Tabitha's POV
As the weather started heating up, the fireflies came out to play.
They were like little fairies in nature, giving off their own glow, lighting up the night with tiny sparkles.
It made me think of my childhood back in the Silver Moon Pack.
I used to love chasing those twinkling fireflies in the pack square at night.
Just then, a cool breeze blew by, and I sneezed.
Hearing that, Derek straightened up, strolling over with a jar full of fireflies.
He must've been catching them for a while, as the jar had a good dozen glowing bugs in it.
It wasn't as stunning as the ones I saw on the island, but it still looked pretty cool glowing in the jar.
"Are you hungry?" Derek casually offered me the jar.
I remained silent, not taking it. So he just casually hung it up on the tent and then took off his jacket to drape over my shoulders.
"Even though it's warming up, it's still cold here in the mountains. You didn't have much for dinner. Are you hungry? Check out what I got for you."
His voice was filled with concern, but all I felt was indifference.
I frowned, eyeing him coldly. "Why did you bring me here?"
I only agreed to come out because of the concert. I didn't wanna enjoy a romantic night with this jerk at all.
Derek took my hand and led me to a picnic table. "There might be an Aquarius meteor shower tonight. You once said that you wanted to see it, remember?"
I used to be all dreamy about that stuff, wishing for beautiful moments, but those sweet fantasies had long got wrecked by reality.
Back then, waiting for shooting stars with my true love was supposed to be one of the happiest times of my life.
But Derek was always too busy, and he'd bail on me every time.
And I'd always smile and say, "It's cool. We've got a lifetime to wait for it. No rush on my end."
But I forgot how unpredictable life was. That "lifetime" turned out to be just a few short years.
Looking at the picnic table piled with fresh ingredients, I couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise.
There were various grilled skewers, veggie salads, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and even some wrapped-up grilled fish.
On the portable grill, sausages and steaks sizzled with mouth-watering aroma, the grease dripping onto the coals, making a satisfying sound.
The night sky was dotted with stars and the moon was above us, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere.
Everything was just perfect. This was exactly the camping experience I had always dreamed of.
But standing under the glow of the fireflies, I didn't feel delighted at all.
I shot a cold stare at Derek, my voice airy as I spoke, "The old me craved watching a meteor shower with my true love. But do you know what I want now?"
He pursed his thin lips, replying, "I know, you want revenge."
His voice was low, revealing a sense of helplessness.
I stared at his handsome face, remaining silent.
Before, even a glance at him would make my heart skip a beat, yet now, I had mixed feelings whenever I looked at him—regret, rancor, disgust... Only love was out of the picture.
"No, if there really is a meteor shower, I wanna make a wish," I finally piped up.
I stepped closer, lifting up on my toes in my flats, whispering in his ear, "I just wish to never see you again in this lifetime."
I didn't even wanna hate him now. All I wanted was to stay away from him as far as possible.
Hearing my reply, Derek paused, his breath catching.
Then he finally managed to ask, a hint of tremor in his voice, "You really hate me that much?"
"Yeah, I only feel disgust for you," I sneered.
A gust of wind rolled in, making the lanterns sway, their yellow light flickering.
"Remember those two years when you hated me? Well, I feel the same way about you now. This feeling's only gotten deeper, Derek. There's betrayal, lies, hate, and regret between us, but love? That's long gone. Just looking at your face makes me sick," I said, my voice soft yet piercing, and I could tell Derek shivered.
So this was how he felt when he hurt me before.
Every word was like a blade. Although it didn't cause any physical injuries, it hurt like hell.
Seeing a flicker of pain in his eyes, I knew I successfully broke his heart.