My boyfriend had severe germophobia. In our three years of dating, even holding hands felt tinged with his disdain. Until that day, I found him pinning my best friend against a wall, kissing her fiercely. Her rosy lipstick was smeared and messy from the passionate embrace. Turns out, our three years together were nothing but a calculated ploy for him to get closer to her. His buddies joked in their group chat: “Three years of faking germophobia! Now that you’ve got the campus queen, when are you ditching the stand-in?” Liam Vance idly scrolled on his phone: “Chloe said to wait until after her birthday. She doesn’t want it to be too ugly.” I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I beat him to it, deleting all his contact info and, as an afterthought, unblocking his childhood best friend from my blacklist. 1 My best friend, Chloe, said she needed to clear her head, so I accompanied her to a karaoke bar until ten at night. When Liam came to pick her up, he frowned, staring at Chloe’s flushed cheeks and glazed eyes. “Why did you let her drink so much?” I thought he was scolding me for not taking better care of my best friend, so I quickly explained, “She’s not in a good place. I really couldn’t stop her. You watch her, I’ll go get some hangover medicine.” He walked toward Chloe on the couch, answering with an unconcerned “Mm,” without turning back. As I reached the elevator, I realized my phone was still in the private room and turned back. The moment my fingertips brushed the doorknob, soft, sticky gasps filtered from inside. I froze, peering through the glass. Liam had his hand clamped around Chloe’s waist, his head bowed, kissing her fiercely and intimately. Her lipstick was smeared to the corners of her mouth, but she hooked her arms around his neck, tilting her head back to return the kiss with fervent passion. My back pressed against the cold hallway wall, my nails digging deep into my palms. I held my breath, listening to the sounds within. A sliver of hope still lingered: Maybe it’s just a drunken mistake. Maybe I’m seeing things… Until Liam’s low, husky voice, laced with a suggestive chuckle, reached my ears: “Does it hurt to see me with her? If I’d known you cared this much, I would’ve just come clean sooner.” “No, wait until after her birthday. She is my best friend, after all,” Chloe’s voice pleaded, trailing off in a soft whine. “Whatever you want, my little darling.” He chuckled softly. “But don’t worry. When I’m with her, my mind is always on you.” “Really? Maya’s so pretty, though…” “My eyes are only for you.” His coaxing tone was so familiar it sent a chill down my spine. “As for the feelings with her—long forgotten. Nothing compares to the intensity of being with you.” 2 Those words were like ice-cold blades, carving into my heart, one by one. I clenched my fists, oblivious to my nails piercing my palms, tears streaming down my face. But I forcibly suppressed the urge to push open the door and confront them. More than a hysterical outburst, I wanted to know how long I’d been deceived. When I composed myself and returned to the room, Liam was helping Chloe towards the door. He noticed I was empty-handed, and a flicker of impatience crossed his eyes. “You forgot to even buy the medicine? Let’s take her to my place first. I have hangover soup at home.” Before, I always thought his exceptional care for my best friend was just him being caring, given that the three of us grew up together. Only now did I realize how foolish I’d been. In his guest room, I settled the sleeping Chloe. As I passed the kitchen, I stopped. Under the warm glow of the light, Liam was stirring a clay pot with a spoon, steam misting around his profile. This was the first time I’d seen him cook in our two years of living together. When we were together, he always said the kitchen was too greasy, that hands that touched raw meat made him “sick.” So, I was always the one preparing all our meals. I even spoon-fed him his stomach medicine on time. The scent of angelica root wafting from the pot now pricked my eyes with a painful sting. He wasn’t incapable of cooking; he just didn’t want to cook for me. I watched his concentrated back as he stirred the soup, and suddenly wanted to ask: If he never liked me from the start, why waste three years of my life? 3 After Chloe rested in the guest room, Liam leaned against the kitchen doorframe, wiping his hands, his tone casual: “She has class tomorrow. You can sleep on the couch tonight.” I stared at the lingering lipstick stain on his fingertips, and suddenly, I laughed. “Liam Vance, let’s break up.” He froze in the act of wiping his hands, raising an eyebrow at me. “What kind of tantrum are you throwing now?” “No tantrum.” I pulled the key from my bag and placed it on the hallway cabinet. “From today forward, I won’t appear in front of you again.” He frowned, reaching to grab my wrist, then quickly let go as if his germophobia had flared. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to go with me for Chloe’s birthday tomorrow…” “Shouldn’t the person celebrating her birthday be you?” I cut him off. Watching his expression instantly freeze, I said softly, “I heard everything. Outside the karaoke room.” His face instantly drained of color. He reached out to pull me, but hesitated, remembering the lipstick stain on his hand, his fingers hovering in mid-air. “Maya, you listen to me, I can explain…” “No need.” I took two steps back, putting distance between us. “I wish you both a happy future together. Don’t waste each other’s time.” As I turned to leave, I heard him curse under his breath behind me, but he didn’t follow. The motion-sensor lights in the stairwell flickered, on and off. I pulled out my phone and unblocked the number I’d blacklisted three years ago. The moment the screen lit up, countless unread messages flooded in, the latest one from three months prior: “Maya, he doesn’t have germophobia at all. On your birthday, he got drunk and kissed me, saying it was just to test a lip gloss color—” The sender was Sam Wright, Liam’s childhood best friend and my former deskmate. I wouldn’t let any clue, no matter how small, slip past me again. That night, around one in the morning, Liam tossed and turned beside me, unable to fall asleep. Finally, he got up and left the room. I opened my eyes and quietly followed him. I stood outside his study, listening to him on the phone, his voice gentle and coaxing to the person on the other end: “Are you still mad at me? You haven’t replied to any of my texts.” He sighed softly: “How can I sleep when you’re still angry? “Yeah, she’s asleep. “Didn’t touch her. Don’t overthink it.” I was already numb with rage, so listening to his disgusting words didn’t provoke such a violent reaction anymore. I just couldn’t help but laugh. Laugh at how incredibly stupid I’d been. We’d been together for so long. When we argued, he’d just impatiently rub his temples, dismissively say, “Let’s cool off,” and then sleep in the guest room. Countless nights, I’d fall asleep alone, consumed by my emotions. I’d wake up with a wet pillow. See? He wasn’t some oblivious ‘man of steel’ incapable of comforting. He too could toss and turn all night because of someone else. He too could whisper soft words to a woman. It just wasn’t me he wanted to comfort. 5 I couldn’t stand to sleep next to him anymore. I secretly applied for a new dorm room with the university. One afternoon when I had no classes, I went back to pack my things. Passing the gaming room, I unintentionally overheard Liam and his friends chatting inside. “Ryan, you faked germophobia for three years with Maya. Now you’ve got the campus queen. When are you bailing?” Liam replied casually: “Soon. Chloe doesn’t want me to be too harsh. I’ll break it off after her birthday.” “You’re something else. You went through all that trouble for Chloe. You dated her best friend for three years, even rented a place and lived with her, all to find chances to see Chloe. You really played the long game.” Liam’s voice was low and steady: “I could’ve pursued her directly, but she’s too proud. She’s seen every trick in the book when it comes to dating. It would have been harder than pursuing her best friend. Might as well make it easy, pursue her best friend to provoke her instead.” His friend chuckled mockingly: “Definitely. You provoked the campus queen so much she actually threw herself at you. Legendary!” My vision suddenly went black. My chest felt like it was squeezed by a giant hand. A suffocating tightness made it hard to breathe. I’d imagined countless times how they started. But I never expected it to be so repulsive. I’d also wondered when he started liking my best friend. A few months ago, half a year ago, a year ago… But I never thought he was after her from the very beginning. He’d meticulously planned it. I was just a pawn he used to get close to Chloe. After high school, he gave up a spot at a better university, Eastern State. He filled out his application to Western College, just to be with me. I once believed that was his greatest sincerity towards me. I happily accepted his pursuit. Now, tracing the clues back, I remembered. I had personally told him. I was going to Western College with Chloe. Tears streamed down my face like broken pearls. How ironic. I sadly believed that true feelings could change. But I had never even touched the corner of his true feelings. 6 On my 21st birthday, I only invited Liam and Chloe. We celebrated simply in the apartment I’d lived in for almost three years. On the table was the cake Liam had bought me, covered in fresh, plump strawberries. Chloe spoke first: “Liam, you’re such a terrible boyfriend. Don’t you know Maya doesn’t like strawberries?” I don’t like strawberries. And he doesn’t care to remember. It didn’t matter anymore. He shrugged. “Sorry, I forgot.” I caught the fleeting glimpse of triumph in Chloe’s eyes. Strawberry cake was her favorite. My birthday cake had become a tool for their secret flirtation. I tugged at the corner of my mouth in a mocking smile. “Hurry, blow out the candles.” Chloe urged me to make a wish, her smile bright. I looked at her, seeing a stranger I’d never known before. We’d known each other for ten years, the most important friends in each other’s youth. Ten years of friendship, ruined beyond recognition, all for a man. Chloe. You want him? He’s yours. At the cost of our decade-long friendship. I closed my eyes, making my wish in a flat, calm tone: “I wish my boyfriend, Liam Vance, and my best friend, Chloe Greene, a long and happy life together, filled with love.” After I finished, the air instantly froze. A silence so profound, not a single sound. I opened my eyes, expressionless, and stared coldly at the two stunned figures: “After all, a match made in hell, destined to be together forever.” 7 In the dim, silent dining room, the candle flame flickered faintly, swayed by a draft from the window. Chloe’s choked sob broke the tense standoff between the three of us. “Maya, how could you say that about me?!” Liam took a swift step forward, shielding her behind him. His cool gaze fixed on me, his tone still unhurried: “It has nothing to do with her. I was the one who liked her, who relentlessly pursued her. If you want to blame someone, blame me alone.” I looked at his resolute eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. As I laughed, tears welled at the corners of my eyes. “Liam Vance, you’re a coward. If you liked her from the start, then why didn’t you just pursue her? Why did you have to mess with me?” He hadn’t been sure how much I knew. Hearing that, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He frowned, lowering his head silently. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” My gaze went past him to Chloe: “Right here in this house, on the bed I personally made, I found several strands of your hair. Wine-red, the same color I went with you to get dyed. Was the hotel too expensive, or was it more thrilling here?” My emotions slowly spiraled out of control. I yelled, my voice rising: “Tell me, how am I supposed to describe you? Tell me!” She flinched, opening her mouth, but no words came out. Liam put his arm around her shoulders, staring coldly at me: “The last person you should blame is her. If she hadn’t stopped me, I would have broken up with you six months ago. She cared about you as a friend; she didn’t want to hurt you. Otherwise, why would she have put herself through all this, having a secret affair with me for so long?” Chloe, wiping her tears, murmured softly: “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have had a chance to date him for three years, either… Who can control matters of the heart? You shouldn’t speak about me like that…” Listening to their utterly sickening words, I felt a wave of nausea. “So, it’s been half a year already. How hard it must have been for you two, carrying on a secret affair for half a year.” I laughed, furious, too disgusted to say another word. I walked into the room, pulled out my suitcase, and slammed the door shut with a bang. Without looking back, I walked away. 8 After we completely ripped each other apart, they became utterly shameless. Soon after, they openly started dating. They flaunted their affection, inseparable at school. My roommate, Lucy Hayes, was also my classmate. She cautiously came to me, seeking confirmation: “Did you and Liam break up?” I felt no need to hide it and nodded, admitting it. “Because of the campus queen, Chloe? Aren’t you two best friends? Did she… become a home-wrecker?” I paused, then calmly shook my head. “No, we broke up amicably.” I didn’t want to discuss such private matters with outsiders. This relationship had left me with immense pain. But the emotional hurts of a relationship are ultimately not for outsiders to know. As for Chloe, I certainly held resentment. But after ten years of friendship, I couldn’t help but hope. I wanted to preserve some last shred of dignity for our decade together. 9 What made me most awkward was Riley Dawson’s birthday party. She was one of Liam’s friends’ girlfriends. Because we hit it off, we got along extremely well. I had agreed to attend her birthday party a month ago. Now, fearing the awkwardness, I didn’t really want to go. But her words, “Worst case, I’ll just tell Liam not to come. But you have to be there,” convinced me. I couldn’t really ask her to tell Liam not to come, could I? In the end, I bit the bullet and went. 10 In the noisy private room, I sat in a corner, quietly eating fruit. Liam had not only come, but he’d brought his whole new ‘family’ with him. Chloe sat beside him, half her body draped in his embrace. He’d bought a bag of roasted chestnuts from somewhere, and he patiently peeled them one by one, feeding them to her. The room was filled with old acquaintances. Eyes silently flitted between the three of us. I lowered my head, pretending not to notice, and sipped my juice. Riley nudged me lightly with her elbow, her voice apologetic: “I didn’t know he’d bring her. I’m so sorry…” I pursed my lips and smiled, feigning indifference. “It’s fine. We’re all in the same university. It’s bound to happen.” Just then, the private room door opened. Liam’s good friend, Ethan Chase, walked in. His eyes met mine instantly. He then glanced at Liam’s side, raised an eyebrow, and walked over to the empty seat beside me. Drinking always led to games. A classic game of truth or dare. On the third round, Ethan lost. He didn’t hesitate and chose ‘dare.’ Jake Miller grinned mischievously: “Ethan rarely loses! Let’s go big. Pick a girl here and pretend to be a couple for a month.” Ethan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping the room, then smirked. “They’re all my buddies’ girlfriends. You want to play that hard?” Riley, loving the drama, squeezed over and nudged me towards him: “Not all of them. Look, there’s a single one right here!”
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