Chapter 11
I looked back.
Mia sighed and said sincerely, “You’ve grown up.”
My days returned to normal.
I got up on time, cleaned up, arrived at class on time, and after class, I headed straight to my part–time job.
I also passed the makeup exam for the subject I failed.
Of course, if I could get into this school, I couldn’t have been truly dumb.
However I lacked educational resources growing up, and because of my dad. I had to miss classes to work, which caused my grades to drop for a while.
If not for that. I wouldn’t have ended up in the lower class.
Later. I worked hard to make up for it and, after a lot of struggles, I managed to get through.
But in the top universities, it still felt like a challenge.
During that time, Calvin actually came to find me.
It was a surprise; this was the first time he had ever approached me.
He caught me on my way to my part–time job after class.
“Ashley, you blocked me.”
I wasn’t surprised.
I shot back, “Didn’t you block me too?”
He frowned slightly.
“Right, so we’re even now.
“I sent you a message asking if you still wanted your stuff, but you blocked me.”
I replied, “Didn’t you throw it away?”
He was momentarily speechless.
Finally, he stopped arguing.
“Okay, fine, this one’s my fault. I apologize. When are you coming back?”
“I’ve been back,” I said.
“But didn’t you lock me out?”
The changed lock had kept me locked out.
Calvin’s expression went blank for a moment, and then he suddenly released his grip on me.
“I can give you the key.”
In his palm lay a brand–new key.
At that moment, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
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For four years, I’d imagined countless times that one day Calvin would bow down and give in.
I waited every day, stubbornly believing I could teach him.
I couldn’t have even pictured a day when he, so fiercely protective of
his space, would willingly hand me the key to his door.
After all, Mia was the one to arrange our previous rentals.
But now, everything had changed.
“I don’t want it anymore.”
Calvin was stunned.
I looked up at him.
“I don’t want it, Calvin.
“We’ve already broken up. I have no reason to accept the key from my ex and move into his place.”
“I didn’t agree to break up!”
He was anxious.
“Breaking up doesn’t need your agreement.”
“Then your stuff”—”
“Just get rid of it.”
I turned around.
“I already have new ones.”
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Whether it was blankets, old things, or… a boyfriend.
Even if I didn’t have one right now.
“Is it because of Mike?”
Calvin’s expression changed.
With a dark face, he gripped the key tightly.
“Do you think he’s better than me? Stronger than me? But I’ve never truly lost to him in a competition!
“Tll beat him! Just wait and see!”
I paused, wanting to say something, but feeling helpless.
So I simply said, “Fine, think whatever you want.”
I knew what Calvin meant by ‘winning‘.
It was still that competition he’d been obsessively preparing for lately.
Mike was one of the contestants.
As if to prove a point, or maybe to make me regret it, he never came looking for me again. We only ran into each other once, and as we passed, he suddenly looked really smug.
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