17 Years of Empty Draws: The Neglected Triplet Never Forgives Chapter 07

17 Years of Empty Draws: The Neglected Triplet Never Forgives Chapter 07

On Saturday noon, my roommate and I finished lunch outside.

As we neared the school gate, I caught sight of an incredibly familiar figure from behind.

It was Soren.

I turned my head instinctively, planning to take another path.

But he hurried forward and blocked my way.

Soren’s gaze was tangled with confusion and amazement.

“Celestine, you’ve changed so much.”

It was true. After moving to Seattle, I dyed my black hair, which I’d kept for 18 years, into a bright shade of pink.

Within the free, diverse community at Royal Evergreen Academy, I grew more confident and vibrant.

“What do you want?”

My tone was cold and distant.

His lips trembled slightly.

I had never spoken to him like that before.

“Celestine, why did you come so far to study alone? I was really worried about you.”

“Well you see it now. I’m doing fine. Please leave.”

“I’m sorry. I misunderstood you. I truly had no idea what was going on.”

Guilt filled his voice.

He quickly pulled a star bracelet out of his bag.

He held it out toward me, faint hope shining in his eyes.

“Celestine, this is for you. May you keep shining at Royal Evergreen Academy.”

I did not reach for it. Instead, I stepped back.

“No thanks. I don’t need it anymore.”

Those words, “I don’t need it”, struck Soren hard right in the heart.

His face paled instantly.

He paused for a moment, as if gathering all his courage to ask this question.

“Celestine, do you hate me?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t hate you, but that’s all there is.”

It was neither hatred nor resentment, just nothing.

It meant I no longer cared about him at all, with no expectations left.

We were done. We could never go back to how things used to be.

With that, I turned and walked into the school.

Soren stood frozen, clutching the star bracelet tightly in his hand.

If I had looked back, I would have seen guilt and loss swirling in his eyes.

But I did not turn around.

Later I heard that Soren moved away not long after returning home.

No one knew where he went.

After that, I never heard news of him again.

…

Stellan and I grew closer little by little.

When I buried myself in research projects and forgot to eat, he would quietly bring me a serving of beef stew.

When I got outstanding grades and brimmed with joy, he would pick up his camera and capture those one-of-a-kind moments for me.

When I ran into academic troubles, he would take me to the seaside.

The evening breeze blew, and he slipped one earbud into my ear.

We stood side by side gazing at Seattle’s night sky, and all my worries slowly faded away.

Ever since Aurelia moved out of the house, the atmosphere at home grew heavier and heavier.

My parents would stare blankly at my empty room, and check Seattle’s weather forecast on time every day.

Walking on the street, they would glance twice at anyone with a figure similar to mine.

On this day, as Stellan and I headed back to campus, we ran into several familiar people right at the school gate.