On the day of my wedding to Julia, her “best friend” Mike suddenly appeared before me. He held a marriage certificate, his eyes red-rimmed as he said, “Matthew, you have everything. Could you just let me have Julia? She… she’s already registered her marriage with me…” I tossed my wedding ring to the ground, my posture contemptuous. Turning around, I saw the panic in Julia’s eyes. I thought—she must have remembered our contract. If anything went wrong with this wedding, all her assets would become mine. Julia and I had known each other for five years, from a campus romance to marriage. Countless people envied our relationship. Coming from similar family backgrounds, we looked perfectly matched—the ideal couple… I’d heard this so many times I’d stopped counting, but I never took it to heart. Because I knew Julia had someone else in her heart. She and Mike had known each other for ten years—five years longer than me. Strangely, she and Mike always called themselves best friends, as if their bond was so pure it hadn’t been tainted by even a trace of romantic love. Later, they got into the same university, the same major. But for some reason, during her freshman year, Julia pursued me—someone from a completely different department. Back then, I still had some romantic notions about college love. Julia was beautiful, good-tempered, refined and polite. So, after two months of her pursuing me, I agreed. After a week of bliss, I noticed someone extremely suspicious around her. Mike—a decent-looking guy with a tall build. He’d call me “Matthew” while draping his arm over Julia’s shoulders, saying, “Julia, look at you! Finding such a handsome boyfriend so quickly. Got any tricks you could teach me?” Mike was a head taller than Julia. When he draped his arm over her shoulders, his chin naturally came close to the top of her head. The distance between them was intimate. Yet Julia seemed completely accustomed to it, not caring at all. I saw it once, then naturally there was a second time, a third time. I couldn’t understand why Julia would have such an intimate male friend even after getting a boyfriend. At first, I thought I was overthinking it. I brought it up with her privately a few times. What I didn’t expect was Julia’s response, which left me speechless. “Mike and I have been best friends for five or six years. We’ve always been like this. I can’t just distance myself from him because I got a boyfriend—that would be an insult to our pure friendship!” I also confronted Mike. His answer made him seem utterly unreasonable. “What are you talking about? Julia and I have been friends for so many years. How does that become a complicated relationship in your mind? That romantic relationship stuff is only suitable for Julia to have with guys like you!” Mike paused at the end of that statement. Tsk, fine. Your pure friendship—I’m staying out of it. I broke up with Julia soon after.
I’d thought we’d part amicably and never see each other again. Who knew this woman would refuse to accept the breakup no matter what. “Are you crazy? I said breakup—breakup, BREAKUP! Why are you still coming to my building to block me every day?!” “Ha! You blocking me alone would be one thing,” I pointed at Mike and voiced my genuine confusion, “but why are you bringing your so-called best friend? Are you brainless? Can’t think for yourself and need him to come up with ideas for you?” I said all this in one breath without a single pause, showing just how angry I was. Julia pretended to be innocent, scratching her head. “I… I thought since you’re both guys, he’d understand your emotions better, so I…” Mike stood behind her and spoke up: “Yeah, Matthew, please don’t misunderstand Julia…” “Misunderstand what!” I was in gym class at the time. My head got hot and I threw the basketball in my hand straight at Julia. Fate can be truly wonderful sometimes, and unfortunate encounters are no exception. When my parents brought me to apologize to Julia, what a coincidence—the two families actually knew each other. “Matthew! You’ve grown so much. I even held you when you were little. Do you remember me? Mr. Jones.” Turns out my dad and Julia’s dad had been old friends since college. If the Jones family hadn’t gone overseas to start their business, maybe our parents would have thought we might become in-laws! But my mom looked at Mr. Jones strangely. She moved to hide behind my dad, unusually silent. Yet my innocent, naive father didn’t notice at all. After some polite conversation, our parents quickly learned about my relationship with Julia. “Matthew, my daughter isn’t good at expressing herself and doesn’t really know how to maintain a relationship. If she does something that upsets you, you should tell her.” Mr. Jones gently touched Julia’s injured forehead. “Maybe this will teach her a lesson. But—” He changed his tone. “Don’t let anyone else affect your happiness!” I stood in that hospital room with its strong smell of disinfectant, my eyes full of irritation as I stared at Julia grinning foolishly at me. Was I blind back then? Actually thinking she was decent-looking. She really looked just like her dad! I looked at Mr. Jones again. He was dignified and polite, except for his gaze— Like a predator secretly eyeing my mother! That night, I went to my mom’s room to find her. She sat alone in the spacious luxury bedroom, gazing at the moon and silently crying. “Mom, what’s wrong? You didn’t say a word during dinner. That’s not like you.” My dad had gone out to socialize again. Now in this mansion, only I could have a heart-to-heart conversation with my mom. “I’m fine,” Mom wiped away her tears and smiled at me. “Just thinking about some sad things from the past. Don’t worry about me. Go back to bed early. Don’t you have an early class tomorrow?” I took my mother’s hand, my tone gentle. “Mom, I saw everything today. Jones—” The moment I mentioned the surname “Jones,” my mother’s whole body trembled. “Don’t… don’t say anymore!!!” Later, I only left after watching my mother fall asleep.
Julia and I got back together. Under the bizarrely enthusiastic matchmaking of her father. I don’t know if her father said something to her, but Mike started appearing around us less and less. Valentine’s Day arrived. Julia ordered me a huge bouquet of roses. “Thank you!” I naturally wrapped my arm around Julia, then gently kissed her cheek. In the corner of my peripheral vision, Mike was looking in our direction. His lips pressed tight, his eyes red-rimmed. Ha, was he feeling sad watching us from the shadows? My gaze fell on the roses in my hands. I’d told Julia I didn’t like roses. So who liked roses and suggested buying them? “Matthew, I bought two movie tickets for the latest sci-fi blockbuster. Want to go see it?” I cooperatively nodded, my tone gentle: “Sure, you arrange this date however you want.” Julia hugged me happily, smiling like a child. “Matthew, you’re so good to me!” I looked toward where Mike had been standing. He’d turned and left. In the dim theater, Julia went to buy popcorn. I checked the flowers at the front desk. Turning around, I ran into Mike at the corner. Ha, unexpected, yet perfectly reasonable. He was with a group of friends who usually hung out with Julia. “Is this Julia’s boyfriend? He’s gorgeous—like my dream guy!” The group stood opposite us, making a fuss. Mike casually brushed the hair from his forehead. “Matthew, you’re here to see a movie with Julia too? Which showing?” Just then, Julia came back. Both groups compared tickets. What a coincidence—same showing, and our seats were even adjacent. Mike casually took the popcorn from Julia’s hands, then distributed it to the other friends. “We’ll share this popcorn~ The movie’s about to start and we don’t have time to buy any.” The group laughed and walked into the screening room. Julia held the remaining box of popcorn, looking at me cautiously. “Why is Julia looking at me? Let’s go in too. The movie’s starting.” I took her hand and walked inside. The dim lighting hid my eye roll.
I don’t know if it was intentional or coincidence, but Mike’s seat was right next to Julia’s. Mike held the popcorn with a grin. “Hehe, perfect—we can all go to dinner together after the movie.” My gaze drifted vaguely forward. I didn’t want to talk to him. Maybe this movie was the type these people usually liked to watch. By the later part of the film, Julia had gathered with those friends, discussing quietly. And I was yawning from boredom. Seeing them chatting happily, I decided to take a quick nap. Who knew that when I opened my eyes again, even the ending credits had finished playing. Our group walked out. Mike was enthusiastically discussing the plot with Julia. The two got more and more absorbed in conversation, and soon walked far ahead of us. Leaving me with Julia’s friends awkwardly looking at each other behind them. Maybe my silence made everyone think I was upset. Someone searched for jokes to tell me, someone bought me drinks and snacks. “Matthew, don’t take offense. Mike and Julia have known each other so long, their interests and hobbies are pretty similar. Usually when they start talking, they can go on for ages. None of us dare interrupt.” I replied with understanding warmth: “I know. Old friends with a close relationship.” By the time Julia realized she’d left me alone with her friend group, half an hour had passed. She ran back quickly to sincerely apologize. “Matthew, I’m sorry, I—” I waved my hand, cutting off her excuse. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Julia and Mike haven’t seen each other in a while, right? Taking some time to chat is no big deal. I’m not that petty.” I handed the snacks and drinks to the friend group, then intimately linked arms with Julia. “Julia, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat!” I swear, in all my life I’d never used such a gentle tone with anyone. Of course, the effect was excellent! Julia’s face turned completely red. Her friend group was lively, each one quick-witted and never holding back their teasing. Only Mike stood to the side, fists clenched, looking away, not saying a word. Completely different from his talkative, lively demeanor just moments ago.
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