Checkup Encounter: My Ex Regretted Losing Me

I chased Quentin Vane for seven years, and he turned me down for seven years.

After my last failed confession, I finally announced I was giving up.

We later ran into each other by accident during the premarital health check, and the man who was always so composed completely fell apart.

Anger and regret tangled in Quentin's eyes. Every word he forced out sounded like an accusation.

"Didn't you say you'd only ever love me?"

"Yeah. And you said you'd never regret it, remember?"

…

Quentin stared at my examination report for a full eight minutes.

The whole time, he didn't say a single word.

But if I wasn't mistaken, his hand was shaking.

After a while, he suddenly looked up at me, his gaze unexpectedly calm.

"Why did you choose the premarital checkup package?"

I froze, then quickly answered, "Because I'm getting married."

There was nothing wrong with that answer.

But having this conversation with Quentin was something I never thought would actually happen.

Because in my imagination, it should've been me and him going for the premarital checkup together—then walking happily into marriage.

Maybe I answered too lightly, too casually.

The moment the words left my mouth, Quentin's formerly calm face went dark.

"Whitney Fraser, what kind of game are you playing now?"

"Trying to see how I'll react? Or is this another one of your jokes? I'm at work, I don't have time to mess around with you."

So he thought I was teasing him again.

I couldn't really blame him. For the past seven years, I'd always been tactless like that.

I shook my head.

"No. I'm serious. I didn't expect you to be the attending physician today either."

Quentin was a resident. He usually didn't take outpatient shifts.

But fate always has a fucked-up sense of humor—I ran into him on the very first test of the day.

After listening to me, Quentin just looked more impatient.

He forced down his temper and said, "Where the hell did you get a fiancé? Two months ago you were still with me—"

He abruptly cut himself off, swallowing the rest of the sentence.

"Forget it. Go home first. I'll talk to you after my shift."

Right. Two months ago, I'd just confessed to him again; now I was suddenly marrying someone else. No one would be thrilled about that.

"I'm not—"

Before I could finish, he practically shoved me out of his office.

Staring at the tightly closed door of the exam room, I quietly sighed.

After thinking it over, I still sent him a picture.

It was a wedding photo.

The Vanes had moved in later.

They happened to live right across from my family.

The first time we met, Quentin was standing at my door holding a box of mille crêpe cake.

His mom had made it and specifically told him to bring it over for the new neighbors to try.

It was a weekend. My hair was a total bird's nest, and I was simmering with resentment about being dragged out of bed when I opened the door.

The moment I saw him, I went completely blank.

It was the first time I realized the word "beautiful" could be used for a boy too.

From that moment on, my long, one-sided crush began.

Quentin was naturally aloof and liked to keep to himself.

Plenty of people tried to chase him, but very few ever got close.

I was one of the few.

He treated me with more patience and closeness than he showed anyone else.

Back then, I naively believed that in his heart, I was different from everyone else.

Until my birthday.

I scraped together all my courage to confess—and he rejected me without even hesitating.

"We're neighbors and classmates. Isn't it normal for us to be a little closer?"

"If my behavior made you misunderstand, then I'll be more careful from now on."

In his calm voice, I could hear the sound of my own heart breaking.

But I've been stubborn since I was a kid.

So he didn't like me now—so what? It wasn't like there was anyone else in Quentin's life.

So I could just keep liking him.

And that went on for seven years.

There was still no trace of anyone else in his life.

My friends were used to me always being around him.

Even Quentin seemed to have accepted my presence by default.

After graduation, because of one thing he said, I didn't hesitate to move to his city.

I thought this time, I would finally get a clear answer.

Then his exception appeared.