Chapter 1
I had been secretly seeing my best friend’s brother, Rocco Olson, for five years. One day, as he sat at the table holding his new girlfriend, he casually told me to get along with her.
After the woman left, he took me home in the car where we had made out many times.
I asked him, “Rocco, you’ve got a girlfriend. What about the five years I’ve spent with you?”
He said indifferently, “Lauren, I never asked you to wait for me. Your love is too intense. It scares me.”
It was like I shouldn’t have given up everything to stay by his
side all this time.
Suddenly, I felt bored and replied with a smile, “Alright. Goodbye then.”
***
Under the dim street lamp, Rocco leaned against the door of his car and finished the last cigarette.
He stamped out the cigarette. Within five minutes, he checked his phone ten times, sending nine voice messages to his sweetheart.
His last text was sent to Joyce Olson, my bestie as well as his sister, telling her that he had driven me home safely.
Rocco put down his phone and turned to me with a grin.
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Obviously, chatting with another woman made him quite. happy.
He spoke more casually now. “Lauren, you’ve grown up. Let’s end this on good terms, alright?”
He stroked my hair as if he weren’t trying to break up with me.
Indeed, he had never been serious with me.
Even after I got drunk and slept with him, he didn’t take that seriously.
When we both sobered up, he leaned back on the bed and smoked a cigarette. The smoke blurred his frivolous face. “Do you have a thing for me?”
I nodded in a flurry, but what I got as a reply was his chuckle.
“Sure. Let’s be together then.
“But you can’t tell Joyce about us. I’m afraid she’ll kill me if she finds it out.”
Despite his casualness, I took his words seriously.
Since then, I’d been with Rocco like an extension of him.
I thought I could win his heart over time. However, the brutal truth just slapped me in the face.
He dated different women nonstop and I was merely his toy he’d play with when he felt bored.
I dropped my eyes and glimpsed from the corners of my eyes that Rocco was texting again.
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Chapter 1
The girl he labeled “My Girl” had actually asked for his number at the bar two nights ago.
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I held back my bitter sorrow and took a few deep breaths before asking him the question I hadn’t dared to ask for the past five years.
“Rocco, why can’t I be your girlfriend?”
Rocco was stunned. And then he said in a distressed tone, “It’s not like you can’t… I just regretted it after I agreed to be with you.
“Over the past five years, I’ve tried to see you as a woman, but I just can’t.
“It’s like…everybody can be my girlfriend, but only you can’t.”
In the quiet street, this was the first time he had talked to me so seriously. His eyes appeared so affectionate yet heartless.
I hastened to look away, afraid he’d see the tears welling in
my eyes.
“I got it. Thank you for giving me a ride home.
“It’s too late. I gotta go.”
I was about to leave but my wrist was caught by him.
Rocco wiped the tears off my face gently and looked like he had known I’d cry.
“You’re such a crybaby. Why don’t you try harder?
“Maybe I’ll spend a little more time with you for the sake of Joyce.”
Chapter 1
Despite that, I wouldn’t believe his words again.
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In his pocket still lay the condoms he had prepared to use with other women.
I stepped back, trying to sound calm.
“No, I’m good. Have fun tonight.”
After saying that, I walked around him into the compound without throwing a glance at Rocco.
On this cold night, I walked home panting.
I thought I wouldn’t cry anymore, but when I stepped inside and looked down from the balcony, I saw Rocco still standing there, lost in thought.
I knew he wouldn’t leave until the light in my apartment was
- on.
But why did he hurt me so ruthlessly while showing concern for me at the same time?
The curtain was rolled down. I slumped to the floor and finally burst into tears.
I cried my heart out as if to let out all the grievances I had suffered these years.
Then my phone buzzed. Three messages from Rocco.
“Lauren, go out and see more while you’re young.”
“There are so many men. Don’t dwell on me.”
“And rest early.”
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In the darkness, his messages appeared so ridiculous.
At that moment, I felt fed up with it all. His messages made it seem like I could finally let go of the five–year obsession.
I wiped off my tears and sent him a message.
“OK, I will.”
Then, I called my mom.
“Hello, Mom, I’ll marry Luciano in seven days.”
Chapter 2
