreed to be my girlfriend.

At that time, I told her seriously, "I hope that you're with me because you like me too. If it's just to repay me for taking care of your mother for three months, then there's no need."

...

...

She replied earnestly, "I'm not stupid enough to sacrifice myself like that! I agreed to be with you because I think I really do like you."

...

...

That day, I felt like the happiest person in the world.

Her mother was seriously ill and needed expensive medication.

At that time, we were both fresh graduates, just starting out.

To earn enough money for her mother's medicine, I worked a regular job and took on part-time gigs, and after saving money for two years, I immediately started my own business.

During those two years, we lived together but were too busy to even have a proper conversation.

But I felt very happy.

Later, when my business took off, and money wasn't as tight, she started to change.

She didn't want to suffer through work like those first two years, so I supported her.

But she still wasn't satisfied. Gradually, she said that my presence limited her freedom and that being with me had ruined her dreams.

...

Because I was too busy with work to travel with her.

She said I was her ball and chain.

Whenever we had a disagreement or I upset her, she would pack her bags and leave.

She'd go on trips for three to five months, spending my money, making new "travel companions," but never contacting me.

I couldn't bear to see her upset, so I always indulged her.

But now, I don't want to do this anymore.

This relationship was like a ship taking on water; it should have been abandoned long ago.

After that day, my girlfriend went on another trip.

I saw her updates on Instagram.

She and her travel companion from the last time went to the snowfields. In a video, the two of them toasted each other, like at a wedding, after being cheered on by a group of locals.

They looked really happy.

In the past, whenever I saw photos of her and her travel companions, I would feel so suffocated that I could hardly breathe.

But today, I was surprisingly calm.

I casually deleted her number and went back to work.

My dad hadn't fully recovered, so after finishing my work, I still had to go to the hospital to take care of him.

A week passed like that.

For these seven days, I was swamped with work, but my mood remained steady.

I thought, if things continued like this, it would be just fine.

Unexpectedly, that evening, as I was leaving the hospital, I got a call from my girlfriend, Jasmine Meyers.

Seeing her familiar number, I felt a bit dazed and only answered after a moment.

As soon as the call connected, she started bombarding me with questions.

"Harvey Keller, what the hell is going on with you?! Why didn't you take my mom to the hospital for her follow-up yesterday?!

"Do you know the hospital called me today to chase it up?!"

Ever since we got together, I had been the one responsible for her mother's illness.

I was the one who took her to the hospital for weekly checkups and paid for her medications.

Jasmine only tagged along when she was free to show some filial piety.

When she was traveling, she hated being bothered by "trivial family matters."

In the past, I was always afraid of worrying and upsetting her, so I handled everything perfectly.

But now...

I said, "Jasmine, we've already broken up."

"You—" Jasmine was at a loss for words, clearly shocked.

After a while, she came back to her senses and asked, "What do you mean? You're serious about this?"

I found it somewhat amusing.

She stood me up on our wedding day, sending my dad to the hospital out of anger.

And she still thought I was joking about breaking up with her?

I didn't bother saying more, hung up the phone, and blocked her number while I was at it.

The next time I saw her was at the hospital.

I was there with my dad for his checkup when I saw Jasmine, holding onto a man's arm, at the payment counter.

The guy was young and handsome, and he looked familiar.

It was the travel companion who often appeared on her Instagram.

Jasmine noticed me too and came over, arm in arm with the guy.

"What a coincidence! What are you doing at the hospital?"

"Something came up," I said calmly.

"Oh right, let me introduce you. This is my new boyfriend, Ricky Deleon."

She looked at him with a sweet smile.

"We're both free spirits who love traveling. We really hit it off."

I nodded. "Congratulations."

Seeing I didn't react the way she expected, Jasmine looked a bit displeased.

"Isn't there anything you want to say?" she asked.

I hesitated for a moment. "Well... I wish you two a happy marriage?"

Back when I cared about her, I would've felt a knot in my chest, sick with heartache.

But now that I no longer cared, I didn't feel a thing.

Jasmine's face turned icy.

After a while, she spat through gritted teeth, "We'll have a happy marriage whether you say so or not!"

I calmly nodded and congratulated her again.

Jasmine, having failed to provoke me, stormed off in a huff.

I ignored her and headed to the inpatient department to find my dad.

I didn't bother keeping up with Jasmine's life until some time later when a college friend asked me out for dinner and mentioned her.

That was when I found out she had run into trouble.

"I heard her new boyfriend was a scammer.

"He swindled 10,000 dollars out of her and disappeared when he couldn't get more."

My friend leaned in with a gossipy look on his face.

I was a bit surprised. "How did you know?"

"She came to me a few days ago to borrow money, saying it was for her mom's treatment," my friend answered.

Then he waved his hand and continued, "But don't worry. I didn't lend her any. After what she pulled at the wedding, I'd have to be crazy to lend money to someone like that."

...

...

I frowned.

Now that we've already broken up, her problems are none of my concern.

...

But I didn't expect her to come to me.