Part 3A Cherry Blossom Promise

When I next woke, birds were chirping outside the window.

The nurse removed the IV drip.

I picked up my phone; it was quiet, no messages, no calls.

Just as I was about to get up and leave, my phone rang.

“Hello, is this Jasmine?”

“This is the police station. William Vance is your boyfriend, right? He got into a fight and was brought in. Could you come down?”

My head buzzed.

“A fight? He—”

“Both he and the other party were involved. They’re both here now; please come handle it.”

I hung up, my mind a mix of panic and urgency, quickly getting out of bed and putting on my shoes.

Wasn’t William with Tara? Why would he suddenly get into a fight?

It had been years since he was that impulsive.

My phone rang again.

“Jasmine! Get online quickly! William’s been filmed!”

I clicked the link my best friend sent.

Video title: “E-sports Player William Vance Fights in Early Hours, Angrily Confronts Ex-Boyfriend to Protect Mysterious Woman”

In the footage, William stood beneath an apartment building, his hair disheveled, a cut on his lip, blood oozing out.

Tara hid behind him, her eyes red, clutching his arm.

The man opposite pointed at Tara’s nose and cursed:

“You only broke up with me because of him!”

William shielded Tara behind him, wiping the blood from his lip:

“If you dare harass her again, I’ll beat you every time.”

The ex-boyfriend rushed forward, and the two men wrestled.

The video shook violently; I could only hear the dull thud of fists on flesh and Tara’s screams.

The comment section had gone wild.

[Holy cow, William is so alpha! What a boyfriend!]

[Who’s that girl? His girlfriend?]

[Looks like the operations manager from their club, I’ve seen her on streams before!]

[William getting mad for his lady, I’m swooning!]

[William didn’t deny it, isn’t this basically official?]

My chest felt tight, struggling to breathe.

I stared at those comments, my fingers clenching until they were white.

We had been together for seven years.

His fans didn't even know I existed.

He always told me that his profession was unique, that e-sports players didn't date, and that if they made mistakes, fans would still forgive them.

But if he dated, any slight drop in performance would be blamed on him being distracted by romance.

For his career, I endured it.

But what was this now?