Chapter 1

When my boyfriend, Julian, passed away in a tragic geological expedition accident, he only managed to send back three last sentences.

The first was a professional report to his department. The second was an apology to his parents.

And the third was:

[Chloe, you are my Quaternary Glaciation.]

Chloe was my best friend. Both she and Julian were brilliant geologists.

Years ago, behind my back, the two of them had applied for the exact same major at the same university.

Later, they became the most compatible partners in the industry.

Just to understand their conversations, I had forced myself to switch my major to Geology.

But in the end, I was nothing more than an errand girl in the research lab.

Julian used to comfort me.

"Everyone has their own strengths, Avery. I'm just happy you're my girlfriend."

Yet, he would still look at Chloe with that lingering gaze of admiration and regret.

Even his final words were a confession to Chloe, expressed in a way I could never understand.

Not long after, Chloe also passed away in another accident.

They were memorialized together on campus as outstanding alumni.

I lived the rest of my life in deep, silent regret.

But when I opened my eyes again, I was back in my junior year—on the exact day I was supposed to submit my major transfer application.

Looking at the Snapchat group on my phone, where the two of them were chatting excitedly while completely ignoring me, I smiled.

I clicked "Cancel" on my transfer application.

This time, I was done chasing them.