Marrying My First Love

1

1

2

dium as the top student in our year during hig

3

with a sweet smile and a baby in my belly. My friends

4

nce and Math Electives student in the state and became the pri

5

he was also exce

6

, but at three months pregnant, I stumbled upon a scene in the

7

I made fell t

8

fted for our annivers

9

I fell to

1

me with a guilty face

1

ptivating eyes visible, smiling as

1

tired of living his life un

1

studied medicine, and even marrie

1

ooftop, I silently wished never t

1

as a sense

1

unior year Psycholog

1

due after class. Ha

1

2

1

What

2

es in a daze.

2

ice, holding a mechanical pencil, kn

2

orehead, and finally foc

2

astic, genius deskm

2

r high school. Why

2

drea

2

uniform... Julian,

2

01

2

t and fill out your select electives form. Are you choos

2

ening. Following his finger, I saw the for

3

and sure enough, Julian was

3

ath...I remembered I was doing well in Social S

3

, I chose Science and Math Electives,

3

my hand and carefully wrote one word. S

3

it's

3

ined to stay as far from C

3

gust

3

th two fingers and grabbing a black pen

3

d over to see wh

3

ng Social Sciences a

4

ve had enou

4

t my forehead, addi

4

stractin

4

uld help you improve, not dr

4

her, with his large

4

l, we nicknamed him "Big Ey

4

sychology book, but my m

4

he chose Scie

4

rnated between first and second p

4

an Caleb, I'd secretly curse him to

5

ou're choosing

5

ehind my book when Bi

5

? Do you look down

5

ut a slight smile seemed to play on

5

t made

5

urtroom drama, twisting words to suit his n

5

an suddenly moved his chair fo

5

ing to squee

5

o see your so-calle

5

ed t

6

of the hallway, slowing down as I passed Caleb's

6

ring his name fil

6

disg

6

about that? It's

6

e pen from his hand.

6

ever touched my cheap ones, only go

6

ind today and fe

6

taking my water b

6

ferent from my memories. I stared blankly, doodl

6

r, I wrote o

7

le

7

3

7

became a Social Sciences class

7

es students, several others joined

7

I diligently worked

7

was weak, and I struggled with math. Our teacher, fond of

7

ad a question, I'd e

7

r him with praise, and only then would

7

ng, just ask me. Stop with that

7

notes and corrected answers

8

y question fiftee

8

ion fi

8

he-blank question blank. You'll save time for the big quest

8

his indiff

8

ed for y

8

be in the top fi

8

ff

8

iliar

8

ran down

8

re me, addressing the voice's o

9

looking elsewhere. "Ramona, the math teacher w

9

oka

9

m talkin

9

Julian do

9

arrassment, my skin

9

ne, cut this

9

ought what she sa

9

but bragging just to i

9

, his expres

9

efore, never conside

1

didn't want to

1

sadness or resentment, only an overwhelming w

1

and shoving gradually quieted down. Everyone seemed

1

glances and giggles my way. I knew they were probably talking about how

1

, I didn

1

udies, get into a good universi

1

bled slightly on the paper,

1

enly burst in my ear. I looked over in su

1

definitely be in the t

1

you dare

1

s pounding

1

sky, "Dear heavens, do I get

1

What do her grades

1

with him. Yo

1

were harsh. "If she loses, she won't b

1

at her re

1

e, so why was she here k

1

and if

1

ic. "If I win, you have to apologize to Kris

1

rstood Julian'

1

reminiscent of historical figures, us

1

l teen

1

, "Um...As the person invol

1

t, it's

1

a month, I'll not only apologize but also ask the

1

mirk and walked away wit

1

e, "Don't worry, I won't leave you

1

f I lose, it's just a bit embarrassing. I just

1

s me, you'll be

1

y case. "You asked about question fif

1

ts, resisting the

1

ag me back into this

1

sfaction, and losing will h

1

said

1

e had a

1

motionally clueless, but

1

f I lose, it's your teaching quality that'

1

ol, even a God would st

1

4

1

around six to grab two eggs, then he

1

ottom of the class, but I had s

1

as among the top students and got into the best school in th

1

s I wasn't good at and classmates who seemed like

1

usually arrived just on time, started com

1

't study, just nap. Why

1

as Julian quickly p

1

tomorrow. One isn

1

d leisurely out the window. "The bus sch

1

every day. When did yo

1

hungry stomach and

1

. If you don't want to be emba

1

en need to

1

's so much to catch up on. Even if

1

u focus on th

1

used, "Key points

1

anize the key points for each sub

1

hard. If you study the way

1

d are you t

1

bewilde

1

ing every study period, follow my lead. Don

1

t

1

rry about a study plan, I nodded v

1

g like that.

1

hould I

1

math book, "Do these questions during morn

1

ed at him skeptically. "How could

1

me. These ar

1

in, whisperi

1

making me shiver. I quietly

1

rst-year Politic

1

year... I thr

1

less. "I figured. Use mine.

1

a book ont

1

s book was as pristine a

1

re were two lines of poetry in a delicate calligraphic style,

1

y head, "What

1

ur book is my

1

book back, using a ruler

1

ice until you

1

-year Political Sc

1

onable,

1

"You wrote i

1

uriously. To finish the five math problems Julian assigned before return

1

nt out, and the entire clas

1

ack-

1

, and the previously quiet air wa

1

notice that this might last until tomo

1

If you need to call your pare

1

he door, announcing

1

ould be dark too. How woul

1

ey

1

darkness beside me, nearly m

1

ha

1

you have a place

1

n

1

come to

1

o.

1

ur ho

1

ea

1

ts aren'

2

... What was

2

ively, "Just the two of us?

2

crazy,

2

chool's middle school. She texted me saying she

2

nt. Stop imagi

2

n I'll go,

2

nsure if he could see me. "Can you

2

a sunny day. "Study until eleven, then you can walk back

2

0

2

answer to the fifth question,

2

any point

2

process for you. Just remember how it's done f

2

eing an unopened pack of instant nood

2

ngr

2

aten a cooki

2

pout, hoping he'd o

2

ll cook i

2

ed, I can ea

2

d I wisely swallowed

2

hers, even eating instant n

2

it g

2

mm

2

h noodles stuf

2

akes it

2

at. "The noodles are chewy, and the broth is really fla

2

sfaction and continue

2

Open the door,

2

You keep gra

2

the door, ea

2

a uniform, but a pink baseball jacket. As she change

2

r brother's

2

m his cousi

2

uthful face, smil

2

face seeme

2

en her some

2

at delicious smell

2

in the pot,

2

e for? Come over, I'll expl

2

she your g

2

g as she sat at the t

2

Julian glanced at me. "Besi

2

ush? Don't te

2

leb," Julian teased, dra

2

al." Kallie pouted

2

? Com

2

Caleb's admirers. Even after marriage, the

2

y child's for my stubbornness. In this life,

2

sank, and I suddenly lost i

2

g. You guys

2

ou out! Kallie, lock

2

I can go b

2

backpack and

2

0

2

eezed through the crowd at the bulletin b

2

ith Psychology and Modern History both in the top twenty.

2

e in high school, in t

2

rge to scream with joy in front of everyone. My s

2

..

2

improved a lot

2

efore I did, casually flippi

2

ng face looked particul

2

er, "this success only shows I guessed the exam topics

2

ly practice the area

2

do whateve

2

etermined to cling to him fo

2

eone's looki

2

knowing glance, and he

2

ng in the joy of

2

with nearly four hundred in Social

2

r-end exam to 46th in this one. It

2

railing behind Julian, unable to hide my

2

romise, huh? He

2

aised an

2

laces, and you only got second in Soc

2

e you really put in a lot

2

You promised to a

2

ry. Didn't expect you wer

2

id I even hope to prove myself

2

im another cha

2

ched m

2

e? If so, I'

2

the

2

fty, it's still hard to get into

2

to go to the same

2

k her why she's suddenly

2

evement, my life. You h

2

re dark, like a

2

it's hard to say if

2

slightly, a faint handprint

2

ou crazy?!" Ra

2

stung from the force, and loo

2

ot be so full

2

s under everyone's gaze, my palm

2

ase of the resentmen

2

olling myself, not letting hatred

2

s second chance wasn't meant f

2

hard to forget ever

2

Better not pro

2

0

2

ganizing a hike up Shellbiens

3

go. If you can't

3

ng to do, so I'll ne

3

odern History workbooks a

3

anything, she's

3

ed my raise

3

ng? I have tutori

3

y hard now, but what doe

3

he paper. "All work and no

3

nt to go. Hikin

3

your bag for

3

slightly. "Why are you sud

3

I just mean you shoul

3

t, I munched on cold buns from the cafeteria as

3

y and nauseous, with no way to open

3

e you're about to puke? I

3

eakly nu

3

his face even

3

he teacher said w

3

er I'll join the last group g

3

h.

3

air as Julian vom

3

survive the climb, I'll bring y

3

d my nose and quick

3

ives class. This time around, I was so focused on studying that I rarely spoke to anyone.

3

u bring a flash

3

amiliar-looking

3

you, but I'

3

to Ramona

3

s..." I ba

3

It would be nice to run into some friends from th

3

I had unknowingly fallen behind. T

3

ed grumbling, probably from

3

I might not c

3

, I hesitated but eventuall

3

in there, I emerged anxiously, on

3

I swallowed nervously and g

3

bed, the stronger

3

om my hiking stick to hold my collar tightly,

3

ps made me lose my balance. My foot twisted, and I fell ba

3

f strong hands cau

3

d already rolled to the side, and the figure in front of me

3

care

3

at are you

3

ling away from

3

ehind and thought you might be upset about

3

you c

3

e, especially t

3

died even if you

3

to walk away, but a sharp pa

3

e you l

3

your bu

3

e to ca

3

walk

3

out I h

3

you before, I won't bother you anymo

3

never catch up with the g

3

Caleb draped my arm

3

t at the top. I'll take th

3

you, so no one can say

3

ll cold, which w

3

for his he

3

re you

3

you, fell

3

h sweaty hair sticking to his forehead, lead

3

person, yet with suc

3

unwilling to look

3

0

3

ger until we

3

I think. W

3

the higher we climbed. My ankle throbbed with pain, but I g

3

ind. Let's rest for a bit." Caleb set me down b

3

put i

3

it off stiffly, thro

3

down casually, blocking

3

e was a bit harsh. Do

3

n't r

3

attitude chang

3

at me, his voice m

3

zing at the endless m

3

heart, just a he

3

what you've done.

3

s thick lashes casting

3

ightly s

3

get me

3

o tell you that I've apologized, so you don'

3

the horizon. If we didn't keep cli

3

, but the sharp pain ma

3

me time to refuse, gently hold

3

foot, was already swollen. His touch ma

3

I'll be gentle th

3

id you

3

mentaril

3

, let

3

appeared on the

3

ly cold, his chest heavi

3

ng happened to you two, b

3

nse are you

3

ly breathed a sigh of relief

3

on? Does it

3

ression was

4

e teacher asked me to find you

4

soon, the school w

4

ta, is your foot hurt

4

ut of breath. I'll carry h

4

path is too narrow to carry me.

4

stand, but Juli

4

born." Julian crouched

4

tbeat through the thin black T-shirt. My own heart ra

4

e whispered, gentl

4

but clung to his ne

4

seem unsteady," Caleb comm

4

n better sha

4

you ever win a fight

4

win, didn't

4

e embarrassment I fe

4

choolers be so childish ye

4

uly was

4

eeling better from

4

comfortable, I can

4

said I was

4

ad slightly. "Krista, give me

4

t the upcoming

4

o you, even more tho

4

ea

4

oudly, "Wow, Julian, I never noticed how

4

ry pinching my arm

4

ally can't

4

ratedly

4

xpression, quickened

4

e, I pretended to be exhausted from low blood sugar

4

, I know you'

4

" I opened on

4

out you

4

Are you a

4

. If it stays like this, you won't make it back

4

icked my

4

t if you try anythi

4

med the potion in his palms,

4

sant numbness. I kept a calm fac

4

ession, his lips slightly pursed, his black cl

4

lking, he was und

4

arrogant and se

4

ea

4

handsome a

4

, "Do you want the t

4

d at hi

4

rself." Julian leaned back, res

4

0

4

proud and indifferent, treating everyone t

4

few days, but I genuinely l

4

acted a bit more shamelessly, he would see m

4

love, esp

4

ntrance exams, I only got

4

countries, they sent me generous allowances but s

4

a university in the same city

4

lationship was

4

ad never interacted with girls, h

4

his father but was helpless a

4

lfriend, giving him an excuse to avoid

4

e, I saw Caleb's

4

with a slight smile, as if

4

entive and gentle he was as a boyfriend, though he often

4

we planned, he introd

4

t to be friends of my father fro

4

met as children but

4

ore than the girl they had

4

e kind of person Caleb really was. He hated being controlled or interfered with, so when his parents showed

4

peared after I became pregnant tha

4

what you want-it was when fate gave you the most bea

4

, my mistake." But that was enough

4

ano, and I was like Rory Gilmor

4

I was nothing more than an insignificant side character, a de

4

detour was my entire life. And i

4

my sleep, and I'd wake up each morn

4

romising future of this life, det

4

ruin this new life f