My name is Xia Yan, and I am a freshman who just entered college this year.

And this person beside me, her name is Joy. Not only is she a senior from the previous class, but she is also my... girlfriend.

Girlfriends are truly strange. When you don't have one, you would say you don't care. But when you actually have one, you would invest a lot of emotions into that relationship.

Yes... invest emotions... that's how it should be.

...

Our first encounter was because of a black stray cat that often appeared near the flower garden on campus. That day, the cat took away my lunch sandwich, so I foolishly chased after it all over the campus.

But in the end, the cat ran into the flower garden and disappeared.

I probably wouldn't be able to retrieve my lunch.

As I stood in front of the flower garden feeling somewhat discouraged, a graceful figure entered my view.

She was a very beautiful girl.

With fair and slender legs, she wore a black pleated skirt and a white shirt with a bowtie in the front.

Her features were delicate and exquisite, and her black hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall.

She came to her side and took out a small bag of cat food, pouring it out.

I heard rustling sounds from the flower garden, and the black cat that took away my lunch, hidden inside the flower garden, emerged after smelling the fragrance of the cat food. It obediently rubbed against the girl's hand and began eating the cat food on the ground.

"Ah, I found you! Give my lunch back!" I pointed at the black cat, but my body didn't make any movements.

After all, the girl who was feeding the cat was still in front of me.

But the black cat completely ignored me and continued eating the cat food, making crunching sounds.

"Are you talking to me?" the girl asked me with a puzzled look.

..."Ah, no, I was talking to this cat... It just took away my lunch sandwich. I wanted to catch it, but I didn't expect it to run so fast. I chased it for so long, but once it ran into the flower garden, it disappeared... Now I don't know where my sandwich went."

After hearing this, the girl laughed sweetly. It seemed like she was laughing at how amusing I was.

Yes, having my lunch stolen by a cat and then being led around by the cat in circles... it's a pretty amusing situation in anyone's eyes.

"You're quite interesting. To have your lunch stolen by a cat. But since you haven't eaten yet, why don't I treat you to lunch later?"

"There's no need for that. I still have money to buy lunch... but speaking of which, is this cat yours?"

"Well... I occasionally come here to feed it. After all, it only gets close to me." The girl squatted down and scratched the black cat's chin, and it affectionately rubbed against her hand, showing no resistance.

"I see... well, I guess I won't compete with a cat today. I'll go buy another sandwich. Thank you for your offer. What's your name?"

"Joy, and you?"

I scratched my head a little shyly. "Hello, I'm Xia Yan."

That's how we got to know each other's names, and that was the beginning of everything.

...

Later on, we would often meet at that flower garden. I didn't know if it was by chance or if she intentionally came there to wait for me.

In any case, during that time, we became very close and became good friends. We even made plans to feed the black cat that brought us together.

...

And during one of our cat feeding sessions, I suddenly asked her, "By the way, does this black cat have a name?""No, why are you asking this?"

"Since it doesn't have a name, why don't we give it one?"

"Then you come up with a name, I don't know what to name it."

I pretended to ponder for a moment and hesitantly gave a name.

"Why not call it Monica?"

Joy tilted her head, her clear eyes filled with curiosity. "Monica? Does this name have any special meaning?"

I pointed to the in-ear earphones on my ears and said, "Because there's a song I've been listening to recently called 'Monica,' and it's about a black cat. It feels similar to this little guy."

"Oh... is that so? Can I listen to it too?"

"Ah, of course you can!"

I quickly took off one of my earphones and put it on her, then played the song "Monica" for her to listen together.

Speaking of which, this was the first time I was so close to another girl. Looking at Joy's beautiful face so close to me, I wasn't sure how to face her and my heart was beating so fast.

...

After the song finished playing, she took off the earphones and smiled sweetly to herself.

"This song is really nice. You have good taste."

I awkwardly smiled, not knowing how to respond.

And so, the black cat now had the name "Monica."

...

As we spent more time together, I found myself becoming more and more reliant on Joy, wanting to be with her more and more.

Before, she would wait for me at the flower bed in advance, but now it was me waiting for her in advance.

I understood what this growing feeling in my heart meant, as if this feeling had silently sprouted from the moment I first met her.

When I couldn't contain my longing, I made the resolute decision to confess to her.

Of course, I was prepared for rejection.

...

"Joy, I like you. Will you date me? I promise to make you happy!"

Just when I was anxious and felt that she would most likely reject me.

Joy gave an unexpected response.

"Sure, from now on, you're my boyfriend."

She didn't hesitate or waver, immediately accepting my confession, while holding my hand and leaning on my chest intimately.

As if everything was just as it should be.

In an instant, I was immersed in an endless joy and couldn't extricate myself.

Because being able to find a girlfriend as lovely as Joy was simply the blessing of a lifetime.

But reality proved that I had oversimplified everything.

...

At first, we were really happy and sweet together.

We rented a house off-campus and started living together, bringing Monica here as part of our family.

Joy was not only gentle and considerate to me, she seemed to be perfect at housework, cooking, and warming the bed - the ideal girlfriend.

But the only thing that puzzled me was her possessive nature towards me. During our relationship, as long as I was out of her sight for a few minutes, she would constantly send herself messages, repeatedly saying, "I miss you so much, I miss you so much..."

She wanted to stick to me almost every day, every moment, just like a koala clinging to a tree.

...

Because I was abandoned by my parents and raised in a welfare institution, in order to support myself in college, I had to work while studying and pay rent.

However, Joy paid for most of the rent and other utilities. She seemed to come from a wealthy family and even suggested multiple times that she didn't want me to work, wanting me to stay at home while she could support me.

...

But I wasn't a man who liked freeloading, I still believed that I should be the one taking care of my woman. Only losers would feed off their partners like little Anja.

As a result, we argued about this point."I don't want you to leave me. I'm afraid you will abandon me and leave me behind! Please stay, don't go!"

"Joy, calm down and listen to me, okay? I'm just going to work and earn money for our daily expenses. If I become a useless person who relies on you for support... how can I hold my head up high and be a man? How can I meet your parents and tell them I want to marry you?"

"I don't care what other people think! I only care about you! Stay with me, and I'll give you everything I have! But I won't allow you to leave my sight!"

"...Have you had enough of this! You've been acting strangely lately. Why do you insist on keeping me tied to your side? Love is not about bondage, nor is it about blindly contributing and sacrificing. Do you even understand anything?"

...

Joy didn't understand, she didn't comprehend.

She just wanted to stay by your side, be with you, see your face, smell your scent... is that so wrong?

Was it her fault?

...

I thought that after this argument, Joy would calm down a bit, but I didn't expect her to become even more extreme. She not only checks the chat history on my phone every day but even secretly tracks and hires a private investigator to find out if I have any contact with other women besides her.

And once we're home, she starts questioning herself.

Living under this constant surveillance feels like being controlled by someone else, like a puppet on a string. This is definitely not what I want!

Where did the original happiness and sweetness go?

Why did things turn out like this?

...

I can't take it anymore.

Since I was the one who started this relationship, then I will be the one to end it...

...

"Let's... break up."

....................

She stood there motionless, silent for a long time, but I could vaguely see tears shimmering in the corners of her eyes.

I felt guilty and couldn't bring myself to look her in the eye.

Because I once promised to bring her happiness, to be with her forever.

But in the end, I broke my promise.

But it's really because, if we continue like this, I think I will go crazy.

Driven insane by her.

"Why do we have to break up? Were all those things you said to me before just lies?"

"I never had any intention to deceive you! But the person you have become now is so unfamiliar to me. I can't find the same feelings I had for you in the beginning, so I'm sorry... please forget about me and find someone better in the future."

...

She didn't say anything, she just hugged herself tightly.

She hugged with all her strength, probably struggling not to accept the fact that I'm leaving her.

"Do we really have to break up?"

...

My heart was also torn, but in the end, I chose the cruelest choice for her.

"I'm sorry."

...

As soon as the words left my mouth, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. I looked down and saw that Joy had taken a kitchen knife and stabbed it into my body when I decided to break up with her just now.

Blood gushed out uncontrollably, and Joy held onto me tightly, forcefully pushing the knife deeper into my body. It was the first time I felt such pain in my life, and it would also be the last.

...

"Why... did you..."

I weakly asked her the reason, but I saw her eyes already swollen from crying.

In that moment, not only was the place where the knife had pierced me in pain, but my heart also ached.

"Because you betrayed me! You broke the promise between us! You don't love me anymore, so you don't deserve to live! Don't worry, I won't let you die alone, I will join you soon..."

...

...

In the next moment, she pulled the knife out of my body and repeatedly stabbed my chest until her white dress was stained red with blood. Then she finally stopped...At this moment, I collapsed weakly to the ground after losing her support, feeling a sweet taste in my throat as I coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

Clutched in my hand was the metal cat pendant I had recently custom-made for Monica.

My body gradually grew cold and my consciousness slowly detached from my physical form.

So tired, so sleepy...

I faintly heard Joy's heart-wrenching cries beside me. I wanted to comfort her, but perhaps now I am incapable...

Furthermore, wasn't it me who made her cry?

...

"Meow--"

It was Monica's voice. Presumably, she heard our argument in the living room and came out to see what was happening.

Then she saw the weeping Joy and me lying in a pool of blood.

Monica first went to Joey's side and rubbed against her, then she came to me, who was barely breathing, and rubbed against my cheek.

"Meow, meow, meow--"

She kept meowing at me incessantly, probably sensing that I was nearing death.

...

Using my last bit of strength, I placed the metal cat pendant with "Monica" written on it in front of her. This was my final gift to her.

...

My consciousness grew increasingly hazy, and I could see and hear nothing anymore... In my final moments, many memories flashed before my eyes... They were all the happy times I spent with Joy.

The scene froze, and once again, I found myself standing in front of the girl who fed cats in front of the teaching building.

If... I hadn't encountered that black cat who took away my lunch, perhaps none of this would have happened?

...

It's a pity life doesn't give second chances. Eventually, someone has to pay for their own mistakes.

But in the end, who was the one at fault?

No one can provide them with an answer anymore.

...

Joy approached, gently caressed my cheek, and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, I won't let you go alone. I'll join you now, even if it means going to hell, we'll be together forever..."

After saying that, she took out the poison she had prepared long ago from her pocket and swallowed it without hesitation.

...

...

...

Soon, in the quiet living room, only the black cat continued meowing incessantly, along with the two bodies embracing tightly but already cold.

In the end, the fruit of all the sweetness and happiness, bloomed black... it was bitter... it was... a mistake...