Secret of My Ex-boyfriend

Because we were going back to hometown, my ex-boyfriend and I were in the room sorting things out.

Suddenly, he cornered me on the sofa and kissed me passionately.

In this special atmosphere that neither of us wanted to break, he looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Am I your ex-boyfriend or your current boyfriend?"

Chapter One

"Samantha, this case is getting a lot of attention. You need to interview the lawyer handling it." The chief editor messaged me.

I gasped in surprise. The lawyer in charge of this case was my ex-boyfriend-Roderick Carter.

I got into the car, my phone screen still displaying the message.

The car stopped at his law office. I got out and entered the elevator with the cameraman. Even though it was winter, my palms were sweating, and I bit my lip nervously.

The elevator reached the floor, and as the doors slowly opened, Roderick's face appeared before me.

I could see the surprise in his eyes, but I composed myself and remained calm.

I was the first to step out of the elevator, pretending not to recognize Roderick.

"Hello, Mr. Carter. I'm the journalist here for the interview. My name is Samantha Fletcher." I extended my hand with a professional smile, indicating for Roderick to shake it.

Roderick didn't let the situation become awkward. He shook my hand and said calmly, "Hello."

The interview proceeded normally, and I immersed myself in my usual work mode.

After the recording ended, I made some polite remarks and immediately smiled, "Thank you very much, Mr. Carter, for this interview."

The cameraman was still checking the footage, and at that moment, Roderick and I sat facing each other. The awkward atmosphere seemed to drop the room's temperature to freezing.

Snow was still falling outside the window, white flakes drifting down.

But none of it compared to the heavy snow on the day Roderick and I confirmed our relationship.

The snowflakes on the windowsill mirrored the warmth of his blushing face.

At the age of new adulthood, our faces got blushed and hot that night from the shyness of confession.

"What are you thinking about? Let's go." The cameraman called my name twice without a response, then patted my shoulder.

I snapped back to reality, quickly grabbed my bag, and left. Out of the corner of my eye, I sneaked a glance at Roderick. He didn't say a word, just watched me leave.

Soon, the cameraman and I were downstairs, leaving footprints in the snow before getting into the car and driving away.

When I returned to the studio, I was still lost in thought.

I remembered that winter during my senior year of college; it was particularly cold. I complained once about the biting wind on the road.

After that, he would pick me up and drop me off at my rented apartment every day.

That apartment was one Roderick had specifically found for me so I could study for my exams in peace.

My mother always said he took good care of me and joked about me marrying him.

Looking back now, it was just a joke. I once thought I would really marry Roderick.

Back home, I was browsing for apartments on my phone. Over the past two years, I had saved some money, and I couldn't live in a rented apartment all the time. So I wanted to find a place to settle down in the city.

Just then, I received a call from my mother.

"Did you meet with Roderick?"

I gasped in surprise. We had never announced our relationship to our parents, always pretending to be friends when we visited home.

"I saw your interview. When are you going to invite Roderick over?" My mother added.

I remained silent. Meeting each other was awkward enough, let alone reminiscing with him and even inviting him home.

A thick layer of frost covered the window outside. I rubbed my fingertips against it, my eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Got it, Mom." I replied, then hung up the phone and collapsed onto the bed in frustration.

Chapter Two

New Year's Eve arrived as scheduled, and I was assigned by the studio to report on the New Year's Eve screen.

I skillfully packed my equipment and headed to the most crowded place.

There was a railing beside the street, and I sat on a bench in front of it, adjusting the camera to focus on the big screen.

With an hour left until the New Year, I felt bored, sitting on the bench in a daze when a familiar figure stood beside me.

"Mr. Carter, " I turned my head to meet Roderick's gaze.

He didn't shy away and sat in the empty seat next to me.

"Still working on New Year's Eve?" I glanced at Roderick's briefcase and asked.

The river outside the railing shimmered with the city's neon lights. The winter wind made it particularly cold, and I buried my face in my scarf.

"Aren't you?" Roderick teased.

"When did you return from abroad?" I asked, looking at the countdown on the big screen.

"Half a month ago."

"That's good." I said, my words catching in my throat, the conversation stalling there.

I had no topics to discuss, so I lowered my head, holding the warm coffee in my hands.

The New Year's clock was still counting down, flashing on the screen second by second.

"How long do you plan to stay this time?" I took a sip of coffee and asked.

"I'm not planning to leave." Roderick said softly.

I had heard from my mother long ago that Roderick had earned a Ph.D. abroad. I thought he didn't plan to return from abroad.

I nodded, surprised but secretly a little pleased.

To be honest, I never blamed Roderick for the breakup four years ago; I just didn't understand it.

During our relationship, Roderick was a perfect boyfriend. I never felt he treated me poorly, nor did I feel dissatisfied after the breakup. It just hurt.

During that time, I encountered setback during work, and I often walked the streets we used to frequent, trying to adjust to life without Roderick.

It was a struggle to get back on track, but his return this time disrupted the normal course of my life.

So, Roderick's decision to settle down for good was unexpected for me.

Although Roderick's mother often kept in touch with mine, I never asked intentionally. It was just something my mother would occasionally mention during our chats.

"Pretty good." I replied, still staring at the big screen without turning my head.

"How have the past four years been?" I asked casually, though I couldn't help but squeeze the paper cup of coffee in my hand a little tighter.

"A bit tiring." Roderick answered honestly.

I turned my head to look at Roderick's face closely. His gentle eyes were still the same, but I couldn't find the youthful Roderick from four years ago.

The day we were together was New Year's Eve. In a bustling square, we were holding hot coffee, waiting for the countdown like other couples, quietly wishing for a long-lasting relationship.

Just like this year, there were still many couples, and the square was just as lively.

With five minutes left on the big screen countdown, I adjusted the camera, zooming in after focusing.

"Do you want to work with me?" I saw Roderick standing beside me, raising an eyebrow and asking.

Roderick chuckled and helped me secure the stand.

"Then will you spend New Year's Eve with me?" He asked in return.

The awkward atmosphere was instantly broken, and we waited for the countdown together.

Three, two, one.

Across the river, fireworks lit up, illuminating everyone's faces.

I immediately closed my eyes, clasped my hands together, and made a wish. When I slowly opened my eyes, the fireworks were still going off, and the camera was still recording. I turned to see the fireworks reflected in Roderick's eyes.

His dimples slowly appeared again.

Unconsciously, I took out my phone and quietly captured the moment, then put it away just as discreetly.

His silhouette gradually overlapped with the figure I had of him in memory.

It was as if I was back on the night of Roderick's high school graduation, with fireworks by the river.

We sat drinking, and when he got drunk, he rested his head on my shoulder.

"Samantha, come find me when you grow up, okay?"

Roderick quietly turned his head at that moment, meeting my eyes.

"Samantha, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Roderick." I replied, slightly tilting my head to meet his gaze.

Chapter Three

Since New Year's, our contact became more frequent.

But I never initiated a meeting with Roderick, and even when he invited me, I would deliberately decline.

I hadn't thought about how to face Roderick, or the relationship we once shared.

The opportunity came one Friday night as I was about to enjoy a weekend off. After a shower, I lay in bed when my phone suddenly chimed with a message. Roderick had sent a picture, asking if I was free the next evening.

I opened the image to find two movie tickets. I replied with a simple "okay" and sat in front of the vanity mirror applying a face mask.

I planned to invite Roderick to my house after the movie, as my mother had been eagerly suggesting.

The next evening, Roderick drove to my apartment building.

We both wore matching coats, looking inexplicably like a couple.

I sat in the passenger seat, feeling awkward and avoiding eye contact, unsure how to handle the romantic tension in the air.

Roderick started the car and slowly drove towards the cinema.

"Are you free later in this month?" I asked, turning my head.

"I am. Why?" Roderick's hands rested on the steering wheel, eyes fixed ahead.

"My mom wants you to come over if you have time." I leaned against the car window, letting the evening breeze blow in.

"Got it." Roderick replied nonchalantly.

What did "got it" mean? Was it a yes or a no? I pouted in dissatisfaction. Why couldn't he give a straightforward answer instead of sounding like he was at work?

"I'll go." Roderick added.

My pout slowly disappeared, and I replied, "Got it."

"Does 'got it' mean you're welcoming me or not?" Roderick teased with a light laugh.

"You guess." I retorted playfully, pretending to be annoyed.

The car soon arrived at the cinema, and Roderick got out to open my door.

As the movie started, I watched the screen, munching on popcorn.

Most romance films ended perfectly, but in this one, both the male and female leads died.

I sighed as Roderick and I left the cinema together.

We walked to the car, and Roderick opened the trunk to reveal a large bouquet of red roses.

I was pleasantly surprised and took them, the fresh petals emitting a delightful fragrance.

"Why did you suddenly buy me flowers? It's not even a special occasion."

I asked, holding the bouquet, my breath visible in the cold night air as I looked up at Roderick.

Roderick's nose was slightly red from the cold, and his ears were gradually turning red too.

"Roderick." I softly called his name.

"If you don't say, I won't accept them." I joked with a light smile.

"Are you trying to pursue me?" I guessed, taking an involuntary step forward.

Roderick might not have expected me to close the distance between us, and he lowered his head, his dreamy eyes scanning my face.

"Do you agree?"

"Not really."