We Part In Autumn

It has been seven years since I shadowed Eula Ross like a fawning puppy. Under my dedicated tutoring, she successfully became a top student.

But after the SATs scores were released, she casually dropped a single line at a class reunion.

“Why don’t you apply for a community college with me? I have to go be with Luke Stetson.”

All these years, I have been at her beck and call while granting her every wish.

To make her happy, I even humbled myself to the point of slapping myself in front of everyone.

Everyone said I was her shadow that she could never shake off. They bet that I would be stuck with Eula for the rest of my life.

Right then, our classmates were standing by. They waited to see how me, the valedictorian, would humbly agree.

For the first time ever, my expression was cold as I flat-out refused her.

“Screw that! You’re the one with a screw loose. I’m not.”

The moment I finished speaking, the air in the private room seemed to freeze.

“Did I hear that right? Did Zephyr Golding just insult Eula Ross?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. He’s usually such a subservient simp. What a sudden change!”

Eula’s expression turned red with rage.

“Say that again!”

Luke Stetson, who had been leaning against her the whole time, gently tugged at her sleeve.

“It’s okay, Eula. I’m not worthy of having you and the Golding family’s eldest son accompany me to Blue Oak Technical School.”

As he spoke, he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. His gaze carried a hint of barely perceptible defiance.

After Luke’s “persuasion,” Eula barked at me.

“Zephyr Golding, apologize!”

Whenever I heard those words in the past, I would have apologized without hesitation.

Because the moment I showed the slightest resistance, a sharp, electric shock would jolt through my brain. It would inflict unbearable pain.

I waited two seconds, three seconds…

No electric shock came.

It seemed I had truly broken free from that damn plot.

The realization lifted my spirits.

I took a step back to create distance between us. I drawled lazily, “I won’t. Why should I apologize?”

My complete defiance to her orders at present was a mirror of my complete subservience to her in the past.

Eula was thoroughly enraged by my response.

“Very well, Zephyr, I’m telling you. I’m not coming home starting today. Don’t even think about seeing me!”

I chuckled. I could not wait for her to never come back.

She thought she had me in her grasp and waited for me to cave.

But all I could think about was where to go to relax. The Maltives? Or skiing in Swisserland?

Eula waited for ages without seeing me cry and beg for mercy. Just as she was about to lose her temper, Luke chuckled softly and slipped his arm around hers.

“Eula, don’t get angry at Zephyr for my sake. How sad would being homeless be?

“Come to think