Chapter 22 Breakup With Her Ex
Half a month later, she quietly returned to school, ultimately missing the interview for graduate school.
At that moment, Alice suddenly felt like school was just like a huge talent show - the student union had probably been inspired by America's Got Talent to start an award for the best class.
Mike's fans could be seen everywhere. Alice smiled as she watched freshmen and sophomores voting at the entrance hall. It was so lively. Someone saw her and gave her an ambiguous smile, and she quickly walked away.
That night coincided with the awards ceremony, and he was chosen despite being the youngest. The auditorium was packed, and even the aisles were full. Alice stood in the crowd, silently watching.
He stood on the stage of the school auditorium, calm and gentle as ever, saying, "I've been working on this from being a student at Oxford University all the way up to being a professor now. I can only try to repay my mentors, students, and alma mater.
I will never leave this land." Yes, his voice was still calm, but no one would doubt his love for the school and academics. From behind the dense crowd, Alice could see countless junior and senior students standing up and applauding with youthful energy. The auditorium was filled with warmth and everyone's faces were bathed in a golden glow.
Alice vaguely remembered her sneaking out quietly after that, but it was already freezing outside. As soon as she took a breath, a long white trail of vapor appeared.
He had been unable to contact her all this time, not even knowing that she had returned silently. That night, she waited for him at his apartment. She looked pale and thin, leaving only tiredness behind. Mike held her hands up the stairs, but she insisted on going for a walk in the snow.
All she could remember afterward was cold and darkness. Mike asked her about her family situation, but she didn't know how to answer, so she simply smiled silently. Maybe it was better to freeze off the bad feelings.
Mike suddenly stopped talking and hugged her tightly. His hands gently supported her head and pushed her against his chest. Alice's tears rolled down her cheeks unknowingly.
When Alice came back to herself, they found the campus gate was closed. Mike suggested she sleep at his place. For the first time in four years - she hurried followed him, afraid to run into anyone she knew. He lived a simple life with only three bookshelves worth of books. There was just a bed for them to sleep in. Alice said, "I'll sleep on the sofa."
Mike smiled and pinched her face fondly, "I'll take the sofa." Alice crawled into bed through the gaps between the bookshelves and looked at his back, feeling safe and assured by the light from the lampshade covering his face. They talked, sobbed, smiled, kissed, and had sex and fell asleep.
He would go abroad as a visiting scholar for a year and a half. She knew about it beforehand, as the process had already been completed and all the necessary documents were ready.
The opportunity was rare, as it was made by his dedicated mentor, Mr Anderson, who fought hard to secure it for him while he was sick in bed. The old professor told him that his eyesight would deteriorate if he kept on as before. And Mike was his only hope.
However, no matter how great his mentor's knowledge and dedication were, time proved to be against them. The phrase "time flies" became a harsh reality for both of them as they struggled to make further progress.
It may have been time to end the relationship between Alice and John, but the reasons were flimsy and could be easily dismissed by anyone. Was it due to their lack of deep love, which led to their easy separation? Little did she know that he always put her in his heart.
Comparing him with other men she met after he left, he was always the best. After a long time, Alice decided to take control of her life and pursue her own happiness. She traveled extensively during her gap year, using a public phone to call her family and update them on her journeys.
After she disappeared for a long time, she mustered up the courage to talk with Mike about their future. She flew back and waited outside his apartment for what seemed like an eternity until he finally appeared. He looked at her for a long before embracing her tightly. But there was resistance within her, as she knew what he wanted to say without saying it out.
Alice looked up and said simply, "I have to go back to focus on my family business." She avoided his eyes and stared blankly at his lips. In fact, it was just to find a standstill for the eyesight, and she knew his answer - if it was not what she expected, then it was not the man she knew.
Alice smiled, acknowledging that he was the person she had always loved. She understood that he was not indifferent, but rather compassionate and righteous, which made her hesitant. His overseas assignment was not for his own future, but for the mission he carried, far beyond just her feelings.
She gradually retreated, feeling that the whole world was becoming absurd. If it weren't for so many coincidences coming together, and if he wasn't the person he was, if he was not excellent in his major, if he didn't love his major so much, she could have waited for him for a year and a half.
But she well understood even she was willing to wait him for a year and a half this time. There would be 3 years for the second time, 5 years for third time. His best opportunity was working abroad. That was always inextricable.
The thought of his lifelong dedication to the history at Oxford University was something she dared not dwell on. They were people on different roads. Perhaps subconsciously, what she found most unacceptable was the separation of loved ones due to life and death.
When he hoarsely begged, "Wait for me," Alice quickly interrupted him. She wanted to speak with a light-hearted tone, but as the words came out, they were filled with uncontrollable choking, "I won't wait… don't make it hard on yourself."
She didn't know why she said that only that she knew she was right. If he couldn't say it, she would say it all, so that at least in the future, she would be the only one to regret.
Later, Mike kissed her fiercely - he had always treated her delicately and protected her like a fragile gem. Even in kissing, it was gentle and fleeting over her lips. But that time, they both sensed the bittersweet taste of blood, cruel and desperate. Her tears were cold and unrestrained, wetting both of their faces.
Too kind and exceptional souls could not ultimately love each other, as neither wanted to sacrifice themselves nor force the other.
Alice wanted him to focus on his study and made some achievements. He was such a talent in his major. She never wanted to ruin his dreams. If conditions allowed, she would go with him and support him all her life, but she could not.
Mike loved Alice so much, and he also understood her strong and silent love those years. He should not took her away from her beloved family. He lived for his academic dreams and even didn't know where his future was.
He himself was not afraid of hardship and fatigue, but he did not want Alice, such a simple and kind-hearted girl to sacrifice herself and live a miserable life.
They were like two parallel lines that could only gaze at each other from a distance but would never intersect.