He Set Rules for Me but Broke Them All for Her Chapter 02

He Set Rules for Me but Broke Them All for Her Chapter 02

The night blurred past my eyes.

As those two figures shrank into the distance, I finally let my shoulders drop. And then my vision went hazy.

The driver up front had looked exhausted, but he glanced in the rearview mirror and quickly stubbed out his cigarette.

“Don’t cry, young lady. Nothing’s that bad.”

I nodded.

I slipped the plain gold band off my finger and dropped it into my bag.

Growing up, they’d always been the heroes of my youth.

I had a condition where tears came too easily, and I’d been chubby from medication, which made me a target for isolation.

When I’d soaked my collar with tears, Cora would say, “Marnie’s great. She’s never done anything wrong.”

In high school, I was too insecure to stand next to them until Remy grabbed my wrist and said, “Anyone who dares laugh at you, I’ll beat them down one by one.”

That freesia scent on him was the smell of safety.

After graduation, they went to the same college, but they never forgot to keep in touch with me. When I graduated and stopped the medication to lose weight, they came up with several plans for me.

Then one day, Remy smiled with those crinkled eyes.

“Marnie, let’s be together.”

Being confessed to by your secret crush felt like winning the lottery.

I was so swept up in his sudden confession that I didn’t notice Cora’s discomfort at the time.

I thought my hard times were finally over—that I’d never have to be the one running after their shadows again.

But I’d never been particularly gifted.

In high school, no matter how hard I tried, my name never made the honor roll.

In college, they were the perfect pair, winning countless awards side by side, while I could only sit in the audience.

After graduation, they launched a company together as partners, while I settled for an ordinary job.

I wiped my tears. I picked up my phone and sent Remy a message: [We’re done.]

What filled the screen was a “message failed to send” alert.

He always did this.

Whenever he got upset, he’d block me, waiting until he saw me panicking and pleading before he’d slowly unblock me.

I stumbled home in a daze.

I stared at Cora’s post on my phone, the timestamp reading exactly 5:20.

[Someone’s photography skills are improving~ Keep it up!]

The sea wind tossed her long hair, her overcoat wrapped around her slender frame.

In the bottom right corner was a blurry silhouette.

Remy commented: [Yes, ma’am.]

I slowly tapped the LIKE.

So he did know how to interact in the comment section.

I suddenly remembered that time I’d asked him playfully if he’d post a photo of me on his social media.

He’d turned his head away. “I don’t post much.” Yet he was perfectly happy to appear on Cora’s. Almost all her photos were taken by Remy—snowboarding in the mountains, surfing at the beach, and watching cherry blossoms blooming and perishing in Japan.

Through every passing season, he always responded in the comments without fail.

An emoji, a reply playing along with her caption, or even a cute emoticon that didn’t suit him at all. Anyone would have thought they were the couple.

I tried to join them, too, but every time Cora’s tone turned reluctant. “But Marnie, can you really make time?”

Right. Flowers bloom only for a transient moment before wilting. They were people of action and why would they ever wait around for me?

My nose was stuffy. I downed cold medicine with some warm water and fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, the apartment was still empty. Remy hadn’t come back all night.

The alarm went off once, but I’d still missed work.

Touching my forehead, I realized my temperature was dangerously high.

After calling in sick, I went to the kitchen and made myself some oatmeal.

I blew softly on the oatmeal in my spoon.

Just as I was about to take a bite, laughter and footsteps echoed from the hallway.

“What if Marnie’s crying? She’s such a crybaby. If you won’t comfort her, don’t leave her clinging to me. That’s not fair.”

Remy’s voice was flat. “If you cry, I’ll comfort you. If she cries, it just annoys me.”

Cora burst out laughing. “But honestly, the way she cries is hilarious. Like her face is falling apart!”

The doorknob turned slowly. The door swung open, and Remy’s smile froze on his face.