I Heard His Thoughts Never His Love Chapter 03
I turned and walked away.
Behind me, his thoughts practically tore themselves apart.
Don’t go. I don’t want the stuff back. Come back.
Nora, please. Just comfort me one more time.
I didn’t turn around.
For the first time in ten years, I knew he was begging me to stay.
And I chose not to hear him.
When I got home, I placed my application in front of my parents.
“I applied to a graduate program at the University of Edinburgh. I’ll be leaving soon.”
My father frowned.
“You made a decision this big without discussing it with us?”
“What are you going to accomplish in Edinburgh anyway? You’d be better off asking Serena to find you a job.”
My mother complained too.
“Is this because of Silas? Just because the engagement fell through doesn’t mean you should make enemies of the Greys. They’ve helped our family so much.”
“Do you have to make everyone miserable before you’re satisfied?”
Serena again.
Silas again.
As if my entire life existed only to orbit them.
As a child, I had been forced to chase Serena.
As an adult, I gave up the literature I loved for Silas, applying to the same university and major he chose.
But no matter how hard I ran, everyone only saw the distance between Serena and me.
Even after my engagement collapsed, relatives simply said,
“Serena is so accomplished. It’s hardly surprising Silas didn’t want Nora.”
This time, I looked calmly at my parents.
“I want to live my own life.”
After rushing through the paperwork, I had seven days left before leaving for Edinburgh.
Then one of my college friends contacted me.
“One last get-together before graduation. You’d better come. What about Silas? Is he coming with you?”
Everyone knew Silas and I had always been inseparable.
For four years, I checked him into classes, brought him meals, organized his notes, and endured plenty of jokes behind my back about being his pathetic little lapdog.
They also knew Silas hated crowds.
Parties, club events, graduation trips—I’d begged him countless times.
His answer was always the same.
“No. Stop bothering me.”
So my friend was only asking out of habit.
“He won’t come.”
My friend didn’t press.
“Okay. Just make sure you’re there on time.”
The place was packed on the night of our graduation party.
Halfway through, the door suddenly opened.
Too many people.
It’s so loud. I want to go home.
That familiar inner voice slipped into my ears.
My hand paused around my glass.
Silas stood in the doorway, pale-faced.
Serena was beside him.
My friend hurried over in surprise.
“Silas? I can’t believe you actually came!”
Serena smiled easily.
“Silas insisted I come with him, so I had no choice but to join the fun.”
She tilted her head toward him, her voice intimate.
“You said when we were kids that you wanted to study the same thing I did. I can’t believe you actually followed through. You really didn’t have to accommodate me that much.”
My chest tightened.
So Silas had chosen his major because of her too.
And I had given up literature—the thing I loved most—so I could study the same thing as Silas and take care of him.
The three of us had spent years chasing one another.
And I had always been the one at the very back.
The unnecessary one.
Silas spotted me through the crowd.
His dull eyes instantly lit up.
She really is here. Good thing I made Serena bring me.
She hasn’t come to see me once lately. The house is unbearably quiet. I’ll apologize later, and she’ll stop being mad.
In the past, the slightest trace of discomfort on his face in a crowd would have sent me rushing to his side.
This time, I lowered my head and kept laughing with the people around me.
Later, during a game, the bottle landed directly in front of Silas.
My friend drew a challenge card and read it aloud.
“Pick someone of the opposite sex and eat the same French fry from opposite ends until there’s only one inch left!”
Everyone laughed and looked at me.
“Do we even need to ask? Nora, get over there!”
Before, I would have stepped in before anyone could tease Silas.
This time, I didn’t move.
Silas pressed his lips together and stared at me for a long time.
Then he pointed at Serena.
“Her.”
The room went quiet for a second.
Serena sat across from him, smiling.
“After all these years, you’re still the most attached to me.”
Nora, why aren’t you coming over? You used to get jealous so easily.
Just tell me you don’t want me doing this. I’ll choose someone else immediately.
The French fry was held between them.
The cheering grew louder.
I remained where I was.
Triumph flashed through Serena’s eyes.
She turned toward me with a smile.
“Sorry, Nora. Silas has only ever been comfortable getting close to me. Don’t take it the wrong way.”
I lifted my glass in a casual toast.
“It’s fine.”
Silas snapped his gaze toward me.
Every trace of color drained from his face.
I met his eyes calmly.
“After all, he and I have nothing to do with each other anymore.”