The Boy Who Tattooed My Name on His Chest novel Chapter 68

Andre took Sherry back upstairs. By the time he came down again, dark clouds loomed directly overhead, and a chilly wind crept into my limbs. Oddly enough, I felt a bit more clear-headed, shaking off the dizziness from earlier.

Andre sat beside me, lost in thought for a long while. When he finally spoke, his tone was casual, almost as if he was trying to laugh it off. "Why haven't you left yet? Waiting for me to break up with you?"

I shifted my gaze away, finally looking at him. "I actually planned to talk to you about breaking up today."

He laughed. "Yeah, I could tell." 

His self-deprecating tone came through. "Once you had me, you lost interest. The novelty wore off. Then you said it was because I hadn't messaged you. That excuse is pretty weak."

I took a breath to organize my words before softly responding, "The reason I thought about breaking up was that I felt like I was trying hard to be good to you, but it still didn't move you at all. I figured my approach must be wrong. Maybe..." 

The floodgates opened as memories poured in.

I opened my mouth, and a couple of tears landed on my sleeve. I felt a wave of heartache for my past self, who had struggled with such deep insecurities. "Maybe I'm just not good enough..."

Andre's expression turned uncertain. "Betty..."

I wiped my eyes and breathed out slowly. "I only realized today that it wasn't my fault."

His lips were pressed into a thin line, and he said nothing. I stood up and checked the distance of my ride. "Seeing you and Sherry just now, aside from being disgusted, I felt a little relieved. I'm glad I've finally liberated myself from self-doubt." 

I seemed to have regained the ability to list all my good qualities in front of a mirror.

My ride was just pulling up nearby. A flash of lightning illuminated Andre's face from below.

I said to him, "Andre, the first time I got burned by soup, you chose to help Sherry instead of me. That was when I liked you the most, so I made excuses for you. But later on, you left me for Sherry again and again. Now, I can't even find excuses for you anymore, and I just don't like you anymore."

I was officially closing the chapter on my first love. "Andre, let's break up."

A huge clap of thunder echoed, vibrating through the air. After a gloomy day, it finally began to rain.

I didn't wait for Andre's response and jogged to the car. But he followed me.

Andre stood in the rain. In stark contrast to the people running for cover, he wore only a thin shirt that was now soaked through. He stood still, exuding an air of solitude.