Even with no parents to speak of, his blue school uniform washed so many times it had faded to near-white, and a face that seemed to resent the world itself—
None of it could stop him from being the most dazzling presence in any crowd.
Because before he became the city's most outstanding young businessman, he had been a painting prodigy who'd stunned countless people with his talent.
One year, he nearly missed an important competition because he couldn't afford the entry fee. I gritted my teeth and paid it with my living expenses, then stretched what remained to feed us both.
Until my mother found out.
She humiliated him in front of everyone on the crowded school grounds, tearing him apart until there was nothing left of his dignity.
While I was still dreaming of the trophy he'd bring home—
He turned in a blank exam paper.
And never picked up a brush again.
He started skipping class, staying out overnight, launching a business with people I'd never met.
When I asked why, he only said he wanted to give me a better life.
He was still gentle. Still attentive. But sometimes it felt like I was living through a long, silent punishment.
Later, I learned the full truth and had a massive fight with my family.
Out of guilt, I threw myself into supporting every plan he had for the future.
So when Laura first promised she'd look after Jeffrey for me outside of school, I felt nothing but gratitude.
They started having more and more in common.
At first, I stood between them, arms linked with both, laughing as I brought them closer together.
Later, they were the ones with their arms around each other, joking like old buddies, while I stood off to the side with a smile.
Unable to get a word in.
Then came that New Year's Eve. Jeffrey was in low spirits—his business had hit a rough patch.
I gathered a big group of his friends and organized a party.
As the countdown began, I finally saw a hint of relief break through on his face.
"...Three, two, one—zero!"
The moment the fireworks exploded, my smiling eyes went wide with shock.
Laura had grabbed his tie and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
The cheering and noise around me went mute. The heart pounding in my chest simply... stopped.
Then came the endless fall.
The woman met my gaze, gave a playful wink, then kissed my cheek too, completely unfazed.
"Jill! Happy New Year!"
My lips moved, but no words came out.
A friend's joke from not long ago surfaced in my mind.
"Jill, I don't know what you're thinking, but honestly? It kind of seems like your boyfriend's fallen in love again."
"I saw them at a bar the other night—they were practically glued together."
...
The rumors had never stopped. And I'd never believed them.
But looking at the smile on his face, I wasn't sure anymore.
I became paranoid. Suspicious.
I started showing up at every gathering, watching their every interaction.
I'd probe his friends for their opinions, studied those relationship advice posts online to figure out whether what they had was really "just friendship."
Until one night, I crept out of bed, grabbed his phone, and went through every app.
The moment I turned off the screen, I saw his eyes—wide open in the darkness.
In my panic, I accidentally called Laura.
The call connected almost instantly. Her voice was thick with a coyness I'd never heard before.
"Jeffrey? Did you actually put a tracker in my brain? I was just lying here thinking about you, and you called. What, don't tell me you were thinking about me too—"
"Laura." My voice cut through. "Have you no shame?"
Silence on the other end. Before I could say another word—
Jeffrey snatched the phone from my hand.
"Jill, that's enough. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough these past few weeks?"
