At that time, it was just before our internships, so I quickly moved out so he couldn't find me.
In the early days after the breakup, I often found myself calling his name out of habit, shedding tears in the quiet of the night, and feeling even more miserable when I was sick.
Later, when the lease expired, I moved into a better apartment, signed a one-year lease, and then... ended up sharing it with Rhys the very next day.
Glaring at his back as he washed dishes in the kitchen, I angrily turned down the air conditioner and stormed into the bathroom.
Silently, I vowed to work hard, earn enough to buy this apartment, and then... kick Rhys out.
While showering, I suddenly felt a warm flow in my lower abdomen. Looking down, sure enough, my period had arrived.
After sitting on the toilet for a while, I cleared my throat and called out, "Rhys."
I didn't hear him respond for quite some time, so I called out again, but still, no answer.
Just as I was contemplating whether to make do with some tissue, his lazy voice came from outside the door: "I told you, I'm not agreeing to that, give it up!"
I was really annoyed.
But I needed his help, so I spoke nicely: "Could you please... get me a pad? It's in the third drawer under my bedroom cabinet, thanks!"
There was a moment of silence outside, then the door cracked open slightly, and an arm reached in, holding a pink pad between two slender fingers.
I blinked, reached out to take it, and my fingertips brushed against his, making my cheeks suddenly warm.
The door closed again, and his voice, sounding slightly awkward, came through: "Don't think about that kind of stuff during your period."
I paused while getting dressed, utterly puzzled. What was he talking about?
Lying in bed, I took out my diary from the bedside drawer, where I had been recording every day since Rhys and I broke up.
Today marks the sixty-first day since Rhys and I broke up, and he still manages to make me angry. I've decided to model the villain in my comics after him.
In the middle of the night, I couldn't sleep because of a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I wanted to find some medicine, but when I opened the drawer, I realized that there was none left.
My body was already drenched in sweat, and I didn't dare to lower the air conditioning any further, so I had to endure the pain.
Half-awake, clutching my aching stomach, I thought I saw Rhys come in. He knelt by my bed, gently massaging my lower abdomen with one hand.
Over the years, my irregular work schedule and stress from drawing have worsened my menstrual cramps. Sometimes, when I forget to buy medicine, I'm in so much pain that I can't get out of bed all day, silently enduring it.
And there's never been anyone to take care of me.
I looked at Rhys's face, unsure if I was dreaming, but still feeling so wronged that tears mixed with sweat streamed down my cheeks.
He touched my face and softly said, "I'm sorry."
If he hadn't spoken, I might have held it together, but once he did, I broke down completely, grabbing his shirt and crying out, "Rhys, it hurts so much."
Later, he carried me to the car and drove me to the hospital.
