The Day I Stopped Needing Them

Chapter 2

Phoebe immediately leaped to Bianca's defense.

"Bianca, don't cry. She's obviously lying on purpose! No good deed goes unpunished."

Bianca threw herself into Phoebe's arms and sobbed as if she were trying to hold back her pain.

Landon cast her an anguished glance before dragging me aside.

"Marina, that's enough. We only wanted you to grow up and stop acting like a helpless baby who depends on us for everything.

"Bianca went to a lot of trouble to come up with that plan for you. Don't be so ungrateful.

"Come eat with us. Find a chance to give her a sincere apology. Your attitude just now was unacceptable."

I had lost count of how many times my so-called boyfriend had taken Bianca's side.

"Landon, are you my boyfriend or Bianca's?"

He frowned, his eyes churning with impatience.

"Of course I'm your boyfriend.

"Marina, I'm warning you again: there's a limit to how far you can take your little tantrums. Don't take your anger out on Bianca."

Trevor couldn't stand it anymore either.

He stormed over and pulled Landon away.

"Marina, will you ever stop? First you glared at Bianca, and now you're fighting with Landon. Why do you have to act like such a spoiled princess?

"In my view, you don't measure up to Bianca at all. If I were Landon, I'd rather date her than a jealous lunatic like you!"

Bianca hurriedly covered his mouth.

"Trevor, don't say that. You'll hurt Marina.

"Landon and I are only friends. I could never compare to Marina."

She played the fragile, innocent flower perfectly.

I had no interest in arguing anymore.

"I'm not staying for fondue. I've never been able to handle spicy food. It gives me a rash.

"In the 3 months since Bianca arrived, you've had fondue or barbecue more than 10 times. Did any of you ever think of me?

"It doesn't matter. You won't have to think about me anymore.

"Landon, we're done. Now you can be the perfect boyfriend Bianca deserves."

With that, I turned and headed toward the campus gates.

Phoebe and the others cursed behind me.

"When did Marina become so unreasonable? Landon, Trevor, none of us is allowed to go after her!"

Trevor stamped his foot in fury. "Let her go to hell. She'll come crawling back to apologize in less than 2 days anyway.

"Bianca, don't be upset. We'll always take your side, no matter what."

Bianca looked worried on the outside, but inside, she was delighted.

Landon sighed.

"I never thought Marina would become like this. Why does she always have to pick on Bianca?

"She says she wants to break up, so I'll give her a few days alone. Hopefully, she'll reflect on what she did wrong."

They were in for a disappointment.

Back at the dorm, I asked my advisor exactly which documents I needed for the exchange program.

Then I started preparing my passport, visa, and the rest of the paperwork.

Notifications from the group chat kept chiming.

Landon and the others were posting photos of dinner and karaoke.

There was no reason for me to stay in that group, so I left it.

Landon called me almost immediately.

We had once understood and treasured each other over the past 4 or 5 years.

Clinging to one last shred of hope, I answered.

"Marina, did you leave the group now just to intimidate Bianca?"

My heart clenched.

"I just didn't see any reason to stay."

He continued, "Bianca is sensitive. The moment you left, she started wondering whether you were angry with her again.

"Now she can't stop crying, and it's entirely your fault. We're all comforting her. Rejoin the group right now."

His commanding tone left no room for refusal.

I lowered my head and laughed bitterly at myself.

"Landon, don't you think the four of you get along perfectly well without me?

"Since you all treat her like she's precious, I'll step aside and give her my place.

"And we're broken up. You have no right to order me around."

I hung up before he could respond.

Then I blocked and deleted him, Trevor, and Phoebe everywhere.

At last, my world fell silent.

I packed every photo, gift, and notebook connected to them into cardboard boxes.

The next day, I threw it all away.

I never expected Bianca to come apologize to me.

She carried two milkshakes and a cake.

"Marina, please don't leave the group.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to take Landon and the others home to visit my mom, so I didn't let them go back to Mount Wilder to look for you.

"I don't have many friends. They only helped me because they're good people. If you fall out with them because of me, I'll never forgive myself."