Room 7 Was Meant for Them

On the night of our graduation trip, group leader Kelly suggested drawing room numbers for pairing.

It's fate! No matter if you're a guy or girl, if you draw the same number, you share a room. How exciting!

I'd been dating Catherine for three years of our four years in college. No one knew.

I drew a ball from the box and waited to be paired.

When Catherine's turn came, she called out "Number 7."

Kelly's voice instantly rose:

"The other person who drew Room 7 is... Victor!"

Victor was Catherine's ex-boyfriend.

The whole room erupted, except for me.

Before the game started, I'd overheard Kelly whisper to Catherine:

"Find the one with the circular bumpI specially saved it for you and Victor."

Since you two want to rekindle your romance, I'll make it happen for you.

The room assignments weren't even finished, but the atmosphere had already peaked.

Kelly distributed red wristbands to them, emphasizing loudly:

"Let me remind everyone of the rules! Same number pairs upfor these three days and two nights, you're bound together the whole trip. Go by wristband color, no solo activities allowed!"

Wolf whistles rang out from the crowd. Some girls deliberately winked at Catherine.

Victor smiled as he put on his wristband and took her small bag.

Catherine's face flushed deeper red as her petite frame shrank behind him.

Victor smoothly removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Cut it out, Catherine's shy."

"Already being protective! Everyone better watch outif you upset Catherine, Victor will come after you!"

The teasing erupted into a chorus.

I stood outside the crowd, left hand gripping the ball, right hand pulling a heavy suitcase.

Before the trip, Catherine had stuffed her things into my suitcase:

"You'll be carrying my bag anyway. If you bring another suitcase, you won't be able to drag it."

She'd also pointed at the new jacket I bought:

"That oneI heard it gets cold there at night. Perfect for me to wear."

In our three years together, she never showed any intimacy with me in front of classmates, let alone wore my jacket.

So I was overjoyed, thinking she'd use the trip to make our relationship public.

But on day one of the trip, she wore Victor's jacket.

The bag she'd said I'd carry now hung from his shoulder.

I bent down to set my things down and cleared my throat, suppressing the hoarseness.

Then I raised my hand: "Um..."

Everyone looked over. Kelly still radiated excitement:

"What's up, Owen? Victor's your roommatedo you want to say something?"

Victor froze, his lips twitching unnaturally.

Catherine suddenly looked up, shooting me a nervous, warning glance.

But her nervousness was misplaced.

I simply held up my ball and asked:

"Who's Number 3?"

Kelly scanned the room and saw someone raise their hand on the other side:

"Me."

It was Maya, a girl with little presence in class.

Kelly laughed:

"Oh, Maya! I know you're single. What about you, Owen?"

"If you're single, you can room together. If you have a girlfriend, I'll switch you with a guy..."

I gently interrupted: "I'm single."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Catherine's eyebrows relax then furrow again.

She turned her head as if to look at Maya, but Kelly had already pulled out orange wristbands:

"Perfect! You're both singlemaybe you'll become another couple!"

I accepted the wristband and nodded politely:

"Thanks."

As I picked up my suitcase again, I could feel a pair of eyes on me.

I didn't know what expression she wore at that moment. But probably... relief.

With room numbers assigned, we lined up to check in.

Victor went to call his family. Catherine dawdled, only handing over their IDs when I was the last one left.

"Go find Kelly. Tell him you don't want to room with a girl. Switch to a guy or get a single room. You'll cover the extra cost."

She kept her voice low, eyes straight ahead, not even a sideways glance at me.

I texted my parents to let them know I'd arrived safely, not looking up:

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? You're not single. How can you room with the opposite sex?"

"What about you? Are you single?"

Catherine's fingers paused, her tone carrying a hint of petulance:

"This was the game rule from the start. I'm just respecting the results of the draw."

My voice was soft:

"I'm also respecting the results of the draw."

Her almond eyes widened. Before she could speak, I took my room card and turned away.

I'd only taken a few steps when Kelly announced loudly:

"Everyone come to the screening room in half an hour. I've booked it out."

"Let's get nostalgic and watch the documentary from our freshman year sports festival!"

My steps didn't falter. I just adjusted my grip on the suitcase handle.

The freshman year sports festival documentary was a record of Catherine's passionate pursuit of Victor.

In the screening room, the table was loaded with snacks and fruit.

As soon as Catherine sat down, she pushed the grapes in front of Victor.

A male classmate next to them teased:

"Catherine's so biased! She knows Victor loves grapes, so she saves the whole plate for him."

Others joined in the teasing. Victor pushed the plate away somewhat helplessly.

But his tone revealed satisfaction:

"Everyone share them. Catherine bought me plenty."

"If there's not enough, I can go back to the room and get more."

But Catherine pulled the plate back, a smile playing on her lips:

"I'll go get more. You eat these first."

As she got up to leave, the teasing in the screening room exploded:

"Victor says one thing and Catherine immediately does it! She treats you so well!"

Victor ate grapes while laughing, then suddenly called my name:

"Owen, when Catherine brings more, you should eat some too."

"I remember you also love grapes."

The door opened. Catherine walked in carrying two plates of grapes, placing them all in front of Victor.

She knew too.

Over these three years I'd bought grapes countless times, and heard her complain to me countless times:

"Don't eat so many. These grapes are so sweetyou'll break out again."

I casually picked up an orange as Kelly called out:

"Owen, where's Maya?"

Everyone looked over. I peeled the orange without looking up:

"She had something urgent to handle."

Kelly sounded disappointed:

"Then you two are a no-go. But that's finethe other pair will definitely work out!"

Catherine's gaze lingered on me for a moment, then moved away:

"The documentary's starting."

Her voice carried a breathy quality as she skillfully handed Victor a grape.

The documentary was a full two hours.

Everyone was thoroughly engaged, laughing and teasing whenever Catherine and Victor appeared on screen.

"Catherine's wiping Victor's sweat again! He runs fifty meters and you follow closer than the cameraman."

"Look at thatwater bottles, mini fans, sunscreen, everything prepared!"

"Victor, Catherine's pursuit of you was known across campus. How could you hold out and not accept? You made her stay single for four years, and even at graduation she still can't forget you!"

Victor looked at Catherine, his eyes tender:

"I thought campus romance was unstable. I wanted to wait until after graduation to consider it."

"I never imagined she'd wait this long for me."

A girl egged them on:

"Catherine, these four years of waiting must have been hard, right?"

Catherine gazed at him, chin dipping slightly:

"It was okay."

Two short words containing four years of patience and longing.

Sighs of sympathy rose around the room. Only I laughed inwardly.

Hard? What was hard about it? She pursued Victor passionately for half a year with no results, then got into tennis.

I was the main player on the school tennis team. She asked me to coach her for six months, and right at the start of sophomore year, she confessed to me.

Of course she was okay.

Though our relationship wasn't public, we were happy together. Very happy.

Or perhaps only I thought we were happy.

I lowered my head to eat some orange. The guy next to me suddenly pointed at the screen and shouted:

"Owen, why is the class secretary holding a parasol for you? Did she have a crush on you?"

The topic shifted to me.

"No, she was just passing by."

I shook my head. The guy continued:

"Too bad the class secretary didn't come today. But she clearly liked you. You should consider itI think you two would be good together."

Catherine was pouring water for Victor, movements smooth, as if she hadn't heard our conversation.

I smiled faintly:

"No thanks."

"Actually, I have a girlfriend."

That figure suddenly froze, fingers clenching into her palm.

I understood hershe was afraid I'd say something reckless.

But the guy grabbed my arm, asking loudly:

"Who? Is she a girl from our class?"

Dozens of eyes turned toward me. I maintained my smile and nodded:

"Yes."

The room instantly erupted with questions about who it was.

Catherine's expression gradually darkened as she stared at her phone.

I felt my phone vibrate twice but didn't check, only saying:

"She had something come up. She didn't make it."

Seven or eight girls didn't come today.

Kelly looked disappointed, about to ask more, when Victor suddenly exclaimed "Ah."

His cup had tipped over, water soaking his pants.

Catherine quickly grabbed tissues to help him wipe it off. He bent over, stopping her, apologetic:

"Sorry about that. Didn't hold it steady."

"It's fine. I'll go back with you to change. Don't want you catching cold."

She left with Victor. With them gone, the documentary lost its appeal, and everyone dispersed.

When I returned to my room, the suitcase was open.

Catherine's change of clothes and makeup bag were gone.

I stared at my phone all night.

The unread messages on screen were still those two she'd sent:

"Don't say anything. Don't ruin the mood."

Right. I, as the boyfriend, couldn't ruin the ambiguous atmosphere between her and another guy.

Just like during the charity sale sophomore yearthough I had the highest earnings, I had to give the certificate to Victor. Couldn't steal his spotlight.

Or like the tennis tournament junior yearbecause of Victor's one comment "I want to try competing," I had to withdraw. Couldn't damage his enthusiasm.

These three years, Catherine treated me well.

She brought me water during matches, knitted me a scarf when it got cold.

Apart from refusing to make our relationship public, she did everything a girlfriend should do.

Except when it came to VictorI always came second.

Dawn broke. My phone still hadn't rung.

I gazed at the sun gradually rising outside the window, my heart growing calmer.

Today's itinerary was sightseeing.

Catherine and Victor wore red wristbands, walking together the entire time.

The camera I'd bought her ended up in Victor's hands. He photographed her at every Instagram-worthy spot, then took selfies with her at the landmarks.

While resting by the bridge, people asked about my future plans.

"Owen, are you staying in LA or going back to New York?"

I replied flatly: "Going back to New York."

Catherine wiped Victor's sweat, casting a seemingly casual glance my way.

Kelly nudged her:

"Victor's from LA. You'll definitely stay in LA, right?"

Catherine answered without hesitation:

"Naturally."

Victor looked down with a smile, subtly moving closer until they were pressed tightly together.

But a classmate seemed puzzled:

"Owen, didn't you already find work in LA? Why are you going back?"

I smiled:

"I turned down the job. Want to be closer to my parents."

"Really? Is it for your parents, or for your girlfriend?"

Everyone gathered around gossiping. My smile deepened:

"Both. My parents are getting olderI want to stay nearby to take care of them. She... also decided to settle in New York."

People teased and pressed me about who she was, but I just shook my head, refusing to say.

At the next attraction, Catherine blocked me at the restroom entrance.

"You really turned down the job?" She was anxious.

After all, we'd found the work together. The company valued my grades, and my condition for joining was that they also hire my girlfriend.

Now that I'd withdrawn, she couldn't stay either.

I nodded, my tone calm:

"My parents arranged work for us in New York. Once we're settled, we'll get engaged."

"Owen!"

Catherine suddenly flared up, but afraid others would hear, she suppressed it until her face turned ashen:

"Who gave you permission to arrange my future without asking!"

She left in anger.

The group straggled along. She pulled Victor to walk at the very front.

I stayed at the back, chatting with classmates.

It wasn't until dinner at the buffet that Victor spoke clearly at the table:

"The Perseid meteor shower? You guys don't know about it? Catherine said there's an observation point near here. Up to a hundred meteors per hour at peak."

Everyone at the table got interested, making plans to go watch.

But Kelly clicked his tongue:

"Could you guys show some awareness? You can see meteors from the hotel too. Don't go be third wheels."

Everyone immediately understood:

"True. The observation point has a clearer view, so it should definitely be saved for those who need it most."

Catherine served Victor food. Though she didn't speak, the bashfulness on her cheeks said everything.

The buffet here didn't suit methe flavors were too strong.

I chewed a couple bites of seafood, but the seasoning stuck in my throat. I couldn't swallow it.

I lowered my head to spit it out and got up to find something milder.

Kelly followed, saying quietly:

"Owen, I saw you posted on Twitter a few days ago about going to the observation point for the meteor shower. Maybe don't godon't disturb Catherine and Victor."

I nodded: "I know."

"Top of the class is smart. Let me tell you something you don't knowthem drawing the same number? I arranged it."

I nodded again: "I heard you when you told Catherine."

Kelly looked somewhat surprised. A classmate called him from behind, so he turned back.

I opened a soup lid. Catherine happened to come over to get soup for Victor.

Her tone was natural:

"I was wrong today. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"I understandyou're upset because I'm rooming with Victor."

"But don't worry. Last night I slept on the bed, he slept on the floor. We just chatted."

"Us rooming together is just following game rules. Nothing will actually happen."

I ladled soup, humming in acknowledgment.

She didn't look up:

"Talk to your parents. It's fine for us to develop our careers in LA. No need to go to New York."

"Once our jobs are stable, we'll settle here."

This time I didn't respond.

After getting my soup, I turned around. She suddenly hesitated and called out:

"Owen... Victor's really looking forward to tonight's meteor shower. I promised to watch it with him."

"Anyway, the Perseids happen every year. Next year, we'll come again."

I faced away from her, palm pressed against the bottom of the bowl, yet I felt no warmth at all.

Opening my mouth, my voice was soft:

"Okay."

She sighed with relief. As she passed by me, she didn't forget to bring Victor a plate of grapes.

After dinner, I went back to my room to pack.

I took out the outfit I'd coordinated for proposing to her under the meteor shower. The engagement ring and meteor shower brochure went into the trash together.

Zipping up the suitcase, it was much lighter now.

The flight ticket was bought last minute. Boarding was tonight.

Ten minutes before takeoff, the Perseid meteor shower streaked across the sky.

Everyone exclaimed, recording videos and taking photos. I pulled out my phone and saw an unread message.

"Everything's arranged. Your aunt and uncle went back to rest. I'm waiting for you at the airport."

The plane slowly climbed. The meteor trails carried fine silver light, illuminating half the cabin.

I leaned back against my seat and slowly closed my eyes.

Catherine, the two of usthere is no next year.