Ryan’s social media updated again.
“Emily, what kind of confession could ever show you how much I like you?”
I closed my eyes slowly and answered that question.
“I want to leave him…”
“If you’re certain, there’ll be no turning back. Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
When I regained consciousness, evening was already approaching.
The party had begun.
My phone buzzed with messages asking when I’d arrive—not a single one from Ryan.
When I finally got to the Karaoke Room, I heard Ryan’s voice from inside.
“My confession plan has to stay secret. I can’t let it fail.”
His tone carried both excitement and anticipation.
“Ryan, haven’t you ever thought about Claire? You two grew up together. I don’t think she’s any worse than Emily.”
Ryan went silent for a while.
“We’re just friends. I could never like her. To me, she’s nothing more than a friend—past, present, or future.”
In that moment, my heart clenched like it was being torn apart.
“Ryan, don’t get ahead of yourself. What if Emily ends up marrying someone else? What would you do then? Find another girl just like her?”
Ryan didn’t respond.
I guessed he took those words to heart—that’s why the me ten years later would exist.
“If you’re not interested in Claire, then I’ll go after her. A girl that good, and you don’t even notice? I’d be more than happy to.”
Ryan chuckled.
“Be my guest. Honestly, after spending so many years with her, I’m kind of tired of it.”
His joke wasn’t funny.
“What are you doing blocking the doorway? Playing thief?”
Emily walked in, her high heels clicking, disdain written on her face.
I shook my head.
She glanced at me, said nothing more, and brushed past me into the room.
“Emily.”
The moment she appeared, Ryan’s eyes only had room for her.
“Emily, you took forever in the bathroom. Claire, you’re here too? You’re late.”
A few friends greeted me casually, but they were quick to arrange Ryan and Emily side by side.
“Let’s play a game!”
Some of our old friends suggested Truth or Dare, that favorite teenage pastime.
The first round landed on Ryan.
He chose truth.
“Is there someone here you like?”
Ryan smiled, sneaking glances at Emily again and again.
“There is.”
Everyone had already seen his lovestruck posts online—they were just teasing.
But I couldn’t bring myself to smile.
The second round landed on Emily.
“You have to pick a dare! Choose a guy here and share a drinking challenge with him!”
Ryan looked at her, his gaze bold and heated.
The same gaze he gave me at our wedding when I was twenty-eight.
Maybe, even then, in his heart, I was no longer me. I was Emily.
Emily chose Ryan.
Their cheeks flushed pink, looking every bit the young couple.
I sat in the corner, a clown peeking at someone else’s happiness.
The third round landed on me.
I couldn’t bring myself to spill my truth, so I picked a dare.
“Choose a guy here and share a cookie stick!”
I glanced nervously at Ryan.
He avoided my eyes, head lowered, fingers busy typing a message.
“Don’t pick me. Emily’s watching.”
Seeing those words on his lock screen, I suddenly felt ridiculous.
The guy beside me nudged me with his elbow.
