City of Longing

As George heard that, his curiosity was piqued. He was about to take a closer look when Kimberly snatched the papers away and handed them to Cora. She stood up, preparing to leave.

"Well, that's settled, then. I'm heading back. Good night."

George's curiosity immediately faded. He said he would drive her home.

Kimberly shook her head and glanced at Cora with an unreadable expression. "No need. Keep Cora company instead. There's not much time left anyway."

Not much time left for what? George frowned, wanting to press further, but she had already opened the door. Instinctively, he grabbed his car keys and followed her out with a quick parting remark.

"Cora, I'm just going to drive Kimberly home. I'll be right back."

The door slammed shut.

From the moment he entered until he left, George never once looked at Cora.

She was used to it. Cora did not feel hurt. She put away the papers and returned to her room. After turning off the lights, she slowly drifted to sleep. Half an hour later, there was noise at the door. Soon after, the lights flickered on.

Cora opened her eyes groggily to see George opening a drawer and placing several boxes of condoms inside.

Then, he pulled her into his arms. His warm breath brushed against her ear. "Didn't you use to wait for me until midnight every night? How come you went to bed so early today? Hmm?"

That was before. It would never happen again.

Cora thought this silently and found a casual excuse. "I'm on my period. I'm not feeling well."

Remembering how he had abandoned her on the highway, George felt an inexplicable twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry. I forgot."

"Even if you'd remembered, would it have stopped you from leaving me there?"

The question left George speechless.

The room fell silent for a long moment before he finally spoke in a low voice. "I'm sorry, Cora. Kimberly sprained her ankle. She's been terrified of pain since childhood, so I was in a rush. I promise you, this kind of thing will absolutely not happen a second time."

Yet that had already been the ninth time.

A mocking smile flashed in Cora's eyes. "Right. It definitely won't happen again."

After all, they would be divorced soon.

…

The next morning, when Cora woke up, she found a cup of her usual tea on the nightstand.

George walked in carrying breakfast. "Cora, drink up and come eat breakfast."

Before Kimberly returned to the country, Cora had woken to this scene every day. Back then, she thought this was love. That was why she made that wager with Kimberly.

In the end, she lost utterly and completely.

This time, instead of accepting as usual, Cora got up and pulled out clothes from the closet.

"No thanks. I'm not hungry. I need to go out soon anyway. You can eat without me."

After washing up, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. George picked up his jacket and said he would drive her.

Cora could not refuse and had to agree. As soon as she got in the car, she noticed the protective charm she had hung from the mirror was replaced by a doll keychain. The dashboard ornaments had also been replaced by a row of Hello Kitty figures.

George noticed where she was looking and quickly offered an explanation. "Yesterday, I parked on the side of the road and forgot to close the window. All those ornaments got soaked in the rain. My assistant cleaned them out and replaced them with new ones."

Was it really his assistant?

Cora remembered that Kimberly loved these kinds of dolls. She had an entire room full of Hello Kitty plushies at home.

She did not call him out on the lie. Instead, she asked, "What about my protective charm? I went all the way to a chapel in the mountains to get that blessed. Give it back."

George's expression froze for an instant. "My assistant threw it out without thinking. I'll have her find it right away."

Hearing him continue to lie, Cora only felt tired. "If it's been thrown out, then forget it. I don't want it anymore."

He seemed surprised. "You really don't want it back?"

Cora nodded slightly. "I don't want it."

The protective charm, this marriage, him... She did not want any of it anymore.

When they arrived at the club, Cora went straight to Room 908. The room was already full of people. Her college classmates greeted her one after another when they saw her.

"Cora, why did you come alone? Didn't you bring your husband? Is George too busy with work?"

Before she could answer, Kimberly, sitting in the center, spoke up as if casually.

"He has a meeting this morning that won't end until eleven. Then he has to go negotiate a partnership this afternoon. He definitely doesn't have time."

Seeing how well she knew George's schedule, everyone started joking around.

"Childhood friends really do understand each other better. You know his schedule inside and out."