“Happy new married!”
“I’m so happy for you guys!”
I hit the like button, but then I refreshed the
page, and the post was gone.
A second later, Sarah messaged me.
“Jake drove me home, and I kind of fell asleep
on his shoulder.”
“It’s late, so I was worried about him driving
back home, so I asked him to stay for the
night.”
“You don’t mind, right?”
I replied with a simple “ok.”
10:18
96
Whatever. From now on, who Jake is with and
what he does has nothing to do with me
anymore.
As I was getting ready for bed, Jake messaged
me too. Were they already in sync?
“Sarah hasn’t bought anything new for the
holidays. You know you have some new clothes,
can you let her wear them tomorrow?”
“The stores are closed, it’s too late to buy
anything.”
Reading that made my heart drop. The clothes I’d bought for myself, brand new, that I hadn’t even worn yet? I was supposed to give them to
her for him?
What am I to him?
I didn’t reply and just turned off my phone.
96
But the next morning, bright and early, Jake showed up at my house with Sarah.
At ten in the morning, they’re at my door with
piles of gifts. Everyone in the house, aside from me, was thrilled.
Jake didn’t have parents growing up and was raised by his grandma. Since he was our next- door neighbor, my parents always thought of him as their own child.
Jake looked at me deeply when he got into the house.
My mom smiled at Sarah, “You must be Jake’s girlfriend! Oh god, you are so pretty, more
pretty than the last time!”
“Auntie, you are still young and beautiful like
the last time I saw you!”
Sarah was great at buttering up my parents.
they were totally charmed by her.
く
“Riley, what are you doing in your room? Go
greet your friend and Jake!”
I gave Jake and Sarah some tea with respect,
“Happy New Year, bro, Sarah.”
Jake was looking at me like I was a complete
stranger.
As I was using the bathroom, Jake texted me.
“What’s with you?”
I didn’t even open the message.
When lunch came, we had a little issue with the
table arrangements.
I sat in my usual spot, but Jake sat next to me
without even asking.
That was my brother’s spot.
<
My brother looked at the spot and Sarah’s
empty spot, eyes widening.
“Hey, what are you doing with my spot, go sit
next to your girl!” He pulled Jake out of his
chair.
A little bit of a commotion, and Jake was sitting
across from me. But when he sat down, I
became so uncomfortable.
He was looking at me with those serious eyes.
I was trying to avoid his gaze and started eating
my food.
He went to answer the phone.
I saw his empty bowl and hesitated. In the end, I
chose to ignore it.
When he came back, he made a point to look at
the empty bowl and then back at me.
く
My brother noticed it and tried to explain, “He
is not gonna steal your food, just eat whatever
you want, stop picking on Riley.”
Just at that moment, my mom looked at Jake
and then at me, looking kinda curious.
She suddenly called my name.
“Riley.”
“See Jake brought his girlfriend home today?” “When will you bring yours?”
Jake opened his mouth as if to say something,
but I cut him off.
“If mom and dad, or the boys know anyone, introduce me please.”
I usually rejected any offer like that.
My brother was immediately moved.
<
“Riley, you finally wanna be normal!”
“If you want, I can get a hot date for you after
dinner!”
I laughed, saying ok. I also looked at Jake.
His lips were pursed, and his face was not
looking happy.
We were all chatting, but he cut us off. “Auntie,
please, Sarah and I are just old friends.”
My mom was shocked, and Sarah’s smile
immediately froze.
My brother decided to mess with them, “So you
are single? You should introduce him to my
sister.”
When I heard this, my heart was beating so
fast.
<
96
My heart almost jumped out of my chest.
He immediately pushed my brother away. “Don’t
be ridiculous, Riley is my sister.”
And then my heart died. All hope was gone.
I took a deep breath and put up my best smile, “Right, bro, stop it, Jake is my second brother.”
After lunch, Jake and Sarah left. We didn’t hear from him again.
I went out to eat and hang out with my friends.
On the fifth day of the new year, my brother had a class reunion.
Since I didn’t have anything to do, he forced me to go with him.
I was already in bed and didn’t want to go.
<
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Most of my brother’s classmates knew me, they
all greeted me.
Complimented me on my looks, and joked that I
should find someone at the reunion.
I played along. I was laughing and having fun.
10:19
<
96
Jake looked at me quietly, didn’t say anything.
Before dinner, Sarah invited me out for a talk.
“Riley, I know Jake is very good to you, he will do whatever you ask.”
“So, when I confess to him later, could you say
a couple of things to support me?”
“This will definitely increase the chances of us getting back together.”
Sarah looked sweet on the outside, but she was
evil inside.
