His Lens Once Loved Me

On the third day of our graduation trip, my childhood sweetheart finally turned his camera toward me. But after taking only a few pictures, he frowned and lowered the camera. "Not a single one is worth keeping." A classmate beside us looked confused. "Huh? When you photograph Zoey, you barely have to try to get an amazing shot." A dull ache spread through my chest, and I clenched my fingers tightly. Lucas Hudson lowered his camera and said, "Forget it. We're done. You're just not very expressive in front of the camera. No matter how I photograph you, you always look the same." Then he casually stopped a young man standing by the roadside with a camera. "Hey, buddy, take a few pictures of her. I'll pay you afterward." Before the young man could answer, Lucas had already grabbed his camera and hurried toward Zoey Richardson. The moment he aimed his camera at her, the furrow between his brows vanished, and a smile curved across his lips. "Turn around and toss your hair. Yes, that's beautiful..." I stared blankly as they photographed each other with an effortless understanding that needed no words. Chapter 1 Melissa's POV Suddenly, I remembered something I had asked Lucas Hudson a long time ago. "Why do you always make me look so good in photos?" Back then, he had smiled and ruffled my hair. "When the camera loves you, you look good no matter how I shoot you." So that was it. The camera didn't love me anymore. I took out my phone and changed my college application from Northport, the same school Lucas had chosen, to Southport, thousands of miles away. … Three minutes later, after I had finished changing my application, I looked up and realized that the photographer Lucas had casually stopped earlier was still there. I was about to apologize to the young man and tell him I wouldn't be taking any photos after all when he raised his camera and gave me an easy smile. "Hey, could you do me a favor? I'm a rookie, and you fit the scenery really well. Would you let me take a few sample shots? It's free. If I can't get at least one amazing shot of you, I'll pay you 100 dollars." His offer caught me off guard. After a moment's thought, I nodded. After all, I'd deliberately worn the new dress I'd just bought and spent an hour doing my makeup. Besides, I really did love having my picture taken. But it was already the third day of our trip. Lucas' camera had captured the waves, the sunsets, and countless shots of Zoey smiling, but it had never captured me. I didn't even have a single photo I could post on social media. Once we started, the young man took the shoot seriously. Whenever he asked me to adjust my pose or expression, he remained gentle and patient. Not once did he frown at me the way Lucas did. The shoot ended before long, and he turned the camera around to show me the photos. To my surprise, almost every single one was beautiful. After looking through them carefully, I said, "I should still pay you. You're really good." There was no way a rookie had taken photos this good. He simply smiled and waved me off. "I'm really not a professional. Meeting like this must be predestined. I hope you have a great trip." After he sent me the photos, the young man turned and walked away along the shoreline. Not far away, Lucas and Zoey were still taking pictures. He kept pressing the shutter as the two of them smiled at each other from a distance. I walked over to tell my classmates I was heading back first, but Zoey spoke before I could. "We're going to take some more pictures around the island. Mel, do you want to come?" I shook my head. "I'm a little tired. I want to go back to the hotel first." Only then did Lucas turn to look at me. He studied me for a few seconds before speaking. "What's wrong? Are you upset because that photographer didn't get any good pictures of you? "That's normal. You're just not easy to photograph. Most people wouldn't have the patience to keep searching for the right angles like I do." I stared at the face I'd grown up seeing, and suddenly my nose stung. I couldn't understand why he'd become so hateful after Zoey appeared. The Lucas who used to reassure me and shower me with praise seemed to have died the moment Zoey transferred to our school. "No," I said softly as I shook my head. "I really like the photos he took. They're my favorite photos so far." Lucas' expression immediately darkened, and displeasure flashed in his eyes. A few seconds later, he scoffed. "Are you just upset because I didn't take any pictures of you today? Do you really have to say something that ridiculous just to piss me off? "Some cheap street photographer isn't going to take any good pictures. "Zoey, let's go." He turned and started toward the boat, but Zoey grabbed his hand and looked at me with disapproval. "Mel, Lucas has taken so many beautiful pictures of you before. What you just said was really hurtful. You don't appreciate anything he does for you." Was I supposed to appreciate him for falling for someone else, or was I supposed to appreciate the way he put me down again and again? At Zoey's words, some of the coldness faded from Lucas' expression. "It's fine. Not everyone is as kind and generous as you." He took Zoey's hand, and the two of them walked away together. I stood there and suddenly felt as though all the strength had drained from my body. A wave crashed against the shore, and salty seawater splashed against my lips, leaving behind a bitter, sharp taste. Chapter 2 That night, I posted the photos I'd taken that day on social media. A comment I hadn't seen in ages appeared underneath. [Wow, Lucas took so many beautiful pictures of you again. Mel, you're so lucky!] I stared at the screen, momentarily lost in thought. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen a comment like that. Lucas used to take pictures of me all the time, even when we weren't traveling. He'd photograph me going about my everyday life around our housing complex and at school. I'd post on social media every few days, and everyone knew Lucas was the one behind all those beautiful photos of me. But everything changed after Zoey transferred to our school during senior year. I scrolled through my old posts and realized I hadn't posted anything in more than six months. I replied to my classmate's comment. [It wasn't Lucas. A stranger took them for me. He's actually really good.] A few minutes later, Lucas posted a collage of photos. Every single one was of Zoey. Our posts appeared one above the other, with nearly identical ocean views, as if they were competing with each other. Lucas: [Thanks to our class beauty for being my model. Had a blast taking these today.] Zoey quickly commented. Zoey: [Hehe, I'll let you have fun again tomorrow.] I stared at the screen for a long time, a wave of nausea rising in my stomach. Finally, just before my phone screen went dark, I liked Lucas' post. "Let it be. From now on, I won't be part of his life anymore." … The next morning, I ran into Lucas in the stairwell on my way downstairs. He was looking down at his phone, but the moment he caught sight of me from the corner of his eye, his brows drew together. "Don't you know how badly you got sunburned yesterday?" Before I could react, he jogged out through the hotel entrance. Ten minutes later, he returned with a bag from the pharmacy. He pulled out a tube of aloe vera gel and shoved it into my hand. "Didn't you say that photographer was so good? Then why did he keep taking you out under the blazing sun? Even your neck is peeling." His voice dripped with sarcasm. I looked into his eyes. His words were harsh, but the familiar concern in his gaze was exactly the same as it had always been. My heart ached, and I didn't want to argue with him right then. The next second, Zoey walked over with her bag. "Oh my gosh, what happened to you? Thank goodness Lucas carefully applied sunscreen all over me yesterday. I didn't get sunburned at all." My hand froze as I squeezed out some aloe vera gel. When Lucas noticed my reaction, he quickly explained, "There were some spots on Zoey's back she couldn't reach. I was just helping her out." I remained silent for a few seconds before taking out my phone and my e-banking app. "How much was the aloe vera gel? I'll transfer you the money." Lucas's expression darkened. "Melissa, what are you doing?" I said nothing. We'd grown up together and had never kept track of little expenses between us. Buying things for each other had always been completely normal. But things were different now. I held the aloe vera gel out to him. "If you won't take the money, then I can't accept this either." Zoey spoke cautiously. "Mel, I'm sorry. Are you upset because of what I said? But I really couldn't reach my back, so I had to ask Lucas to help me." Lucas looked at me with disappointment. "Why do you always throw a fit over nothing? You've already scared Zoey several times. "Melissa, you're about to start college. Can you grow up a little? I can't spend the rest of my life following you around and comforting you." I threw the aloe vera gel at him and fought back my tears as I let out a cold laugh. "Easy. We just won't have anything to do with each other anymore." Lucas frowned. "Melissa! Do you really have to say something like that?" I shot back, "Then do you really have to rub sunscreen on another girl's back?" Lucas stood there speechless. I grabbed my bag and walked away. Chapter 3 I spent the entire day exploring Ocean World by myself. When I returned to the hotel, I saw that someone had uploaded a video to our class group chat. Our homeroom teacher sent a few smiling emojis along with a message. [Lucas made this graduation memory video for our class. I've been so busy lately that I forgot to upload it. Everyone, save a copy as a keepsake.] I hesitated for a moment before opening it. The video was eight minutes long, yet I appeared for only a single second, during the introductions. Meanwhile, Zoey's bright, smiling face appeared countless times. Eating, studying, running... When the video ended, I tossed my phone aside and lay back on the bed, covering my damp eyes with my arm. The Everlight camera Lucas had used to film it was a birthday present I'd bought for him with money I'd saved from working promotional jobs over two summer and winter breaks. We'd used that camera to capture countless little moments from our daily lives at school. Yet in the final graduation video, I'd been reduced to little more than an extra. A classmate teased him in the group chat. [Lucas, are you secretly crushing on Zoey? Why'd you film her so much?] [Seriously. All the footage of everyone else in our class combined doesn't even add up to the amount of footage you have of Zoey.] Lucas didn't respond, but I already had my answer. He must like Zoey. The wounds I'd buried beneath countless excuses and blind trust began to ache again. During our senior-year photography competition… Lucas and I planned everything together. We discussed the concepts and locations and prepared every detail. It was early winter, and I followed him around in a dress for two days while he took pictures. By the time we finished, I'd come down with a high fever. Every night after school, I squeezed in time to edit the photos until my eyes turned bloodshot from staring at the screen for days on end. But in the end, Lucas submitted a photo he'd secretly taken of Zoey, the transfer student, without my knowledge. When the school newspaper published a photo of the two of them standing side by side, I took it to Lucas and confronted him. He didn't seem bothered at all. He simply ruffled my hair. "We both entered the photography competition during our freshman and sophomore years. Zoey only transferred here in senior year, so this is her only chance. Let her have it. Don't be so petty." Those words, "Don't be so petty," silenced every grievance and every word I'd wanted to say. During the second semester of senior year, Lucas switched seats so he could sit beside Zoey and made time to tutor her every day. He explained it to me openly. "I think Zoey's a great model. We could work together long-term in the future. But her grades aren't quite good enough for the schools around Northport University, so I'm helping her catch up. "Be good. Don't cling to me so much lately. If you have questions about your studies, ask our class representative." … There were countless other little things like that, far too many to keep track of. It wasn't just his camera that had drifted farther and farther away from me. His love had, too. I got up, pulled the confession gift I'd prepared for Lucas from my suitcase, and threw it in the trash. Then I changed my flight. I didn't want to spend another second traveling with him. Chapter 4 The next morning, while we were having breakfast at the hotel restaurant, I told everyone I was heading home early. At my words, Lucas' hand paused as he reached to hand Zoey a piece of bread. Zoey took the initiative to ask, "Mel, are you not feeling well, or are you just not having fun?" I smiled. "I've had a pretty good time, but I suddenly feel like seeing some different scenery. Our journey ends here. "Also, we're not close, so you don't have to call me like we're best friends. I don't like it." Embarrassment immediately spread across Zoey's face. Lucas frowned and reprimanded me, "Melissa, why are you being so rude? Zoey was just checking on you out of kindness. Why are you deliberately taking it out on her? "Is this because of what they said in the group chat last night? You can be jealous, but don't take your anger out on Zoey just because she's too soft-tempered to fight back." When Lucas said the word "jealous," I caught a flash of smug confidence in his eyes. Even now, his first instinct was still to defend Zoey. Worse, he was using my pain to reassure himself of his place in my heart. I took a deep breath and calmly met his eyes. "It has nothing to do with those jokes. I don't care whether you like her or not. That's between the two of you. "I'm simply telling Zoey that I expect some boundaries between people, whether it's with me or anyone else. "I'm done eating. I'm heading to the airport. Have a good trip." Lucas grabbed my hand. "Stop! If you're really not jealous, then why are you suddenly making a fuss about leaving? "Fine. I'll explain everything in the group chat, okay? Now sit down." I yanked my hand free. "And I'd appreciate it if you respected some boundaries, too." Lucas's furious voice rang out behind me. "Melissa, if you leave today, you're going to regret it!" My heart suddenly felt hollow. After a brief pang of regret and disappointment, relief washed over me. Would I miss out on something by leaving? Then let me miss it. After all, we'd already missed countless moments because of Zoey, hadn't we? … When I got home, my mother raised her eyebrows at me. "Well?" Confused, I asked what she meant. She clicked her tongue. "Lucas' mom told me he prepared a fireworks confession for you. You two are officially together now, right?" I lowered my eyes. So that was what I'd missed—his confession. My finger unconsciously swiped across my phone screen and opened WhatsApp. I saw that Zoey had just posted on social media. [Thanks for the amazing fireworks show, whoever you are. I'm so happy, hehe!] I let out a mocking smile. "What cheap, careless love. Missing it was probably the luckiest thing that could've happened to me." I said, "Mom, I don't like Lucas anymore. I changed my college application to Southport. Don't tell his parents." My mother stared at me in shock. "Did you two have a fight?" I shook my head, unwilling to explain. "There's no future between Lucas and me. I'm going to Grandma's for the summer. I'll come back when school starts." In the past, whenever we gave each other the silent treatment, I was always the one who reached out first. But this time, I let go. … For nearly two months, Lucas and I had absolutely no contact. Before school started, his mother, Stephanie Brooks, asked my mother whether the two of us should buy tickets for the same high-speed train. My mother politely declined and simply told her I'd travel to school on my own. … On the first day of school, I spent nearly five hours on the flight with my eyes closed, resting. After the plane landed in Southport, I took my phone out of my bag. The moment I unlocked it, countless missed calls and messages flooded the screen. They were all from Lucas.