Chapter 2My Childhood Sweetheart Killed My Cat for His "Girl Best Friend"

Liam and I had spent our lives together since we were very small.

From elementary school through high school, we even walked the same route to and from school.

After high school graduation, under the campus bleachers, Liam confessed his feelings to me.

Everything felt natural, like water flowing into a canal.

But when college acceptance letters came, due to a twist of fate, we were admitted to different schools.

I stayed In-State, and he went a thousand miles away to the East Coast.

At first, I didn't think long-distance mattered.

We had over a decade of emotional foundation and shared memories. Even if we weren't together day and night, we had endless things to talk about.

When classes weren't busy, Liam would fly back to see me, stay for three or five days, and then go back.

The slight strangeness generated by the distance would vanish the instant we met.

I brought Liam back home and opened the door. Mochi ran over, but stopped a few feet away, curled into a ball, looking at us somewhat bewilderedly.

Liam dropped his suitcase and squatted down. "What, don't recognize me after three months?"

I picked up a treat stick from the table and handed it to him. Mochi slowly nudged over to eat it, then rubbed affectionately around his ankles.

After lunch, Liam and I helped my mom wash the dishes, then went into my room one after the other.

As soon as I closed the door, he grabbed my wrist and pinned me against the door panel.

"Lock it, May."

The next second, a searing kiss landed on my lips.

I closed my eyes to fully immerse myself, but a knock came from outside: "Maya, Liam, come out and have some fruit."

I nearly jumped out of my skin, but the amusement in Liam’s eyes just grew stronger.

He called out, "Okay, Mom, we'll be right out."

Then he opened his suitcase to rummage for the gifts he brought me.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I sharply spotted a strange pink bag in the corner of his suitcase.

Just as I picked it up, Liam snatched it back. "Don't touch that, that's Emily's camera."

I was stunned. "Why is her camera in your suitcase?"

"Oh, her bag is small, couldn't fit everything, so she stuffed it in mine. I'll take it to her tomorrow."

Liam answered nonchalantly, then showed me the gifts he prepared.

It was an incredibly soft cashmere scarf, and the newest model iPad.

"Didn't you say you needed it for grad school prep? Use it for your online courses."

Holding the tablet, I couldn't tell if I felt happy or confused.

Liam's house was in the complex across the street. His parents were still away and hadn't returned, so he ate dinner at my place before going back.

When he left, it was snowing outside.

Liam wouldn't let me walk him out. "It's snowing, too cold. Go back inside."

I stood at the apartment entrance, grabbing the corner of his jacket, whispering, "No one's at your place anyway, why not just stay here tonight?"

After a moment of silence, Liam shook his head. "It's fine. Been a while since I've been back, I need to clean the place up anyway."

I went back inside and chatted idly with my parents.

In the gaps of conversation, I picked up my phone and casually opened Instagram, then suddenly froze.

Ten minutes ago, Liam posted a new Story. It was a silhouette of him standing under a streetlamp against the snow. The caption read: "Been a while since I've seen snow."

My high school best friend, Sarah, commented underneath: "You're home! Did Maya take this for you?"

Liam replied to her: "No."