Family secrets, painful betrayal, and a powerful comeback drive this emotional and addictive short drama.
#drama #romance #love #movie #lovestory #truelove #relationship #heartbreak #betrayal #couple
#drama #romance #love #movie #lovestory #truelove #relationship #heartbreak #betrayal #couple
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Short filmTranscript
00:07I had a notebook hidden in my drawer it only contained one number 99 the 99 times my family
00:19let me down on my wedding day my sister Sylvia Meyer suddenly flew back home my parents my
00:34brother Zachariah and even my fiance Eugene Anderson all abandoned me to go pick her up at
00:39the airport while she posted group selfies on Instagram showing off how adored she was I called
00:46them over and over yet every call was coldly declined the only one who picked up was Eugene
00:51he said just one thing stop overreacting we can always hold another wedding
01:00so at the wedding I had looked forward to for so long they made me the biggest joke of the
01:04day
01:05whispered about and ridiculed by everyone
01:10I calmly wrapped everything up on my own then wrote a new number in my diary 99 it was the
01:1699th time they had disappointed me I no longer wished for their love
01:21I filled out my application to study abroad and packed my suitcase
01:27they all thought I had finally grown obedient but the truth was that I was preparing to leave
01:32the door to my room burst open Zachariah walked in and let out a mocking snort when he saw me
01:38staring at my diary seriously how old are you writing a diary like an elementary school kid
01:47normally I would have snapped back
01:51but this time I didn't even raise my head
01:56annoyed by my indifference Zachariah raked a hand through his hair
02:00grabbed the diary and flipped it open
02:03inside was only one number 99
02:08the number of times they had let me down
02:12he couldn't understand it
02:14he frowned
02:14tossed the notebook onto the floor
02:16and ordered me
02:17enough with your nonsense
02:19Syl wants your garlic butter shrimp
02:20go wash your hands and get cooking
02:23and take it as your apology for that snarky comment you made earlier
02:27I simply said
02:29okay
02:29and headed downstairs
02:35he was stunned that I didn't throw a tantrum
02:38in the past whenever the family asked me to cook shrimp for Sylvia
02:42I would cry like I had suffered some great injustice
02:47why is she suddenly so quiet
02:49he thought
02:56Rebecca what's with you
02:57you're not up to something right
03:00you're not planning to put something in her food are you
03:04suspicion flickered in his eyes as he studied me
03:09when he noticed my slightly reddened eyes
03:11he paused and finally shut up
03:17after a long moment
03:19he spoke again
03:23Syl's been abroad for a year
03:25living on her own the whole time
03:27this is her first time back home
03:32of course we're eager to see her
03:34you should understand
03:38it's just a wedding
03:39we can throw you another one later
03:45I stayed silent while cleaning the shrimp
03:47right
03:47just a wedding
03:48in their eyes
03:49nothing would ever matter more than picking up Sylvia
03:52not even the wedding I had dreamed of four years
03:58they knew it had taken me months to secure that couture gown
04:04they knew I spent half a year planning every detail with the wedding team
04:09yet in the end they turned me into the biggest joke of the entire event
04:14my family never showed up
04:16Eugene never appeared
04:19while Sylvia flaunted her airport welcome party on Instagram
04:23I faced the guests ridicule and puzzled stares alone
04:29even the hotel staff noticed how pale I looked and pitying me
04:33urged me to go home and rest
04:38but when my family returned
04:40the first thing they did was ask me to cook
04:46a bitter smile tugged at my lips
04:50I had once thought that because my parents were getting older
04:53Sylvia was abroad
04:54Zachariah was busy
04:56and I was getting married
04:57I should decline my professor's offer to study overseas
05:01but now
05:02I knew leaving was the right choice
05:06unfortunately
05:06even with the application submitted
05:08I still had two weeks before I could depart
05:11I pushed past Zachariah
05:14move
05:14you're blocking the way
05:17my coldness made him feel like he had swung a fist
05:20only to hit empty air
05:22he sighed
05:23about to speak again
05:24but Sylvia's voice rang out from the living room
05:28Zach I can't open this chestnut
05:34Zachariah panicked instantly
05:35don't do it yourself
05:36you'll hurt your hands
05:38you're gonna be a pianist
05:38wait I'll help you
05:40that annoying buzzing finally left the kitchen
05:43I lowered my gaze to my hands
05:45my once slender fingers were now red and swollen
05:48from an allergic reaction
05:49when I set the plate of shrimps on the dining table
05:52I glanced toward the living room
05:54the atmosphere over there was warm and lively
05:57dad who was usually busy with business calls
05:59suddenly had all the time in the world
06:02he sat comfortably on the couch
06:04listening patiently while Sylvia talked about her fun experiences studying abroad
06:10mom held Sylvia in her arms
06:12fussing over her
06:14saying she looked thinner and must have suffered overseas
06:18Zachariah was sitting next to her
06:19focused on opening chestnuts for her
06:23I didn't say anything
06:25I just watched that cozy little scene quietly
06:29the living room and dining room felt like to completely different worlds
06:34one side was full of laughter
06:36and the other was utterly silent
06:39Becca why are you standing over there?
06:41is it because I messed up your wedding?
06:44are you still mad at me?
06:45Sylvia's soft pitiful voice carried across the room
06:48only then did the three in the living room finally notice me
06:52dad frowned instinctively
06:56wipe that look off your face
06:58get over here
07:00mom's expression held a flash of irritation
07:03your wedding mess happened because you picked a bad date
07:06it had nothing to do with Slive
07:09if you dare stay mad at her
07:11don't call me your mother
07:13Sylvia pouted dramatically and tugged on mom's sleeve
07:16mom don't say that
07:18you'll make Becca sad
07:19she sounded like she was defending me
07:21but the smugness in her eyes was impossible to hide
07:26I knew better that Sylvia was far from innocent
07:29a week ago
07:30I told her the wedding date myself
07:32she saw the message and even replied that she was preparing a surprise
07:38and she did give me one
07:40it was just not the kind anyone would want
07:46this forced choice between us was a game she had played since childhood
07:51every single time I was never the one my parents or Zachariah chose
07:58even Eugene who was supposed to spend his life with me
08:01didn't choose me
08:03I should have been heartbroken
08:05but maybe I had gone numb
08:06hearing their words now barely stirred anything inside me
08:11I'm not mad
08:12the moment I said that
08:14everyone stopped and stared at me
08:17it was impossible that I wasn't mad
08:19I caught the expressions on their faces
08:22and felt a wave of irony
08:24they knew what they did was infuriating
08:26yet they chose to do it anyway
08:28and then acted like my emotions were the problem
08:33my calmness made my parents and Zachariah uneasy
08:37after a moment of silence dad finally said
08:42good
08:43we're a family so stop taking everything so seriously
08:47yes I understand
08:49I nodded obediently
08:52seeing me act so unaffected
08:54they relaxed and turned back to fussing over Sylvia
09:00aside from the shrimp I made
09:02the table was covered in seafood dishes prepared by the housekeeper
09:06they were everything Sylvia loved
09:08Sylv
09:09you're so thin
09:11eat more
09:13dad and Zachariah's fork never stopped moving
09:16before long
09:18the food was piled high in her plate like a tiny mountain
09:24she beamed as she bragged to the family about her life overseas
09:29she claimed she had already secured a spot in an orchestra
09:32and would be performing with them soon
09:35my parents and Zachariah showered her with praise
09:39I quietly continued eating my rice
09:42my silence must have finally stirred some guilt in mom
09:45because she suddenly remembered I had been humiliated today
09:52a shrimp was placed on my plate
09:55I looked up
09:57mom's expression was a little stiff
09:59eat
10:00don't think we only care about Sylve
10:03didn't I just give one to you too
10:05I stared at the shrimp for a long time
10:07then set my fork down
10:10no need
10:11I'm full
10:16mom looked embarrassed and a little irritated
10:22what's wrong with you now
10:24just as she was about to say more
10:26Sylvia
10:27who was sitting beside her
10:28suddenly grabbed her throat
10:30her facial expression changed instantly
10:35mom
10:36I can't breathe
10:39when my parents and Zachariah rushed to Sylvia's side and saw the hive spreading across her skin
10:44they panicked
10:48she's having an allergic reaction
10:51how could this happen all of a sudden
10:55mom's gaze flicked around then landed on me
10:59the next second
11:00she slapped me with all her strength
11:06I staggered
11:07couldn't steady myself
11:08and fell to the floor
11:09my head buzzed
11:13Rebecca
11:13what did you put in the food?
11:15don't you remember what Sylv is allergic to?
11:18Zachariah looked at me with utter disappointment
11:20I knew it
11:21it was weird that you were acting so agreeable
11:25you were really planning to hurt Sylv
11:29Rebecca
11:30how can I have such a vicious sister?
11:35enough
11:35stop yelling
11:39take Sylv to the hospital first
11:42dad slammed the table
11:44and only then did mom and Zachariah tear their hateful glares away from me
11:48my whole family rushed out in a blind panic
11:51and I was the only one left sitting on the floor
11:54holding my swollen cheek in a daze
11:57it wasn't me
11:59I wanted to say it so badly
12:02but things like this had happened too many times
12:04and I knew they wouldn't believe me even if I said it
12:09so I would just forget about it
12:13one of the house staff came running over after hearing the commotion
12:17she tried to help me up
12:18but froze when she saw my hands
12:20Ms. Rebecca
12:21what happened to your hands?
12:24why are they so swollen?
12:26I'm fine
12:28I rejected her help
12:29stood up on my own
12:31and went upstairs to my room
12:36I picked up the notebook on my desk
12:38as a flood of memories surged through me
12:40when I was eight
12:41our family had very little money
12:43all five of us squeezed into one old cramped house
12:51my parents were overwhelmed with work
12:53and couldn't take care of three kids at the same time
12:56they decided one of us needed to be sent to our grandparents in the countryside
13:01but Zachariah was about to start high school at a critical time
13:05and Sylvia was too young and frail for them to feel at ease sending her away
13:11I didn't want to see my parents looking so stressed
13:13so I lifted my hand and volunteered
13:18and just like that
13:19I was sent to the countryside
13:24before I left
13:25mom stroked my head and said I was the most sensible child
13:29but no one told me the price of being sensible
13:31was that I would stay there for eight whole years
13:35for eight years
13:36except for the new year
13:38I didn't see my parents
13:40Zachariah or Sylvia
13:44I watched their clothes get nicer every year
13:46and could guess that life at home had improved a lot
13:51I kept waiting for mom and dad to bring me home
13:53but I grew from an elementary schooler into a high schooler
13:57and even after my aging grandparents passed away
14:00they still hadn't come for me
14:04I only returned once
14:06there was no one left to take care of me
14:08the tiny run-down house in my memories was gone
14:12in its place stood a three-story villa
14:17the room they gave me was on the first floor corner
14:20it was nothing like Zachariah's room filled with books and gaming gear
14:24nor like Sylvia's room overflowing with girlish decorations
14:29it mirrored my place in this family never important enough to matter and always easy to overlook
14:38I packed the few belongings I had and stuffed them into my suitcase
14:43the wedding leave I had requested from my advisor Raiden Delian was useless now
14:50I was about to call him to say I would be back tomorrow when my phone suddenly rang
14:56it was Eugene
14:59I thought he was calling about wedding follow-ups
15:02but the moment I picked up he started yelling
15:06Rebecca what did you do to Syl?
15:10Why is she in the hospital?
15:14the man who was always calm and composed had lost it twice in one day
15:20the first time was when he heard Sylvia was back in the country
15:23the second time was because she went to the hospital
15:28I found it funny
15:30considering he was supposed to be my fiance
15:35she had an allergic reaction
15:38so it was you wasn't it?
15:40how could you do that to your own sister?
15:43his voice was thick with anger
15:45Rebecca
15:47I always thought you were a kind person
15:49but just because of something this small
15:51you sent Syl to the hospital
15:53do you even have a conscience?
15:56I listened to his accusations
15:58too tired to bother explaining
16:02yeah
16:03guess I don't
16:05it's my fault
16:07I'll apologize to her when she gets back
16:10are you happy now?
16:12if you've said everything you needed to say
16:14I'm hanging up
16:16I have things to do
16:20Eugene froze
16:21he clearly didn't expect this reaction
16:25before this
16:26we had fought countless times over Sylvia
16:30on dates
16:31he would get lost in conversation with her
16:35at meals
16:36he would forget my food allergies
16:37but always order her favorites
16:40whenever I accused him of crossing lines
16:43he would respond with
16:44you're overthinking
16:45she's your sister
16:47I'm just looking after her for you
16:51his indifference made me look like
16:53some controlling, jealous lunatic
16:56my parents and Zachariah took his side every time
16:59saying I was too possessive
17:03so when Sylvia left the country for a year
17:06I shamefully felt relieved
17:10but I had been starving for affection for so long
17:12that I forgot broken glass cuts
17:15I kept clutching those shards long after they should have been dropped
17:18and now all I was left with were bleeding hands
17:24Rebecca you'd better mean what you said
17:28if anything happens to Syl again
17:30you can forget about our wedding
17:33Eugene's voice carried a clear threat
17:38I heard him get out of the car
17:39the door slamming shut
17:41and the noise around him suddenly growing louder
17:44I could tell he was going to the hospital
17:46probably rushing in to check on Sylvia
17:50he was using my name as an excuse
17:52just so he could fuss over the woman he actually cared about
17:55did he really think I was stupid enough to fall for it?
18:01I let out a dry laugh
18:02hung up
18:03and called Raiden
18:07by the time my parents and Zachariah
18:09finally dragged themselves home
18:11exhausted
18:12I had already finished packing
18:13and was ready to move into the dorms
18:18just in time to hear mom sigh
18:21if only Gino's family were better off
18:24he and Syl would make such a good match
18:28look at him
18:29he's so attentive
18:32my steps faltered
18:35then dad spoke
18:38yeah
18:39he's decent looking too
18:41I think Syl actually likes him
18:46if I had known earlier
18:48I wouldn't have arranged for Eugene and Rebecca to meet
18:55don't overthink it
18:56mom said
18:58I can't bear the thought of Syl suffering with him
19:01better for Eugene to be with Rebecca
19:04they match each other
19:08besides
19:09Syl is going to be a pianist
19:13even if he's her brother-in-law
19:14he can still spoil her
19:18she kept talking
19:19then lifted her head
19:20and saw me standing on the stairs
19:23she jolted back a couple of steps in panic
19:28Rebecca?
19:31what are you doing here?
19:33mom must have assumed the lights were off because I was asleep
19:37who knew how much of their conversation I had heard
19:41I ignored the faint sting in my chest and walked right past her
19:48I have things to take care of at school
19:50I'm heading back
19:52seeing that I looked calm
19:53my parents exchanged a glance
19:55and finally relaxed
19:57Zachariah frowned when he noticed the suitcase at my side
20:00you're taking luggage to school?
20:02what?
20:03are you afraid we'll accountable for Syl's allergy?
20:06are you planning to run away?
20:08the moment he brought it up
20:10my parents
20:11who had looked guilty just seconds earlier
20:13straightened their backs
20:14and towered over me with righteous indignation
20:17right!
20:18we almost forgot!
20:21Rebecca, do you realize
20:22Syl ended up in the hospital because of you?
20:25you won't apologize?
20:28and now you want to walk away?
20:33do you think you can get off that easily?
20:38irritation crept up my spine
20:39when I saw they were worked up
20:41and clearly unwilling to back down
20:42I pulled out my phone
20:44dialed Sylvia
20:46and put the call on speaker
20:47she was awake now
20:50at that moment
20:52she was basking in Eugene's attentive care
20:54the moment she picked up
20:56her voice dripped with faux innocence
20:58Becca?
21:00why are you calling me?
21:02did someone tell you
21:03Gino is here
21:04taking care of me?
21:06are you upset about that?
21:08the moment Sylvia's voice came through
21:11my parents and Zachariah both froze
21:13they could hardly believe that such petty
21:16spiteful words were coming out of the mouth
21:18of the daughter and sister they adored
21:21I didn't care what they were thinking
21:22nor did I care about Eugene hovering over her
21:25I said flatly
21:26hmm
21:27Eugene's taking good care of you
21:32everyone listening was stunned
21:36Sylvia too
21:37sounded confused
21:39Becca are you serious?
21:42of course
21:44I replied without hesitation
21:49I don't know what exactly
21:51triggered your allergy
21:52but I'll apologize anyway
21:54I'm sorry
22:00before anyone could react
22:01I hung up cleanly
22:03then looked at my family
22:04every one of them was dumbfounded
22:07can I go now?
22:08I asked calmly
22:11this time
22:12no one even tried to stop me
22:15I didn't bother taking Zachariah's snide remark
22:18why aren't you throwing a fit now?
22:20to heart
22:22back at school
22:23I switched my phone to airplane mode
22:26and locked myself in the lab
22:27working non-stop for 13 straight days
22:33I didn't step out of the lab
22:34until the day before my departure
22:36when I finally finished my experiments
22:41the moment I turned my phone back on
22:43it exploded with notifications
22:48there were messages from everyone
22:50my family
22:50Eugene
22:51and a flood of texts from my friends
22:56I opened my friend Eleanor Hamilton's conversation first
23:01she was furious
23:02she had sent 70 or 80 messages in a row
23:05all cursing out Eugene and Sylvia
23:09then she sent a screenshot from Sylvia's Instagram
23:15it was a family portrait
23:16my parents
23:17Zachariah, Sylvia
23:19and even Eugene
23:20were in the photo
23:23he was standing next to Sylvia
23:25staring at her like a knight guarding his princess
23:27his eyes were soft and full of devotion
23:32Sylvia's caption read
23:34with the people I love most
23:36the audacity nearly sent Eleanor over the edge
23:40she ranted endlessly and even commented under the post
23:45your sister isn't even there
23:47it looks like your brother-in-law is taking good care of you
23:52I soothed her with a few replies
23:54before opening the rest of my messages
24:00without exception
24:01every message scolded me
24:03for letting Eleanor bully poor Syl
24:07I apologized one by one
24:09just as I was about to lock my phone
24:12Zachariah called
24:15Rebecca what the hell is going on?
24:17why haven't we been able to reach you?
24:20you have no idea
24:22how worried we have been
24:23the past few days
24:27right after he said that
24:28I heard Sylvia's bright
24:30sugary voice in the background
24:32dad mom Jenna
24:33look at this carousel
24:34it's so pretty
24:35so they were at an amusement park
24:38I asked softly
24:40worried?
24:42that single word made Zachariah choke up
24:45it took him a long time to respond
24:48well
24:50yeah
24:50we couldn't reach you
24:53if you were around
24:54you could have come too
24:59besides
24:59it's all your friend's fault
25:01Sylva is sensitive
25:02she cried for hours after seeing that comment
25:04we had to bring her out to cheer her up
25:06I already apologized
25:08he went quiet again
25:10as if he had no idea what to say next
25:13after a long pause he muttered
25:16good
25:16you finally learned to behave
25:19the next second Eugene snatched the phone
25:23his deep annoyed voice cut through the speaker
25:26Rebecca did you tell your friend to leave that comment?
25:29why is your mind always so dirty?
25:32I've told you so many times
25:33that Sylvia is your sister
25:36I'm only looking after her for you
25:38your whole family does that
25:39I know you're jealous because everyone likes Syl more
25:42but that's not her fault
25:47maybe you should think about why no one likes you
25:51my grip on the phone tightened when I heard him run his mouth like that
25:57when we first started dating
25:59I had told Eugene about how my family treated me
26:03back then
26:05he held me and said he would always be on my side
26:09now he told me to reflect on why myself
26:16but I didn't feel sad
26:18a little over 10 days ago
26:21back at my parents place
26:23I finally learned the truth that Eugene had never liked me
26:30he had just been playing a part
26:33and once the act landed
26:34he could stay by the woman he actually wanted
26:38protect her
26:39spoil her
26:40and never let go
26:42what I thought was fate had never been anything more than a script they rehearsed together
26:52sometimes I wanted to ask why
26:55but there was no point
26:57love that wasn't there was simply not there
26:59whether it was family or romance
27:01it didn't need a reason
27:04on the other end of the line
27:05Eugene started stammering apologies
27:07clearly realizing he had gone too far
27:12it didn't matter anymore
27:17I glanced at the flight information my colleague had sent me and spoke calmly
27:28Eugene
27:30let's break up
27:31I was done being someone's tool
27:34I was leaving
27:36hearing my words
27:38the other end of the call went dead silent
27:42just as I was about to hang up
27:44Eugene suddenly laughed
27:46he was full of confidence like he had me completely figured out
27:51Rebecca
27:51are you sure you spent so long preparing for that wedding
27:55there's no way you actually want to break up
28:00I sighed
28:03so you do know I spent a long time preparing
28:07he seemed convinced I was just throwing another tantrum and spoke helplessly
28:12stop it
28:14I already told you
28:15that I'll make it up to you
28:20acting like this won't work on me
28:23I didn't have the energy to explain anything further
28:27when I heard him and Zachariah arguing in the background
28:33I simply hung up
28:34then I blocked every number belonging to my family and to Eugene
28:42that night
28:43I slept deeply and had a dream
28:48in my dream
28:50a little girl dressed differently from her siblings sat at a desk
28:54writing in her diary
28:56she held a pen and wrote the number one in a new notebook
28:59mumbling to herself
29:01if it ever reaches 99
29:03I won't want mom
29:05dad
29:06Zach
29:06or Syl anymore
29:08she paused
29:09then crossed out the number and wrote 0.5 instead
29:12mom and dad forgot to buy clothes for me again
29:14the kids at school laughed at my old outfit
29:17I felt sad
29:19but this is the best I have
29:21today
29:22Syl said I stole her things
29:26mom and dad
29:27beat me
29:28I didn't steal anything
29:30I was trying to clean it for her
29:35Syl wanted garlic butter shrimp
29:37I cooked it
29:39mom and dad forgot
29:41I'm allergic to seafood
29:43my hands swelled
29:45it hurts a lot
29:48it's Syl's birthday
29:49the cake is so pretty
29:52I want a birthday too
29:54but mom and dad forgot mine
29:55comes two days earlier
29:59I watched silently as she filled the notebook page after page
30:02sometimes listing fractions
30:04sometimes whole numbers
30:06she made excuses for her family over and over
30:09her face grew increasingly numb
30:12when the notebook was almost full
30:14the wedding she had hoped for fell apart too
30:16the number stopped at 99
30:19I found myself staring straight into the eyes of the girl in the wedding dress
30:24I should have left
30:25earlier
30:26she said
30:27I nodded
30:28but it's not too late now
30:33when I boarded the plane
30:35all those heavy feelings
30:36I had recorded all the resentment
30:39disappointment
30:39and wounds stayed behind on that land
30:44I threw myself into studying with everything I had
30:49being alone in a foreign country could feel lonely
30:52but unlike Sylvia
30:54I didn't look for someone to complain to
30:57I used every spare moment to fill myself up again
31:01like a sponge
31:02I absorbed everything I'd never had the chance to learn before
31:05eventually my lab mates begged me to stop overworking
31:08and forced me to take a break
31:10I returned to my dorm and lay on my bed
31:14while chatting with Eleanor
31:16she suddenly mentioned my family and Eugene
31:18sounding gleeful
31:20Becca, you won't believe it
31:23after you left
31:24Eugene and the Meyer family practically went crazy
31:27crazy?
31:29I murmured
31:32I typed a casual reply
31:34impossible
31:35they don't care about me that much
31:37Eleanor sent a quick message back
31:39who knows
31:40but apparently they've been trying every possible way to contact you
31:45I nodded
31:46that finally explained all the recent unknown numbers calling me
31:51but since I never answer unfamiliar calls
31:54I always ignored them
31:58it turned out they were from my family and Eugene
32:03as I was thinking this
32:05another unknown number came in
32:08I hesitated
32:10then answered
32:10to my surprise
32:11it was mom
32:12the moment the call connected
32:14she sounded emotional
32:16Becca, you finally picked up
32:18where did you run off to?
32:20why did you block all of us?
32:22we thought something happened to you
32:25she paused
32:26then spoke stiffly
32:29we shouldn't have ignored your feelings before
32:32come home
32:33we'll celebrate your birthday
32:37her sudden change in tone was too abnormal
32:39I immediately thought of the notebook
32:42I had tossed into the trash before leaving
32:44and figured they must have fished it out
32:46and read my diary
32:4799 numbers
32:48and far more than 99 wounds
32:52no wonder they were suddenly drowning in guilt
32:54and desperate to make it up to me
32:56but what did it change?
33:00doing something that hurt me
33:01and then coming back asking for forgiveness
33:03didn't prove they cared
33:06it only proved they wanted to soothe their own conscience
33:09I said coldly
33:11no need
33:13I don't like celebrating birthdays
33:16mom choked on my words
33:18and was left speechless for a long moment
33:21when she finally spoke again
33:22she tried to persuade me to come home soon
33:26I looked around my small dorm room
33:29it wasn't big
33:30but everything inside it was mine
33:32I had chosen them
33:35this place was where I finally felt I belonged
33:41no need
33:42I'm already home
33:44I said it calmly
33:45then hung up
33:47I had assumed my refusal that day was clear enough
33:51but one afternoon
33:53after finishing my experiments
33:55and stepping out of the lab
33:58I saw the very last group of people
34:00I wanted to face
34:01standing at the entrance of my apartment building
34:05it was dad
34:07mom
34:08Zachariah
34:08and Eugene
34:11when they saw me
34:12all of them looked shaken
34:15Bec
34:16you're finally back
34:19Zachariah started toward me
34:20but Eugene shoved past him
34:22and planted himself directly in front of me
34:26Becca
34:26long time no see
34:29he looked haggard
34:30eyes red
34:31like he hadn't slept in days
34:33the old me might have felt a sting of sympathy
34:36now I only felt annoyed
34:38we already broke up
34:39why are you here?
34:42Eugene's eyes reddened even more
34:44I didn't agree to break up
34:48we just had a misunderstanding
34:52a breakup doesn't need your consent
34:55I said calmly
34:57then looked toward my family standing awkwardly to the side
35:03I heard everything you said that day
35:05my parents and Zachariah went pale in an instant
35:07and even Eugene's eyes widened as the truth finally hit him
35:11I continued with the truth I had pieced together
35:15Eugene has always liked Sylvia
35:18you didn't think his family background was good enough for her?
35:23so you pushed him towards me instead?
35:27that way
35:27you could still keep someone around to spoil Sylvia, right?
35:34no, no, that's not
35:37mom tried to deny it
35:40but even she had no strength to argue
35:44dad and Zachariah both lowered their heads
35:46shame painted across their faces
35:50as for Eugene
35:51he rushed to explain himself
35:54I did like Sylvia in the beginning
35:56but that was only at the start
35:58we're about to get married
36:00how could I not have feelings for you?
36:03I nodded
36:04as if acknowledging it
36:06relief briefly flickered in his eyes
36:08then I struck cleanly
36:13but you didn't show up to our wedding
36:15so we're not getting married anymore
36:18no, we can have another wedding
36:20I already ordered your dress
36:22it's still from your favorite designer
36:25I already contacted the wedding planner
36:27as long as you agree
36:29we can redo everything
36:31it'll be even better than last time
36:35Eugene held my shoulders
36:36voice hoarse with pleading
36:39Becca, please
36:40just listen to me
36:42I only take care of Syl
36:44out of habit
36:46the person I love is really you
36:48I never thought you would actually leave
36:51I was a jerk
36:54I hurt you
36:55it's my fault
36:57I gently pushed his hands off
36:59his red rimmed eyes
37:01stirred something inside me
37:03after all
37:04he was the person
37:05who stayed with me
37:06during the loneliest years of my life
37:08and he was the one
37:09who made me believe
37:09I could be loved
37:11and maybe that was exactly
37:13why I could never forgive him
37:16forgiving him
37:17would mean betraying the girl
37:18who once waited
37:19so desperately
37:19for her wedding day
37:22you love me
37:23no you don't
37:26love doesn't look like this
37:29love means always feeling indebted
37:34not taking advantage of someone's feelings
37:36and hurting them again and again
37:39love is two people trying to understand each other
37:41not one person doing all the giving
37:46Eugene
37:47we can't go back
37:49you know very well what I wanted
37:51what I wanted was someone who chose me without hesitation
37:56but he had never done that
37:58Eugene staggered back like he had been struck by lightning
38:02he slumped over and covered his face
38:04it looked like he was crying
38:05I didn't comfort him
38:07he was an ex-boyfriend now
38:09he wasn't worth my energy
38:11that was all that needed to be said
38:13as long as he wasn't blocking my path to the dorm
38:15that was enough
38:18just as I turned to go
38:19my family stopped me
38:21that was when I recalled
38:22there were still three more people I hadn't dealt with
38:26I rubbed my temples
38:27irritated
38:28then looked at the three guilty hesitant faces
38:32he's here to beg me to get back together
38:34what about you
38:35what are you here for
38:40dad exhaled heavily
38:41Becca
38:43only when we read your diary
38:45did we realize how much you've suffered all these years
38:48are you done
38:49you can go now
38:51I have things to do this afternoon
38:53don't waste my time
38:55how is this wasting time
38:56we're apologizing
38:58Zachariah's voice trembled with frustration
39:00just because you're apologizing
39:02doesn't mean I have to accept it
39:04I said firmly
39:07Zachariah opened his mouth
39:08but had nothing to say
39:11you keep saying you shifted your love for me onto Sylvia
39:14but why
39:15I was the one you owed
39:17she was the one who benefited
39:19in your house
39:20I wasn't even as happy as I was living with grandpa and grandma
39:24now I've left
39:25I'm far away from you
39:28we can live our separate lives
39:30isn't that better for everyone
39:34mom was already sobbing
39:38Becca
39:39you're our daughter
39:41you can't just cut us off like this
39:44I'd rather not be your daughter
39:46after saying that
39:47I turned and walked upstairs
39:49not bothering to look at the three of them crying in a pathetic little huddle
39:55during my final year of grad school
39:57a huge scandal exploded in our overseas student circle
40:03it turned out that after Sylvia went abroad
40:05she immediately tossed aside the piano she had bragged so much about
40:11all the claims about orchestras and teacher recommendations were lies
40:17she didn't learn anything valuable
40:19what she did pick up was a chaotic lifestyle and an STD
40:26then at some party she got involved with things she shouldn't have touched
40:31to get money from my family
40:33she lied that she was seriously ill
40:36my parents and Zachariah rushed over out of worry
40:38only to walk in on her partying wildly
40:42apparently she was still high when they confronted her
40:44and she snapped
40:48aren't I your favorite?
40:50why would you give money to that bitch Rebecca instead of me?
40:53if you had given me money
40:54I wouldn't have had to lie
40:57during the argument
40:58she became delirious
40:59grabbed a knife
41:01and stabbed Zachariah
41:04he survived
41:05but the damage was permanent
41:17his body would never fully recover for the rest of his life
41:21my parents called it a family disaster and finally cut off her allowance
41:27without money
41:28she slid even further down the wrong path
41:32she passed her disease to several people
41:35then returned home looking for someone to take responsibility
41:39and guess who her target was
41:41Eugene
41:46even though he claimed to love me
41:50when his first love came knocking
41:53he didn't refuse
41:56except that first love turned out to have an STD
41:59he got infected too
42:05unable to accept what his life had become
42:08he snapped and stabbed Sylvia
42:13she stabbed him and he stabbed her
42:16in the end
42:18one was dead
42:20and the other one was injured and imprisoned
42:24I stared at those familiar names
42:26and felt nothing but a faint
42:27distant sigh
42:31whatever emotions I once had were long gone
42:34after graduating
42:36I returned to America
42:37and became a key researcher
42:39at a pharmaceutical company
42:40my parents and Zachariah
42:42eventually tracked down where I worked
42:44they tried to visit
42:45but they never even made it past the front gate
42:48because the security stopped them
42:51and so they lived the rest of their lives in regret
42:55they regretted never cherishing the girl they once brought home
43:00and they regretted losing the daughter and sister
43:02who once looked at them like they were her whole world
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