Chapter 3
1155 Words
It was hard to imagine that the password to my boyfriend's phone was another girl's birthday.
It was even harder to imagine that when I opened w******p, I realized they had been chatting for a whole year without my knowledge.
From the beginning, when Eliz asked questions, John responded impatiently.
Later, they had different topics every day.
Whenever Eliz sent emojis, John would call them childish but still save them.
When Eliz found where the food was good, John would invite her to go eat there with him next time.
They mentioned me from time to time, and Eliz once said with a sigh, "I'm so envious of you. Your girlfriend is beautiful and a great cook."
John said, "It's right to be envious. I'll introduce you to someone tomorrow."
During that half-year of my painful struggle, they spent countless hours together admiring the numerous art treasures at the Louvre, gazing over the entire city from the tower of Notre-Dame Cathedral, strolling hand in hand along the Champs-Élysées, and enjoying the gentle evening breeze on the boat on the Seine River.
During John's busiest time at the end of the semester, he didn't have time to video chat with me, but he still found time to exchange a few words with Eliz every day.
No content, just a simple good morning and good night.
Eliz asked, "Do you say that to your girlfriend every day, too?"
He replied, "Of course, do you think you're special?"
But in reality, at that time, he had stopped saying good morning and good night to me every day.
When John came out of the bathroom, I had already put his phone back.
He looked at my slightly red eyes and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"
I shook my head, "Nothing, it's just that I haven't seen you in a year, and I really miss you."
John smiled and pulled me into his arms.
He said, "How about staying a few extra days this time? The day after tomorrow, let's go see the Eiffel Tower together. You said you wanted to go last time, but I didn't take you, and I've regretted it for a long time."
I said, "I want to go tomorrow."
He stiffened for a moment.
I knew it was because before he took a shower, he had already arranged with Eliz to go watch the game at Prince Park Stadium tomorrow.
I looked at him directly without speaking.
After a while, he agreed, "Okay, we'll go tomorrow."
The next day, we went to the 7th District of Pacshire together. As John was driving, I noticed that the bracelet was no longer on his wrist.
I felt a little better for some reason, but when we arrived at the attraction, I discovered that Eliz was there too.
As soon as she saw us, she rushed over, took my arm, and pulled me away from John.
She said, "I want to walk with the pretty girl, we don't walk with those gross guys."
John smiled and explained to me, "She took the day off specifically to accompany you around. She grew up in Pacshire and knows the city better."
What else could I say? After all, she came all this way specifically to show me hospitality.
I lowered my eyes and replied indifferently, "It's fine."
All the way, Eliz was incredibly enthusiastic, introducing all sorts of things to me and even following me on Instagram.
It wasn't until John stepped away to buy a drink that Eliz let go of me and looked at the Eiffel Tower with a meaningful expression.
She said, "It's just a tower, yet people come all the way to Pacshire just to take a look. In my opinion, things that aren't by your side, you should look at less and care less about. It's better for everyone."
With John gone, she seemed to have given up on pretending. Her fake sweet demeanor almost hit me in the face.
I didn't reply, just looked at the bracelet on her wrist, "This bracelet is pretty. It's a couple's set, isn't it?"
Eliz smiled, "Have you seen it before?"
I answered, "Yeah, you commented that it was a gift for a three-month relationship, but does John know that you're dating him?"
Eliz's expression froze for a moment, but then she raised her eyebrows, showing no sign of shame at having her lie exposed.
I asked, "What exactly do you mean by dating?"
She answered, "I'm of mixed heritage, and I didn't know any better, so I thought 'dating' just meant being friends. If we're talking about friends, then yes, I'm John's friend, a pretty close friend."
She emphasized the words 'close friend', saying them out with a hint of smugness.
Probably thinking I would be jealous and lose my mind.
If it had been six months ago, I would have.
But now, I just smiled, "We're all adults, it's perfectly normal to have a few friends."
I looked at her bracelet and said casually, "Besides, when I told him yesterday that I didn't like that bracelet, he threw it away."
Eliz was taken aback, just as John walked over.
She looked at John's empty wrist, and her face instantly turned pale.
She bit her lip hard, walked over, and yelled at John, "Bastard!" Then she walked away crying.
John was confused and asked me, "What's wrong with her?"
I gave a wry smile and told him the truth, "I told her you threw the bracelet away, and that's why she's like this."
John's expression changed in an instant, and he hurriedly handed the drink into my hand.
He just said, "You go back first."
Then he turned around to chase after Eliz.
I watched his hurried figure walk away. I didn't call out to him or try to stop him.
This was the first time he had ever left me for someone else.
I took a sip of my drink, raspberry sparkling water, sweet, yet it left a bitter taste in my throat.
I went back to the hotel alone.
When entering the hotel, it occurred to me that the room card was still with John.
I sat by the door waiting for John until late at night, but he never came back, and all my calls to him went unanswered.
Actually, I could have just gone to the front desk to get another card and opened the door.
But for some reason, I just couldn't help myself and insisted on waiting for John to come back.
At midnight, in the dim hallway, my phone lit up.
I hurriedly picked up the phone, thinking it was a message from John.
But what I saw was Eliz's i********: update.
She posted a photo of John and her together on the sports field.
On the bustling and noisy stands, she held John's hand and gave a huge smile, making a victory gesture.
The text read: This time, won again.
- Writer
