“Don’t be too upset. Focus on preparing for SAT. With your grades, even without the competition, you can still get into a good university.”
I wasn’t consoled. I stared blankly at the ceiling; my eyes lifeless. My parents were heartbroken, wiping
away tears.
Nash was brought to my bedside by his parents to apologize. Even Mrs. Xander, who had always been gentle and wise, looked exhausted and aged by a dozen years.
“It’s my fault, Wendy.” She held my hand, tears streaming down her face. “If I hadn’t asked you to talk to him, maybe you wouldn’t have suffered this unwarranted calamity.‘
Nash, seeing my leg suspended, was also flustered and stuttered for a while.
“Wendy, I never expected it to turn out like this.
“Yvonne said she just wanted to teach you a lesson and planned to release you early the next morning so you wouldn’t miss your exam.”
I found it hard to believe his explanation, suspecting that he was merely providing in front of both sets of parents.
an excuse for Vu
Perhaps the real seventeen–year–old Nash would be flustered and stutter, but the Nash from my previous life wouldn’t.
I didn’t expose him.
I shifted my dry eyes and fixed them on Nash. So, you’ve known all along that Wendy had me locked up?”
Nash couldn’t meet my gaze and silently nodded.
I let out a chuckle. “Because on that day when I came to talk to you, Wendy got upset and asked you to get back at me, didn’t she?”
Nash hesitated for a long while but eventually nodded.
y mom couldn’t contain her anger and scolded him, pointing her finger at him. “Nash, search your
you believe nscience. I’ve always treated you like my own son and genuinely cared for you. How could anything that girl said? If she really intended to release Wendy the next morning, why was she found only when the teachers arrived for work? Wendy always regarded you as her older brother. It’s one thing for you to distance yourself from her because of some unseemly girl, but how could you help that girl
e put harm her? Do you know how long Wendy prepared for this math competition, how much effort she in? How could you, how could you…”
My mom’s voice choked with tears.
Nash remained silent for a long time and apologized hoarsely. “I’m sorry, Wendy, but I really… didn’t mean to hurt you.
I suddenly felt exhausted. I didn’t want to continue this act with Nash. I didn’t want to see him anymore -not because I didn’t feel any resentment, but because I was at a critical juncture in changing my fate. I didn’t have time to hate him. Besides, I always believed that he would regret getting involved with Yvonne in the future.
