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750words
Even though I had secretly loved Ryan for years, I had always kept my distance, never taking a step closer.
To me back then, he was like a star in the sky or the moon reflected in water—something I could admire but never reach.
It was he who walked toward me, step by step.
It was he who told me he loved me and wanted to be with me forever.
That was how I slowly sank into the quagmire, losing myself in what seemed like a beautiful dream.
Little did I know, it was all just his way of proving his passionate love to someone else.
By now, Annie had completely torn off her mask, screaming hoarsely at me, "Vivian, do you have any idea how ridiculous you've been these past seven years?"
"The couple tattoo you thought was for you was actually proof of his love for me! Every time you flaunted your relationship in front of us, you were like a clown performing!"
"You were laughed at for seven whole years—how dare you come out on top now?"
"Vivian, how can you?"
Even though Annie was hurling insults at me, I felt no embarrassment whatsoever.
After a moment's thought, I said lightly, "Maybe because all of you are trash."
The line went silent, except for Annie's furious panting.
After a while, she let out a low laugh, mixed with a sob, and repeated, "Vivian, you win."
Then she hung up.
A few days later, the news reported that several well-established companies had declared bankruptcy.
I glanced at it casually—vaguely recalling these were the family businesses of Ryan's friends.
Naturally, that included the Annie family.
But I didn't dwell on it.
A few more days passed, and Ryan showed up again.
The moment he saw me, he eagerly ripped open his collar, hoping to win my favor. "Viv, look—mine is just like yours now. Please forgive me."
"From now on, you're the love of my life. We'll be together forever!"
My eyes paused on his chest.
The place where the orchid tattoo used to be was now covered with an ugly scar, just like mine.
In fact, it looked exactly like the scar on my collarbone.
But after one glance, I looked away indifferently.
Seeing my cold reaction, Ryan panicked.
"Viv, look at it, please…"
I said emotionlessly, "Ryan, don't you get it? No matter what scars you add, I don't care."
"You, as a person, mean nothing to me anymore."
Those two casual sentences made Ryan's face instantly pale.
He forced a smile and muttered, "You were right, Viv. Removing the tattoo really hurt… so much."
As if unable to bear the pain, he slumped to the ground.
I didn't look at him anymore and turned to leave.
But Ryan suddenly pulled out a notebook with faded writing from his pocket.
It had once been smeared with cream, carefully wiped clean and preserved, but I'd still thrown it in the trash in the end.
I was surprised—I had no idea how Ryan found it.
Ryan looked up, tears streaming down his face. "Viv, I found it."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you loved me so much. I was stupid—I failed you."
A breeze blew by, flipping open the first page of the notebook.
It was my first diary entry from ten years ago—the beginning of my crush on Ryan.
For ten whole years, I had poured all my love for Ryan into those pages.
Every little detail, never fading, only growing stronger.
But after ten years, that love disappeared abruptly.
Ryan knelt before me, trying to return the notebook. "Viv, I'm sorry, but you can't just leave me."
"I've read all the diaries. We loved each other so much—how can you just throw me away?"
He stumbled over his words, struggling to kneel-walk closer to me.
I took a step back and casually tossed the notebook aside.
After ten years, the notebook had become incredibly fragile.
The moment it left my hand, it crumbled into pieces, scattering in the wind.
I looked at Ryan, frozen in place, and smiled.
"It's just a worthless notebook. What does it matter if you found it?"
"Something that's become trash—if I don't want it, I don't want it."
Then, without hesitation, I turned and walked away, leaving Ryan behind.
After a moment of silence, low, choked sobs suddenly rose from behind me.
I knew he wouldn't follow me again.
And I—I would start a brand new life.
