My childhood friend said he was under too much pressure from studying for his graduate school entrance exam. He coaxed me into having sex with him. After that, he became insatiable and entangled with me for an entire year. I found him too straightforward, so I laughed softly and said, “When pursuing a girl, remember to send flowers.” He kissed me repeatedly and murmured in agreement. Until the day the most beautiful girl in our department confessed to him, my childhood friend asked to meet me. “Help me choose a bouquet later. You girls have similar tastes.” “I’m sure Sophia will like whatever you pick.” Turns out, he knew that a confession should start with a bouquet of flowers. When I heard Jack say he accepted Sophia’s confession, the air around me seemed to freeze. Whenever he mentioned Sophia, he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. I’ve known him for many years, but this was the first time I’d seen this expression. I mumbled my responses, afraid that if I said too much, he would notice the strange tone in my voice. “Emily, are you about to cry?” he asked teasingly, deliberately raising his voice. My hands trembled slightly as I clutched the hem of my shirt. Jack knew me very well. He could even capture my emotions from the slightest facial expression. In front of him, I couldn’t lie. But I still tried to be stubborn this time. “I’m just tired from all the stress lately.” “That’s perfect then. Come with me to the flower shop to choose a bouquet. It’ll help you relax.” Hearing him say “relax” still touched a nerve in my heart. Every time Jack coaxed me into spending the night, he would use this as an excuse. He couldn’t hide the joy in his voice: “You’re both girls, so I’m sure Sophia will like whatever you pick.” Sophia was the most beautiful girl in our department, pretty and pursued by many. But I never knew Jack was interested in her too. So what was I… “Jack, what about me?” I asked, biting my lip. He was silent for a few seconds, his face darkening. When he spoke, his expression was serious: “Emily, don’t tell me you took this seriously.” “You’re a friend I grew up with. Wasn’t this just about mutual benefits?” His tone was calm, but his words cut deep. I had taught him to give flowers when dating a girl. In the past, he always forgot. It turns out, those who truly care don’t need to be taught. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, smiling mischievously: “You’ve lived in my house for so many years, people see you as my sister.” “Who could accept being with their own sister? If I did that, would I even be human?” These words were like a bucket of ice water, leaving me feeling cold. I stared at the ground, not letting my tears fall. “The exam is coming up soon. I need to do more practice questions.” With that, I hurriedly returned to my dorm.
I thought Jack saw me as his girlfriend. We rode Ferris wheels together, watched sunsets together. He took me to Norway to see the Northern Lights. He would also passionately kiss me at the moment the sun rose. Saying all sorts of romantic vows. Jack said I was his sister. But every time he took me out overnight, in the heat of the moment, he would call me “wife.” It turns out, in Jack’s eyes, this was just a game. From beginning to end, I was the only one who fell for it. The sound of the phone interrupted my thoughts. “Emily, have you been crying?” Aunt Sarah noticed something was off. I immediately snapped out of my memories. My reflection in the mirror showed a tear-stained face. I quickly wiped it clean. “I’m just under a lot of pressure lately and caught a bit of a cold.” She finally relaxed: “Remember to take your medicine. If you’re really not feeling well, have that Jack boy take you to the hospital.” I agreed to everything she said. Mentioning Jack, Aunt Sarah seemed to remember something: “Oh, Emily, have you told him about going abroad after your exams next month? He’s not going to be reluctant to let you go again, is he?” The year my parents passed away, Aunt Sarah had planned to take me abroad. It was Jack who tugged at my clothes, begging me to stay. He said they had many rooms in their house, and I could live in any of them. His home would be my home. He was willing to be my family. I was moved by those words and refused Aunt Sarah’s offer. Now, considering my future, Aunt Sarah once again invited me to go abroad and develop my career with her. I had planned to tell Jack about this today. I had even written a full page of thoughts a week ago. Planning to give it to him today along with my decision. “Don’t worry, Aunt Sarah. We’ve all grown up now. We won’t be as stubborn as we were when we were kids.” “What about you, Emily? Will you miss him?” Every time I chat with Aunt Sarah, I always end up mentioning Jack without realizing it. How could she not see through the signs of a young girl’s first love? Aunt Sarah has been developing her career abroad for many years, and our relatives have always kept their distance from me as an orphan. Once I leave this time, I probably won’t come back. Thinking that time can wash away everything, I felt more at peace: “I’ve already contacted a famous art teacher abroad. Apart from studying, I’ll be able to keep you company.”
While I was doing practice questions, my roommate suddenly exclaimed, “Emily, quick, look at the campus social media!” Before I could react, the content on her phone was already in front of my eyes. In the video, Jack was kneeling on one knee with a bouquet of flowers: “How could I let a girl confess first? Sophia, will you be my girlfriend?” He looked nervous and shy, causing the people around to scream, calling him a true romantic. But just last night, he had used the excuse of dinner to ask me out, pinning me against the hotel door for a deep kiss. Promising to send me flowers. Now it seems, all of that was just empty promises after he was satisfied. “Sigh, I thought Jack liked you before,” my roommate pulled her chair next to mine, looking regretful. “He always called you whenever he went out, prepared gifts for you on holidays and birthdays. Now you’re telling me I was wrong about their relationship?” I forced a smile, holding back the tears that were about to fall. My fingertips dug into my palms. If my flesh hurt, maybe my heart wouldn’t hurt as much. In the evening, while buying food at the cafeteria, I happened to run into the couple holding hands. I instinctively lowered my head, wanting to get away from them quickly. “Emily, why are you running so fast?” Jack grabbed my collar, pulling me back. “Why didn’t you reply to the message I sent you this afternoon? I was just about to look for you.” He looked particularly handsome today, even his hair was impeccably styled. When he looked at the girl beside him, his eyes were full of light. “This is my girlfriend, Sophia. Call her sister-in-law.” Over the years, I had grown used to him introducing me to others as his sister without blood ties. But I couldn’t bring myself to call her “sister-in-law.” Seeing no reaction from me, Jack suddenly raised his hand to pinch my face: “What are you spacing out for? Are you not giving your brother face?” Our eyes met, and he saw the humiliated tears in mine. Jack’s hand froze. The look he gave me was a bit flustered. Before, when a classmate from another class confessed to me, I didn’t know how to respond. Jack had just returned from playing basketball and saw the scene. He put his hand on my neck and pinched my face. What did he say back then? “What are you spacing out for, Emily? Do you need me to reject him for you?” The boy asked him what right he had to decide for me, what business was it of his. “What business? He chuckled lowly, “We live together.” “I have quite a few photos of Emily drooling in her sleep on my phone. Want to see?” The night after chasing that boy away, Jack used the excuse of reviewing lessons. He pressed me onto the bed and kissed me all night. He pinched the necklace on my neck, warning me in my ear, “Emily, we grew up together.” “I won’t allow you to be distracted from me.”
“It’s okay, Jack. We’re all classmates. If she can’t say it, let it be,” Sophia tugged at his sleeve. Jack finally returned to normal, letting out a long breath: “I was too hasty. We’ll wait for her to say it in the future.” I pursed my lips, tightening my grip on the lunch box. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first.” In my heart, I thought silently. Jack, there won’t be a future. Sophia’s voice came from behind: “Come sing karaoke with us later. It’s Jack’s treat. You’re his sister, it wouldn’t be right if you didn’t come, right?” I thought Sophia invited me to learn more about Jack. I didn’t expect my thoughts to be so simple. Jack was chatting with others, and Sophia sat down next to me. From the moment we entered the private room, she had been very enthusiastic towards me. “Emily, I heard you and Jack are childhood friends. You two make such a good-looking pair, why didn’t you consider getting together?” She even linked arms with me, making it impossible for me to avoid the topic. “Jack has always seen me as a sister. He wouldn’t be with his sister.” I wanted to dispel Sophia’s concerns, after all, they had just gotten together and lacked a sense of security based on trust. But she persisted, her tone somewhat provocative: “Are you saying you have unrequited love for my boyfriend?” “Ah, no…” I opened my mouth, but didn’t know how to refute for a moment. “Jack, that necklace on your neck looks pretty nice.” Jack had already sat down next to Sophia, handing her a piece of fruit. “Oh, this is something my parents got from a temple when I was little. They said it could bring protection.” “You like it?” Sophia stopped his motion as he was about to take it off, nestling coquettishly in his arms: “I just thought Emily’s necklace looked like a couple’s set with yours. But never mind, she must wear it every day because she likes it…” Jack looked at me, his gaze sweeping across my neck. “Emily, give me your necklace.” Without waiting for my reaction, he reached out to take it off. “We’re all family now. Since Sophia likes it, consider it your welcoming gift to her.” I instinctively leaned back, avoiding his hand that was about to touch me. He was stunned for a moment, but his eyes quickly filled with anger: “Are you being disobedient? Don’t forget, this belongs to our family. I have the right to take it back.” The noise around us suddenly stopped. Everyone turned their gaze towards me. “Jack, what are you saying? That necklace was from when Emily had a high fever for three days, and you cried and begged your parents to take you to the temple to get it for her.” The person speaking was a friend who grew up with us. Jack seemed to suddenly realize something and instinctively withdrew his hand. “I just thought we’ve all grown up now and don’t need its protection to be okay. Never mind… I was wrong. If you like it, keep it.” “No need. I’ll give it back to you now,” I pulled off the protection necklace from my neck. “Now I don’t owe you anything anymore.” He stared at the necklace in his hand, frozen in place.
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