Jake loved the awkward vibe between them.

He teased, "You know, we all thought Ethan and Chloe would end up married. Good thing Chloe saw the light and came back. Ethan was pretty torn up back then."

Others chimed in.

"Totally. You two better cherish each other now."

"Chloe's back, so Ethan's got another shot, right?"

No one noticed the look on my face, like I wasn't even supposed to be there.

"What are you trying to say?"

I shot Jake a cold look.

Jake said sarcastically.

"Oh! I forgot about someone who swooped in when Chloe left the country."

Just as we were about to argue again, Chloe pulled Jake's arm.

"Okay, okay, stop it, you'll make her mad."

Then she turned to me, smiling.

"He's just kidding, Lily. Don't be upset."

I didn't say anything, just looked at Ethan, hoping, for once, he'd take my side.

But Ethan just casually said.

"Don't make a scene."

In that instant, my heart sank.

Chloe, Jake, Ethan.

Their words made me feel like a complete fool.

Throughout the meal, Ethan didn't say much, but he kept glancing at Chloe and her son.

I didn't say anything more either, but I watched him the whole time.

Sometimes I followed his gaze to Chloe, laughing and chatting.

I thought to myself.

She really did look a bit like me.

My looks were one of the reasons Jake despised me.

He thought I was only with Ethan because I looked a little like Chloe.

I never cared about that stuff; otherwise, I wouldn't have chased Ethan for two years.

The first time I saw Ethan was on the basketball court.

That wild, energetic guy... beaned me in the head with the ball.

It wasn't a big deal, but he insisted on taking me to the campus clinic.

I hadn't felt that kind of concern in a long time.

I signed up for the same elective as him and sat near him.

"Hey, I'm Lily. I'm a junior in the Humanities department. I forgot to say last time."

Ethan recognized me and said a polite hello.

From then on, wherever Ethan was, I was there too.

Looking back, I was always the one talking; Ethan rarely responded.

"Ethan, it's getting cold, let's go get some hot pot."

"Ethan, what do you like to eat?"

"Ethan, are you okay? Are you sick?"

"Ethan, someone's singing on the quad, want to check it out?"

"Ethan... Ethan..."

Until the day Chloe married her boyfriend from overseas.

Ethan was standing under a streetlight that night, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

He looked like a handsome, brooding statue.

I said, "Ethan, don't be sad. It makes me sad too."

Ethan took the cigarette out and looked at me, asking softly.

"Lily, do you want to be my girlfriend?"

He knew I wouldn't say no.

My cheeks flushed, and I was so excited I didn't know what to do, just stammered out, "Yes."

And just like that, Ethan and I were together.

Ethan was stingy with his affection; he never told me he liked me.

But that was okay; I was always open about how much I loved him.

Thinking about all that, I drifted off to sleep on the sofa.

Suddenly, I felt strong arms pick me up, and I greedily snuggled into Ethan's chest.

He laid me back on the bed and tucked me in.

Ethan being so gentle made me feel impulsive.

I opened my eyes and whispered.

"Ethan, when are we going to get married?"

As soon as I asked, it felt like an invisible hand squeezed my heart.

I was so nervous I could barely breathe; everything around me seemed to stop.

But Ethan acted like he hadn't heard me and gently covered my eyes with his hand.

He said softly, "Go to sleep."