Forget Him, Leave Him

Chapter 1

Maya's POV:

On Harvest Moon Festival night, I was packing my bags to leave Ethan Ward for good when my phone unexpectedly connected me to a cross-time video call with my younger self from 5 years earlier.

The girl on the screen had eyes that shone as brightly as the moon. Clutching a love letter to her chest, she asked excitedly, "It's been 5 years. Ethan and I must be married by now, right?"

I went cold at the hope in her eyes.

Just 5 days earlier, Ethan had left me alone at the subway station on our way to meet my parents because his "best friend" had been diagnosed with a lump. With red-rimmed eyes, he had sworn he would stay with her for 5 days and then cut her off for good.

He spent those 5 days watching the sunrise with her, playing squash, and even going to the concert I had begged him for 6 months to attend with me.

Without a word, I sent my younger self photo after photo of the two of them wrapped in each other's arms during those days.

As the girl on the screen broke down sobbing, I said hoarsely, "Tear up the letter. Whatever you do, don't fall in love with him."

The girl on the screen didn't move.

She lowered her gaze to the letter, tears falling one by one onto the blue envelope.

"But I really like him. Everything can still change, can't it?"

I stared at the love letter and remembered a winter night 5 years ago.

Back then, Ethan had hidden away on a bench behind the dorms to write it. When he finally handed it to me, he was so nervous he could barely get my name out.

Tessa Moore had stood beside him, laughing.

"Wimp. Didn't you practice this for a whole week?"

She snatched the letter from him, shoved it into my hands, and patted my shoulder.

"Just say yes. He really likes you. He's spent the past few days practicing his confession nonstop, even while he eats. He's driving me insane."

My ears burned. After all, I had secretly liked Ethan for 2 years too.

Even now, I still remembered what the letter said.

Maya Collins, wherever life takes me, I only want to go where you are.

Later, I moved to another city with him and stayed beside him through the hardest period of his life.

Again and again, I tried to accept Tessa showing up on our dates, our trips, and every important day we had together.

But in the end, the man who had once said he only wanted to be wherever I was still chose to stand beside Tessa.

My throat tightened.

"I've lived through everything you're about to live through. I know the love he felt when he wrote that letter was real. But so were all the times he left me behind over the next 5 years."

On the screen, Maya Collins clutched the letter tightly and fell silent.

Just then, the lock clicked.

Ethan came in with his arms full of bags.

He stopped short when he saw the suitcase beside my feet, but he didn't ask about it.

"I... I picked out some specialty coffee and a chess set for Mr. Collins. I found a scarf Mrs. Collins would like too."

He set the gift boxes on the table. He sounded exhausted.

"Mr. and Mrs. Collins haven't left yet, right? Can we go see them tomorrow?"

My heart clenched.

I had already decided to leave him, yet I still hated myself for the flicker of hope those words stirred in me.

Then Tessa poked her head through the doorway, the concert wristband still on her wrist.

"Ethan, you left your car keys in my bag."

When she saw me, she walked in and bumped Ethan with her shoulder.

"Don't mind me, future Mrs. Ward. I've nearly worn him out these past 5 days. He did everything with me just to keep me from spiraling."

Ethan took the keys from her.

"The doctor said her condition could be affected by her mood, so I took her out for a few days to help her relax..."

"Camping, rock climbing, and a concert? I've asked you to do those things with me more times than I can count. Did you think about me at all?"

I stepped forward.

"Those are things couples are supposed to do together. Why can she do them with you, but I can't?"

Ethan frowned.

"It's not what you think..."

Before he could finish, Tessa gave a soft laugh.

"Because I'm not high-maintenance. You two are hilarious. Is this really worth fighting over?"

She pulled out a chair and sat down, and the respect she had shown me moments ago vanished.

"Ethan and I have known each other for more than 10 years. We've shared clothes and slept in the same bed. Everything you've done with him, I've done too. And there are things I've done with him that you haven't..."

"Tessa, stop."

Ethan's expression changed as he cut her off.

She blinked.

"What? We've even kissed when we were drunk..."

"Shut up!"

Ethan's voice dropped sharply. When he looked at me, his frown eased slightly.

"Maya, all of that happened before I met you."

I lowered my head. My chest felt so tight that I couldn't force out a single word.

Seeing that Ethan was genuinely angry, Tessa seemed to realize she had gone too far. She forced a smile and moved closer.

"Maya... I... I'm used to being blunt. Don't take it personally. I put Ethan's love letter in your hands back then, remember? If there had ever been anything between us, would I have pushed the two of you together?"

The room fell silent for several seconds.

Tessa's smile started to strain.

Ethan picked up the car keys from the table, fatigue in his voice.

"Tessa, I'll walk you downstairs."

They left one after the other.

Before the door closed, Ethan looked back at me.

"When I come back, we'll talk this through."

On the screen, Maya covered her mouth as tears fell onto the blue envelope.

"Why does he still have to walk her downstairs?"

I stared at the closed door for a long time before answering.

"Because our feelings always come after Tessa's."

Ethan never came back that night.

At dawn, I shut my suitcase.

On the screen, the girl finally made the first tear in the letter.