West Coast, East Ivy, and the Boy Who Never Chose Me Chapter 09

West Coast, East Ivy, and the Boy Who Never Chose Me Chapter 09

One year later, my parents drove to pick me up for summer break back home. We chatted casually during the ride.

Our family’s restaurant had become extremely popular after news spread about me being the city’s top SAT scorer, and customers lined up every day.

We opened a second branch in the east side of town just to keep up with demand. My mom joked that I had brought great fortune to our family.

Everyone in our neighborhood now knew me as the talented top student. Kael’s former fame had long been forgotten by the people around us.

“Elowen, you are not gonna believe this—Kael keeps showing up around our front door while you’re away at college,” my mom said.

“He’ll stop and chat with me sometimes, ask how you’re doing. And late at night? I’ve seen him wandering around our house, totally drunk, holding a bottle and just mumbling to himself.”

I scrolled through short videos on my phone and replied casually.

“Don’t pay him any mind.”

I finished the home-cooked dinner my mom made and headed out for a walk to stretch my legs. I rounded a corner and ran straight into Kael.

He looked much skinnier than before, and his spirit seemed broken. He stared at me in shock for a second before regaining his senses.

“Elowen… you’re home?”

I pretended not to notice him and kept walking. Kael hurried to catch up with me.

“How have you been at college this past year? I’ve tried so hard to reach you, but I could never get through. About everything that happened before…”

I stopped in my tracks and stared at him with obvious annoyance.

“Will you ever leave me alone? Stop bothering me.”

Kael froze where he stood, lost for words.

A few days later, I ran into Liora at a neighborhood florist shop. Her hands froze mid-way through wrapping a bouquet the second she saw me.

“Elowen…”

I kept my expression distant, scanned the code to pay for my flowers, and said not a single extra word. I picked up my bouquet and walked toward the street to hail a ride.

Liora ran out of the shop and grabbed hold of my arm, her eyes red and tearful.

“Elowen, I’m so sorry. I never meant to steal your boyfriend back then. I truly thought our friendship would last forever.”

Irritation welled up inside me. I gently pulled my arm free from her grip.

“Don’t say anything more. I have places to be.”

I climbed into the waiting car. Through the window, I saw Liora stand on the sidewalk, covering her face and crying bitterly.

I kept up with news about Kael and Liora during my first year at East Ivy Academy. Friends sent me updates regularly, laughing as they told me about their miserable lives.

After her suicide attempt, Liora developed clinical depression. The scandal spread throughout the whole town. Her father was a proud man and threatened to disown her and divorce her wife out of shame.

Liora’s mother cried every day and stormed over to the Rainer family’s house to argue. She accused Kael of seducing her daughter and destroying their family.

Kael’s mother flew into a rage as well, yelling that Liora had tempted her son and calling her a deceitful troublemaker.

The two families fought loudly in the street and were only separated after the police arrived to calm things down.

Kael cared deeply about his reputation, and the huge scandal crushed him. People who had always disliked him took the chance to attack him online, and a large group of internet users harassed him nonstop.

He locked himself inside his house and drank alcohol constantly, falling into a deep depression.

Kael and Liora cut off all contact with each other after being expelled from university. Kael signed up for another gap year to retake the SAT, hoping to turn his life around, but his test scores got worse and worse each time.

His latest score was only enough to get him into a community college. Students around him ostracized him openly.

Liora’s depression kept her from going back to school, and she could not find any decent job in the working world. She ended up working part-time at the local florist shop to get by.

The two people who were once the envy of everyone now lived miserable, ordinary lives.

Kael began contacting me constantly after our last meeting. He changed his phone number over and over again every time I blocked him. He sent long, pleading messages to every social media account I owned.

It was ridiculous. He never cherished me when I was by his side, yet he begged for a second chance now that he’d lost me completely.

One day, I was getting ready to head out the door when Kael blocked my path. Strong alcohol fumes lingered on his clothes.

“Elowen… I’m sorry. Can you please forgive me?” His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice shook with emotion.

I stepped backward and held back my rising anger.

“Move.”

“I won’t. Don’t walk away from me. Please forgive me.” He grew agitated and grabbed my hands, begging desperately.

“I know I messed up—big time. I cheated on you, and with your best friend. It was a stupid mistake, and I regret it every single day. Can we just… start over?”

A tall man pushed Kael forcefully out of the way and pulled me safely into his arms to shield me.

“Are you alright, babe?”

I shook my head to tell him I was fine.

“Who are you?” Kael glared fiercely at the man, his eyes locked on the arm wrapped around me.

I spoke calmly and clearly. “This is my boyfriend, Silas Mercer. He’s a graduate student at East Ivy Academy.”

Kael’s shoulders slumped in defeat, like a rooster that had lost its fight. He said nothing more and walked away silently.

I fixed my makeup, linked arms with Silas, and walked forward under the bright sunlight. Every road stretched out freely beneath my feet, and I held full control over every choice in my life.

Kael would never be able to trap me again.