I took a month's leave from work and went to the countryside. During this time, I had a few phone calls with Lucas.
Lucas wanted to come see me, but I turned him down, telling him I'd see him when I returned to N City.
On the phone, he wasn't upset at all. Instead, he reminded me to eat on time and stay healthy. Lucas was always so gentle, and his kindness was exactly what I needed. Isabelle also called several times, asking when I would come back.
"I'm not sure," I replied.
"You can't keep running away like this," Isabelle said. "You have to face things eventually." I understood Isabelle's point, but I didn't want to see Felix right now.
"If I can avoid him for one more day, I will," I said. "When Felix gives up on finding me, I'll go back." It wasn't that Isabelle didn't believe me; I didn't believe it either. Felix found pleasure in tormenting me. How could he just give up?
"What if he never gives up?"
"Are you going to stay away forever?"
Isabelle's voice was filled with concern. "Avoiding it doesn't solve anything. The sooner you face it, the better." I sighed. "We'll see."
A few more days passed, and I ended up taking another two weeks off from work. Time passed quickly.
Yesterday, I had been chatting with the old lady at the corner of the street, learning how to make pasta. Today, I got a call from the company, urging me to return to work tomorrow.
After a peaceful month and a half, I had to face everything. But I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. As soon as I stepped out of the station, I heard a voice call my name: "Libby."
It was a voice engraved in my memory. Even before I turned around, I knew who it was. Felix was walking toward me, his coat flaring as he moved. I hadn't expected the first person I would see upon returning to N City would be him. A voice in my head screamed, "What are you doing, run!" Without even grabbing my suitcase, I turned and ran. I wasn't fast enough—he caught up with me. He threw me over his shoulder, smacking my backside.
"Let's see how I punish you," he said.
I hammered my fists into his back. "Felix, put me down, put me down!"
"If you keep acting up, I'll kiss you right here," Felix threatened.
"Here?"
The train station was packed, full of familiar and unfamiliar faces. There was no way I could let him kiss me here. I stopped struggling, acting as docile as a kitten. Felix chuckled lightly. "Good girl."
The last time he called me "good girl" was when we first started dating. He loved kissing me, and there was never a moment he didn't want to. That day, with my parents in the living room, we snuck into the bathroom. The sounds of their argument filtered through the door, but I didn't care because Felix had pinned me against the wall.
He lowered his head to kiss me, and I tilted my head back in response.
He smiled, asking me to open my mouth, and I obediently did so.
But soon after, the "good girl" and I became strangers.
Once we were in the car, Felix pinned me back into the seat, his voice cold: "Did you enjoy your little trip to the countryside?"
I stared at him, terrified. "You knew I went to the countryside?"
"I not only knew, but I also know you sit in the courtyard every night, staring at the stars." Felix's long fingers traced my cheek.
I stared at him blankly. "My new neighbor... is you?" "Yes," he replied, his smile curling as he leaned in to kiss me.
"Otherwise, how could I let you leave for so long?"
