LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 121: Mom
The smile froze on Glenn's face, but he quickly reacted, and jokingly said, "Silly, April Fool's Day was two days ago. Don't joke like that. What if I took it seriously?"
May didn't speak, but kept stirring her coffee with a spoon.
As time passed, the atmosphere between them became more and more awkward. The smile on Glenn's face was so stiff that his muscles had begun to ache, but he could only force himself to maintain it.
"May, what's wrong? If you're not feeling well, then just tell me. We've been together for so long, there's no need to be so formal…"
"Glenn, let's break up," May interrupted him before he could finish speaking. "This isn't a joke."
The forced smile on his face crumbled like a collapsing dam. Glenn didn't dare to imagine how unsightly his expression was. He simply softly asked, "Is it because I've done something wrong, and made you angry?"
"No." With a heavy sigh, May's expression didn't show any anger, nor did it show any disgust.
During their years together, they had also had arguments before. Glenn already had dozens of ways to comfort his girlfriend. He was even able to accurately determine her emotions by reading her expressions.
But May's behaviour now was completely unfamiliar to him. No anger, no resentment, simply, calmly, "informing" him of this cruel truth.
His emotions were finally becoming difficult to control. Glenn looked down at the coffee in his cup, his voice hoarse.
"Is it because there's someone else? Or is it because being with me is a burden?"
"Neither." May turned her head, looking out the cafe window. Outside, countless people walked back and forth. "Every journey has its end. I was very happy during the years we've spent together. I clearly understand how much you care about me, but maybe our journey should come to an end here."
"Why? We haven't done anything wrong, so why are we breaking up?"
"Glenn, it's not about right or wrong." May's voice was calm, so calm that it made Glenn feel afraid.
No right or wrong, no black or white, no betrayals, no arguments.
This meant that Glenn didn't have any opportunities to salvage their relationship, not even a chance to retort.
Sometimes, breaking up during an argument could be considered a type of happiness. At least, you were able to find your own flaws, and the flaws of your partner, allowing you to understand why you were unsuitable for each other. And if, during future interactions, you could learn to accept those flaws, perhaps it would be possible to take your relationship to the next level.
Or, even if there had been a betrayal, he could direct his anger towards the despicable nature of the third party, and his partner's betrayal.
Only a calm and quiet breakup like this was truly despairing. Not even blaming the other person's mistakes meant that the decision to break up had been carefully considered. There wasn't any room for discussion.
"I've already paid for the coffee. We can still contact each other as friends. But you should understand, just friends."
…
He sat alone in the cafe for a long time. The coffee was bitter, and no matter how many spoonfuls of sugar he had added, he couldn't taste any sweetness.
He couldn't even cry, and announce his heartbreak to the world.
He could only wander through the city like a mindless puppet.
Not taking any transportation, Glenn walked towards his rented apartment.
Along the way, he passed a tall bridge. Under the bridge were vast waters.
The river was murky. If he jumped in, his body wouldn't be discovered.
The railings on the bridge were very short. An adult only needed to step on the second horizontal bar, support themselves with their left hand on the railing's armrest, and then they could easily jump into the river.
There was probably a lot of sand and gravel in the murky water. Choking on that must be incredibly uncomfortable.
But, it didn't matter. Once the last of the oxygen in his lungs was gone, he would pass out, unable to feel the pain.
Glenn carefully thought about it, then placed his hand on the railing.
His phone suddenly began to ring. Were they going to ask him to come back and work overtime again?
He had already long been tired of his job. The endless overtime had been squeezing the life out of him. He had originally done it to give his girlfriend a better future, but now that May was gone…
He could let everything out. That supervisor of his, fat as a pig, always gave him the most difficult tasks, forcing him to work more overtime than anyone else.
Glenn had already prepared countless insults. He was going to release all of his anger and frustration from his work onto him.
Taking out his phone, he saw that it was [Mom] who was calling.
In that instant, the tears that should have dried up suddenly flowed like a spring. The man in his twenties curled up by the side of the railing, softly sobbing like a child.
"Hello, Mom."
"Linlin, it's been a while since I've called you. How's work? Are you tired?"
"Not tired. After finishing this, I'll be getting my bonus. It's quite a lot this time." Ignoring the judgmental looks from the passersby, Glenn, like a child who had just received a small red flower in kindergarten, excitedly told his mother about his achievements.
"Your voice sounds a little hoarse. Are you sick?"
"No, Mom. It's just that the weather is getting warmer, I was eating an ice cream."
"It's only April. Why are you eating ice cream already? You've always been so disobedient. What are you going to do if you get sick?"
A smile unknowingly appeared on his face. He had even blown a snot bubble. But, Glenn didn't care.
"Mom, I'm not a child anymore."
"Yes, yes, yes. You've grown up. I can't tell you what to do anymore. Is May beside you?"
"…" Glenn's hand tightly gripped his chest. His nails had almost dug into his flesh. He forced a smile. "She's working overtime tonight. She's not here."
"Oh, I see. Don't mind me saying this, but both of you are no longer young. When are you going to get married? We're worried."
"In a… in a little bit."
"Okay. Do you want to talk to your dad for a little bit? He's driving right now." Just as his mother's voice fell, a deep male voice sounded. "Go away, there's nothing for the two of us to talk about."
Clearly, he couldn't wait to talk to his son, but he couldn't act like that due to his fatherly authority.
Imagining his father's nervous expression beneath his serious face, Glenn almost laughed out loud.
"Mom, if Dad doesn't want to talk, then it's okay. We have lots of time."
"Okay… Hey! Laolin, why is that car swerving like that? Did he drink? Slow down!"
"Watch out!"
Screech—
Boom—!!