They Took My Ticket, I Destroyed Their Lives Chapter 03

I choked down the bile rising in my throat.

If I burned the bridge now, I wouldn’t get to see the rest of the show.

I kept my voice low, modulated. “…Fine. I got it. You guys… have a good trip.”

Hearing me roll over again, Jayden’s voice turned triumphant. It was like he’d just closed a big deal.

“Now you’re talking! Kira, I knew you were a good ear.”

He didn’t even hesitate to give me his “orders” for the seating.

“It’s a deal then! I’m counting on you for that spot! Make sure it’s by a window with good airflow; Vivian likes the breeze.”

“When I get back, I’ll take you to that steakhouse you like.”

Another “reward” for being a good soldier.

He forgot that he’s supposed to be my boyfriend—taking me out shouldn’t be a damn transaction.

“Mm-hmm,” I hummed.

“Alright, gotta run. Vivian’s calling me. See what she needs.”

He couldn’t wait to get off the line.

The second the dial tone hit, the mask dropped.

The next two days were quiet.

Jayden didn’t call. He just shot me a text to “remind” me about the library spot, terrified I might ruin Vivian’s study habits.

Vivian, meanwhile, was busy on Instagram. She posted a photo from a downtown cafe—the one I’d been begging Jayden to take me to for months.

Caption: “Hard work doesn’t always pay off… feeling down in the dumps. So glad I have someone by my side to pick up the pieces. Looking forward to the getaway~”

Jayden’s comment was right at the top: “I’m gonna feed you well this holiday.”

A string of likes and “get well” comments from mutual friends followed.

I scrolled past it with a blank face. I didn’t even bother to zoom in.

The afternoon before departure, there was a knock on my dorm door.

I opened it to find Jayden and Vivian standing there.

Vivian flashed me a sugary, apologetic smile. “Kira, hope we aren’t interrupting?”

Jayden craned his neck to look inside my room. His eyes landed on my small suitcase sitting out in the open, and his brow furrowed.

“Something you need?” I stood in the doorway, giving them no room to enter.

“Nothing major,” Jayden said, his tone dismissive. “I’m here to help Vivian pack. She wants to hit the station early tomorrow. Just figured I’d check in.”

His eyes went back to my bag, suspicious. “You… get a ticket? A standing spot? Are you on our train?”

Vivian blinked her big eyes at me, playing the concerned friend. “It would be so much better if we were all together. We could look out for each other, help with the bags…”

I looked at her fake expression and spoke slowly. “I didn’t buy a ticket.”

They both froze.

Vivian was the first to react, a flash of smugness hidden behind her voice. “Oh? No ticket? Then how are you getting home, Kira? Are even the standing spots gone? Oh, that’s terrible!”

Jayden’s face darkened. “Kira, what have you been doing for two days? I told you to get on it! Now you’re saying you’ve got nothing? What, are you gonna walk a thousand miles?”

I watched them run their little Mutt and Jeff act. It was almost funny.

“I have a way home,” I said simply.

Alright, Principessa. Let’s keep this moving.