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"Ever since he nearly drowned,he's had that trauma..."
Someone in the crowd mentioned it,and everyone suddenly recalled.
Ethan looked alarmed."Mason,I didn't realize...you would go that far for me,man..."
Before he could finish,I pushed him away.
He gaped,at a loss,watching me.
I walked straight to Mason.
My eyes were wet."You have a fear of deep water,and you still saved me?Why'd you even invite me here,you idiot?"
He looked up slowly.
His face was pale,his lips colorless.
His voice was faint."Because you said you love swimming."
I had said that when Ethan introduced me to his friends,right after we got together.
He remembered.
His eyes were filled with fear,like he was reliving something painful over again,his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Furious,I cupped his face and kissed him.
I felt his tense body relax,and then he took the lead,deepening the kiss.
I knew he was faking it now.
I pulled back,breathless.He let me go,his eyes bright."Sophie."
I blushed,turned,and walked off.He followed,trying to take my hand in his.
"So,you're accepting me now?"
His voice was giddy.
I shot him a look but didn't answer.
Every step I took,he followed,his steps light.
Ethan's face darkened,and he chased after me.
He tried to grab my hand,but I shook his hand away.
"Sophie,where've you been?I missed you."
"And...your eyes are better.Why didn't you tell me?"
He looked pained,helpless.
I realized I'd forgotten something before blocking him.
I said coldly,"Sorry,I forgot to tell you.We're done."
He panicked,disbelieving."Sophie,you love me so much.We were fine just a bit ago.How can you just ditch me like that?Are you mad?"
I looked at him,serious.
"Ethan,I tolerated you,I accepted what you did again and again,but that doesn't mean I have no limits.I put up with you because I loved you.I thought loving someone meant accepting everything about them.But I've learned that love isn't about endless tolerance and it isn't blind obsession,it isn't restraint or giving in.Love is letting go.You don't love me,do you?I should've known,should've let go sooner."
"Now I'm stepping back.You're free,and I'm at peace."
He shook his head wildly,his face pale.
"No,no,Sophie,I love you too..."
I looked him in his eyes. He flinched as if my gaze would pierce through him
"Your ‘love'is kissing someone else in front of me,abandoning me to save someone else?That's a pretty cheap kind of love."
He faltered,murmuring,"So,you saw everything."
Even if my eyes were blind,my heart wasn't.
"Love isn't guilt.Love is equal,genuine,love is when you love someone with all your heart.Ethan,I don't love you anymore.You don't have to worry about me not letting you go.Let's end this with some dignity,not make it ugly."
His body swayed,still trying to speak,but I walked away without looking back.
After a few steps,I glanced at Mason,still standing there,and raised an eyebrow."You coming or what?"
Mason snapped out of it."Right!"
Ethan sank to the ground,watching my back,tears of regret streamed down his cheeks.
He'd always loved Sophie,but her endless tolerance made him lose himself.He shouldn't have tested her,shouldn't have crossed that line.
Love doesn't allow trial and error.One wrong step,and it's all gone.
