Adrian and Olivia had been together for three years, but she still couldn’t forget her first love. There was a locked room in her house, a promise she kept for her first love. If he ever came back, there would always be a place for him in her home. For his sake, she abandoned Adrian time and time again. The last time, Adrian left only a breakup message before vanishing without a trace. But she seemed to go mad, searching for him everywhere. Finally, at the cemetery, she discovered the truth behind everything. Red-eyed, she pointed at the black and white photo of a woman who looked strikingly similar to her and demanded: “Adrian, tell me—” “Who were you really thinking of every time you looked at me?” On Olivia’s birthday, Adrian brought a few of her close friends back to their place to prepare a surprise party for her. At the height of the celebration, everyone started chanting for them to kiss: “Olivia, you need to cherish such a thoughtful boyfriend!” Olivia gazed at Adrian, her eyes shining brightly, as she slowly leaned in. Adrian lowered his head to meet her, and just as their lips were about to touch amidst the cheers of their friends— The door suddenly burst open. A man drenched from the rain stood in the doorway. Olivia froze in place. Adrian turned to look and saw a face that bore a striking resemblance to his own. “Olivia…” the man called out softly. His tone intimate and familiar. Olivia seemed dazed for a moment before her expression changed: “Why are you soaked? Quickly go change into some dry clothes.” The friends around them reacted faster than Adrian, greeting the newcomer naturally: “Ethan, you’re suddenly back? Done with your wandering?” The man stood stunned in the doorway, a faint smile appearing on his face: “It’s been a while.” Olivia’s gaze remained fixed on him, not sparing Adrian a single glance. Adrian wanted to ask who he was. Before he could speak, Ethan walked straight upstairs. Towards that room in Olivia’s house that was always locked, the one she had repeatedly emphasized to Adrian was absolutely off-limits. Ethan skillfully pulled out a key and unlocked the door with ease.
When Ethan came back down, he had changed into dry clothes and casually took an empty seat at the dining table. The friends, tipsy from drinking, naturally draped an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “Ethan, stay longer this time. Olivia will always keep a room for you anyway.” “How nice, to always have someone as your solid backup.” “I say, you two might as well get marr—” Olivia cleared her throat lightly. She moved closer to Adrian, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: “Adrian, thank you again for helping celebrate my birthday today.” The scent of lily of the valley enveloped him, but Adrian felt a chill run through his body. Adrian had always known that Olivia had a deeply meaningful first love – Ethan. When Olivia’s company was just starting out, Ethan had quit his high-paying job at a foreign firm without hesitation to support her. Even now, years after Ethan had left, Olivia’s friends were still so close with him. They laughed and joked together, reminiscing about old times. Adrian picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food. But he couldn’t taste anything.
This celebration that belonged to them continued until 10 PM. As everyone was leaving, it started pouring rain. In the end, only the three of them remained in the house. Olivia’s face was flushed from alcohol as she leaned her head on Ethan’s shoulder, looking small and delicate. I, her actual boyfriend, felt like thin air at that moment. “I’ll take you to a hotel,” I said. “I’m not leaving,” Ethan replied coldly. “That room is mine.” “You promised,” he continued. “No matter what, there will always be a room for me in your home.” I felt like an insignificant backdrop, ignored by them both. Olivia was at a loss for words. She looked to me pleadingly: “Let him stay.” “The rain is getting heavier outside.” “Just for one night, okay?” Olivia gazed at me, her eyes flickering with a hint of apology on her face. “Adrian, I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips together and walked past them to go upstairs.
I didn’t sleep well that night. The storm raged on, and a loud clap of thunder woke me with a start in the middle of the night. I instinctively reached out to hold the person beside me. But my hand fell on empty space. I only felt cold sheets. A sliver of light seeped in through the crack in the door. I opened it slightly to peek outside. The living room lights were on bright. Ethan, wearing an apron, brought out a bowl of noodles and set it on the coffee table. Wisps of steam rose from it. He looked every bit the man of the house. I saw his lips curve into an indulgent smile as he spoke softly: “You’re still the same as always.” “Scared by thunder and needing someone by your side to feel safe.” Olivia stood nearby, a smile on her face. Ethan hugged her from behind. I clearly saw Olivia’s body stiffen for a moment. But she didn’t push him away. The warm glow of the living room lights fell on them, inadvertently revealing an air of intimacy. They looked like a couple that no outsider could ever come between.
I met Olivia when I was 22. I had just graduated and started working at her company. My desk was right in front of her office. When her office door wasn’t fully closed, I would peek through that tiny gap to look at her. To gaze at that face that looked 70% similar to the one that had appeared countless times in my dreams. They really looked so alike, especially the dimples that appeared when they smiled. Later, my colleague Sam caught me looking. He pressed an iced coffee against my face, startling me. I turned to meet his eyes as he said, “Adrian.” He smiled and handed me the coffee, his tone light as if joking: “Don’t go falling for Ms. Olivia.” “She’s got someone in her heart already.” I blinked at him. He leaned in to gossip: “Ms. Olivia has a first love she can’t forget.” “Not sure exactly how long they were together, but I think they knew each other since they were students.” “When the company was just starting out, they were still together. He’d come by sometimes to bring her lunch.” “Once during a meeting, she got a call saying he was sick. She immediately left everything behind to go to him.” “Can you believe it? Such a workaholic, dropping everything for her boyfriend.” “Pretty romantic, huh?” I held the coffee and asked softly: “What happened after that?” “They broke up later.” “I don’t know the details, but I think Ms. Olivia still has feelings for him.” “She even keeps his photo on her desk.” Sam shrugged and smiled, “I guess her first love probably hasn’t let go either.” “Loving each other but unable to be together – it’s like a bittersweet ending straight out of a novel.” I was stunned for a moment hearing this. Just then, Olivia’s office door suddenly opened and her secretary came out: “Adrian, Ms. Olivia is calling for you.” When I went in, Olivia was looking over some documents. Seeing me enter, she looked up with a smile. Two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. My gaze fell on a framed photo standing on her desk. I stared at it, my mind full of Sam’s wistful expression from earlier. “…Adrian, will you be my boyfriend?” Olivia suddenly asked. Caught off guard, I answered reflexively: “Okay.”
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