Love Never Turns Back

When my fever hit 40 degrees Celsius, my boyfriend, Ethan Banks, was on his way to take his junior to an amusement park. I sent him countless messages, begging him to come back and take me to the hospital, but he ignored them all, continuing to flirt with her in the car.

On my way back after getting an IV alone, Ethan finally showed up late to pick me up. Yet, on the passenger seat, I found a bunch of potato chip crumbs. Ethan never allowed me to eat in his car; once, when my blood sugar dropped, he still insisted I get out of the car to eat a piece of chocolate.

Before I could say a word, he sneered.

“You’re not like Lily. Lily’s a pampered little princess, so naturally, I have to indulge her a bit more.”

Again. That woman. Lily Parker…

I stayed silent, quietly sending a message to the watch store. The custom watch I had ordered for him—now it seemed I should just return it.

——

To my surprise, Ethan peeked at my messages. Before I could finish typing, he grabbed my phone with a displeased look on his face.

“Our three-year anniversary and you’re only giving me a cheap watch?”

I explained calmly.

“This watch is something I saved up for over two months of summer work. It’s the best I can afford to give you.”

Hearing that, Ethan’s expression softened a little.

“Fine, a watch is a watch,” he muttered under his breath, his tone revealing a trace of contempt. “Tsk, having a poor girlfriend is tough.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. In the three years we’d been together, he had never once prepared a surprise for me, always picking apart the gifts I gave him instead. In the past, I loved him and didn’t mind giving one-sidedly, but now, I wasn’t so willing anymore.

After picking up the watch from the store, Ethan reluctantly rolled up his shirt sleeve.

“This watch is okay, I guess. It would’ve been better if you’d gotten me the latest iPhone.”

“Forget it.”

He extended his wrist toward me. “You’ve already bought it, so put it on me.”

“When did I ever realize you could be so shameless?” I muttered, holding the watch without moving.

“What?”

Ethan didn’t catch what I said.

I smiled. “Where’s mine?”

“Yours? What?” He looked confused.

“My three-year anniversary gift.”

Ethan burst out laughing. “When did I ever prepare a gift for you? Julia, weren’t you the one who kept insisting on dating me?”

In other words, being with me should be enough for you. You actually want a gift? Wishful thinking.

I looked at the amused expression on Ethan’s face and for some reason, I thought of the boy who, five years ago during an earthquake, had reached out his hand to save me even though he was injured all over. His face overlapped perfectly with Ethan’s, yet I suddenly realized that he was nothing like the person I remembered.

A guy with headphones was walking by on the side of the road. I quickly grabbed his hand and smoothly clasped the watch around his wrist.

Ethan was stunned and the guy looked at me in confusion, glancing at the watch and then at me.

“A windfall from heaven?”

“Yeah, it’s yours now.”

Ethan immediately exploded, pointing his finger at me and shouting.

“Julia, are you crazy? What the hell is this supposed to mean?!”

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

You didn’t even prepare a gift for me, so why should I give you one?

I didn’t bother arguing with him, sidestepped him and walked away.