He Wished I’d Break Up With Him, So I Did—on My Way to the Airport chapter 05

Ethan sat on a bench in the hospital corridor while Mia received an IV drip inside. He’d stepped out for some fresh air when his phone vibrated.

He glanced down and saw my name. Distractedly, he opened the message, thinking it was just a note to say my plane had taken off.

What greeted him was a screenshot — his own comments under that social media post.

She’s so sweet. She watches games with me, brings me meals when I work late, and stays to take care of me whenever I’m sick.

You, though, just lash out over our screens and bicker over every little trivial thing.

If I had a choice, I wish you’d be the one to end this first.

His fingers froze. His eyes widened as he stared at the image. It can’t be, he told himself, rubbing his eyes hard. Yet the words on the screen remained unchanged. His hands began to shake. Beneath the screenshot lay my final words.

Ethan, let’s break up. I’m setting you free.

He went rigid on the bench, all color draining from his face. Break up? He refused to believe it. We’d been together six years. We’d argued and quarreled, but I had never truly said I wanted to end things. This had to be another fit of anger.

He quickly typed a reply.

Chloe, let me explain.

A red error icon popped up instantly. He stared, stunned, and sent it again, only to see the same failed delivery notice. I’d blocked him.

A heavy dread crashed over him. He exited the chat app and dialed my number.

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”

He thought he’d misheard and tried once more, but the cold automated voice repeated every time. His hands trembled harder. I never turned my phone off. Not even after our worst fights. I always kept it on, terrified he might need me and not be able to reach me. Now, I’d severed every single link.

He shot to his feet with a loud thud. Passersby turned to look, but he paid them no mind. One thought echoed relentlessly in his head. She’s leaving me for good.

Mia walked out of the emergency room, a bandage taped to her hand.

“Ethan, what’s wrong?” She stepped up and tugged at his sleeve. “Who were you calling?”

He pulled his arm away sharply, his voice tight.

“She knows everything.”

“Knows what?”

“Chloe.”

Mia fell silent for a moment, then realized the truth.

“What did she find out?”

Ethan said nothing and headed for the exit.

“Ethan!” Mia hurried after him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind. “Where are you going? To find her?”

“Let go of me.”

“I won’t!” Her voice cracked with tears. “The only reason we weren’t together was because you had a girlfriend! She’s the one who ended it now! Why do you still care about her?”

Ethan stood rooted to the spot. The harsh overhead lights stung his eyes. He stayed quiet for a long while.

“I was just being foolish,” he murmured, almost to himself. “We’ve been together six years. I can’t stop caring about her just like that.”

Mia’s hold loosened slowly. She lifted her head, eyes glistening with tears.

“What about me then?”

He hesitated for a second.

“What I felt for you was nothing more than a fleeting thrill.”