9 Chapter 9
“Leonardo, be honest. Are you mad that I broke a promise, or that you’re losing your convenient backup plan?”
I also unfollowed all our mutual friends.
I looked up.
He dragged me into the hotel’s quiet wine cellar and slammed the door.
He didn’t look at me once.
From that day until I left for college, I never saw Leonardo again.
The boy who had always been there was now truly gone.
“But you clearly don’t care about me, yet you loved watching me chase you. Did it make you feel powerful?”
Gathering all my courage, I met his gaze.
Sophie forwarded me his social media post making things official with Jessica. I deleted it without looking.
He still didn’t get it.
“Kira, we’ve known each other since we were six. We’re eighteen now.
Feeling a flash of shame, I stared back defiantly.
You only say goodbye when there’s no hope left.
“What are you talking about?”
He gave me one last, cold look before disappearing into the jet bridge without a second glance.
So from now on, I wish you well, too.
“What are you saying? Listen to yourself… you…”
We were finally on our own paths.
His true colors exposed, Leonardo’s face turned beet red. He stumbled back a step.
“So you just ignored our pact and signed up for a school in LA on your own?”
I thought to myself silently.
Only on the day I left for LA did I run into Leonardo at the airport. Jessica was still with him.
“I have my own dreams. Why should my entire future revolve around you?”
“Since you’re the one throwing this away, let’s not pretend to be friends anymore.”
With that last word, he stormed out of the hotel.
There was no reason to stay connected anymore.
“We’re adults now. That night… wasn’t it consensual? Are you still hung up on that?”
Just before I went through security, I suddenly turned and saw Leonardo boarding his flight too.
“Leo, if you like someone else, just say it. I won’t hang on desperately.
He trailed off, unable to finish.
“Kira, congratulations.
“Don’t make it sound so ugly.
We went our separate ways quickly. No one looked back.
When our paths crossed, he gave a curt nod to my parents before stalking off angrily.
The color drained from Leonardo’s face.
Leonardo blocked the exit, trapping me as he interrogated me.
