Chapter 2

During my two weeks in the hospital, Isaac didn't call, text, or visit.

I wasn't surprised.

I used to make excuses for him: He's working on such important research. His mind belongs to all of humanity—how could it be bothered with trivial things?

I'd update him on every little detail of my life like some personal assistant, and he'd usually just reply with a bland "ok," or sometimes not even bother to read it.

It was a one-way street, but I was foolish enough to romanticize it as "just how geniuses are."

Two weeks later, he finally called.

"I can't sleep."

"Go find Clara," I said coldly. "If she can celebrate victories with you, I'm sure she can handle your insomnia, too."

Even stuck in the hospital, I had internet.

Clara's Instagram had basically become their shared diary.

"Breakthrough in the experiment! Thanks to the amazing Isaac!" — a photo of Isaac's focused profile in the lab late at night.

"First time drinking! Isaac said it's to celebrate!" — two champagne glasses clinking, their reflections hinting at something more.

"Jane, Clara can't fix my insomnia."

I hung up.

But I'd underestimated how stubborn he could be.

The next night, the door to my room swung open.

Isaac stood there, holding a huge, bright bouquet of red roses.

"You really are here," he said, his eyes landing on the cast on my right leg. For the first time, his expression cracked. "You... really broke your leg?"

I stared at him like he was part of some bad play. "Yeah. Why else would I be here?"

He walked in awkwardly and set the overly flashy roses on the bedside table.

"Clara said when girls are upset, you have to apologize with red roses." He said it like he was explaining a scientific theory.

My head spun.

Clara again.

Even showing up here—even these flowers—were because of her advice.

"Take your flowers and get out!" I grabbed the bouquet and hurled it to the floor. "Isaac, if all you know how to do is listen to Clara, then go be her boyfriend! Stop coming here and disgust me!"

He frowned. "Jane, you're being irrational. If I dated her, that would be cheating."

I almost laughed. "We! Broke! Up!"

He fired back immediately, "In the past four years, you've tried to break up with me twelve times. The first time was because I forgot your birthday. The second was because I fell asleep during a date. The third—"

"Enough!"

I didn't want to hear him list all the times I'd humiliated myself trying to make it work.

I hit the call button for the nurse.

Before she arrived, Isaac just stood there, stubborn as always, until the nurse politely but firmly escorted him out.

He didn't linger outside my room for long.

When I couldn't sleep around midnight, I saw Clara had posted again.

"Data glitch in the lab tonight, but Isaac rushed back to save the day! I know I interrupted his personal time, but he didn't even get mad. Still the same sweet, reliable Isaac~"

So after being kicked out, he'd gone straight back to her.

After I was discharged, I moved out of the apartment I'd shared with Isaac and went back to my parents' place.

Just when I thought he was finally out of my life, he called again a month later.

"You moved out," he said, sounding annoyed. "Jane, this joke has gone on long enough."

"I'm at my parents' now," I said flatly.

"You're at your parents'? Then what are you doing right now? How's your leg? I have an awards ceremony next week. I need you there with me..." He kept talking like nothing had changed.

"I'm busy, Isaac," I cut him off lightly.

"Doing what?"

I looked at myself in the mirror. "Trying on wedding dresses."