Chapter 1I Move On Instantly

New Year’s Day, I visited my childhood friend’s home.

Archer extended a hand from the bathroom, his voice languid, “Asteria, could you grab my pajamas?”

His mom, spatula in hand, burst out of the kitchen. “How old are you? Asteria’s a girl, you know, you should avoid impropriety.”

Archer emerged, wrapped in a towel, utterly unfazed. “What’s the big deal?”

He wasn’t wrong. This was our third year of a secret relationship. We’d long since done things far more intimate.

His mom shot him a glare. “It didn’t matter before, you two grew up together, naturally closer than others. But not anymore. Asteria has a boyfriend now.”

Archer froze, his face suddenly turning cold. “Boyfriend? She can’t possibly have a boyfriend.”

* * *

Auntie Gwen was about to retort when a sizzling sound erupted from the kitchen, a smell of burning spreading through the air. She dropped her lecture for Archer and stormed back into the kitchen, spatula aloft. “Oh no, my fish!”

The air fell silent again, leaving just Archer and me in the hallway. Steam wafted from the half-open bathroom door. His towel was loosely draped around his waist, his ‘V-line’ disappearing into shadow. He stood there, watching me intently, relentless.

I wasn’t in the mood for a standoff. Turning, I walked to his room and pulled out his usual dark gray silk pajamas from the closet. Returning to the bathroom door, I handed them over, my gaze fixed on the wall beside him. “Your pajamas.”

Archer didn’t take them. After a few seconds, I asked, puzzled, “Do you want them or not?”

The next second, my wrist was abruptly seized.

Bang!

The bathroom door slammed shut behind me. The small space filled with humid heat. Archer pinned me against the door. My spine prickled with cold, but his bare, scorching body pressed against mine.

“Archer! What are you doing!” I closed my eyes, warning him in a low voice.

He chuckled softly, coaxing me, “What else could I be doing?”

Archer’s other hand pressed against my waist, his thumb deliberately stroking the thin fabric of my dress. He leaned in, as if to kiss me.

I snapped my eyes open, pushing him with all my strength. “Don’t touch me.”

Archer frowned, as if accustomed to my level of resistance, even showing a hint of helpless indulgence. “Still mad?” he murmured. “I was out of line that day, said things I shouldn’t have. But Asteria, is this really why you’re pushing me away? How long are you going to keep this up?”

I turned my head, avoiding his touch, my eyes fixed on the gaps in the floor tiles. “We broke up, Archer.”

Archer scoffed, as if he’d heard a joke. “Broke up? How many times have you said that? When have you ever meant it?”

“This time, I’m serious.” I looked up at him.

That day, we’d had yet another argument, this time about Willow. I angrily shook off his hand and blurted out, “We’re over. Don’t follow me!”

But I hadn’t walked far before I, spineless as ever, looked back. Archer was handsome, smart, always the golden boy. Countless girls secretly adored him, and I was one of them. Being close to someone doesn’t always mean you’re the chosen one. From my place as a friend, I watched girls come and go from his life. I grew increasingly insecure, even self-deprecating. The one who loves more is always more desperate, and finds it harder to let go.

So, when I finally got what I wanted, even when he insisted we keep it a secret, even when he indulged his junior classmate’s flirtations, I could never bring myself to truly break up with him.

Archer just stood there, head down, starting a game on his phone. Hearing my movement, he looked up, a casual smile on his face. “Didn’t you tell me not to follow you?”

I froze, a sudden emptiness in my heart. It was replaced by an unprecedented calm. I was used to chasing after him, but in that moment, I suddenly felt so tired. So that day, I wiped away my tears with determination and said, “Archer, let’s really break up.”

And Archer, as usual, gave me the silent treatment, waiting for me to come back and apologize. Except this time, he went to the north for eight months with that junior classmate, and I didn’t contact him once.

He seemed to recall the scene too, the lingering trace of a smile in his eyes instantly vanishing. He straightened up, irritably raking his damp black hair back from his forehead, revealing a smooth brow and sharp cheekbones.

“Asteria Hayes.” He used my full name, his voice deepening. “I didn’t agree. That was just something said in anger.”

“Eight months.” My lips twisted, my voice clear and slow. “Eight whole months. You didn’t call me once, didn’t send a single message. Archer, do those eight months count as ‘just something said in anger’?”

He froze, his lips moving as if to speak, but he instinctively reached out to me again. I took a step back, completely widening the distance between us. His hand hung in mid-air, fingers curling, before slowly dropping back to his side, clenching into a fist.

“Asteria, the professor gave us short notice for a field study. I didn’t realize the place was so remote, and would take so long…”

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock on the door sounded just then. My parents must have arrived. I quickly interrupted his unfinished sentence. “You don’t need to explain to me.” I took a deep breath; the humid air of the bathroom, carrying his scent, filled my lungs, feeling a little stifling. “I don’t want to hear it anymore. From now on, in front of our families, we’ll act like ordinary friends. It’s better for everyone.”

“Ordinary friends?” Archer chewed on the words, as if he’d heard something utterly absurd. A suffocating silence followed. Then, he suddenly pulled back his lips and laughed.

“Fine,” he nodded, stepping aside to let me out. “Asteria. You’re the boss. Whatever you say.”