Selena's face flushed bright red. "Do you not remember me? I actually knew you before Jess did. I've liked you for a long time, but it always seemed like you only had eyes for her…"

As her friend spoke, Jessica cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable. "Lena, what are you talking about?"

It was only then that Selena seemed to remember Cameron was standing next to her.

"Cameron, it's just my personal opinion. Jess and Sebastian are only friends!" she explained hurriedly.

Cameron chuckled and affectionately ruffled Jessica's hair. "I won't read too much into it. I've known since university that my girl is never going to fall for anyone but me."

I remained quiet, just standing there.

At that moment, I felt a wave of failure wash over me. I had been living with Jessica as her boyfriend for five years, yet our relationship was so unremarkable that even her best friend was completely in the dark about it.

Seeing me lost in thought, Selena waved a hand in front of my face. "Sebastian, don't feel embarrassed! If you're not interested, that's fine—we can just be friends!"

Jessica was watching us while sipping her juice with a thoughtful expression.

I smiled. "I'm not embarrassed at all. You seem really great."

After a moment, Selena seemed to gather her courage to say, "I know it's a little forward for a girl to say this, but if you're open to it, I'd like a chance to be your girlfriend."

I noticed how Jessica set down her juice, her fingers idly tapping against the glass. Selena's gaze was intense, and I felt a strange warmth radiating from it.

I chuckled. After ensuring that there was no bitterness or desire for revenge in my heart, I replied calmly, "Sure, let's give it a shot!"

The sound of tapping fingers stopped abruptly.

"Give it a shot? What does that mean?" Selena asked, momentarily taken aback. But she quickly regained her composure, her cheeks reddening even more. "Okay… that's fine!"

"Since I don't have much experience with dating, let's just start as friends," I added.

Jessica took another sip of her juice, her tone light and teasing as she chimed in, "Yeah, he really doesn't have any experience."

Her comment casually dismissed the five years I had poured into chasing after her.

After dinner, I naturally offered to drive Selena home. Jessica watched as she climbed into the passenger seat. When I opened the door, Cameron and Selena noticed the sticker on my dashboard that read 'Sebastian's Lover's Seat'.

The last time Cameron was in my car, it had been dark. Also, he was sitting in the back, so he hadn't caught sight of it.

"'Sebastian's Lover's Seat'? Nice touch, man! You've got a flair for romance," Cameron joked. "But honestly, you should be more direct—just slap 'Selena's Seat' on there."

Selena's cheeks turned crimson at his comment. I couldn't help but remember the moment I bought that sticker. My intention had been to surprise Jessica, hoping it would touch her heart. I thought she would be thrilled. But instead, she had found it childish.

Later, when I was upset about her reaction, she'd tried to cheer me up by posting a picture on social media with [Sebastian says this is my special seat] as the caption. At the time, I'd been genuinely moved.

It wasn't until three months later that I stumbled upon the fact that her post was only visible to me. It was a sobering realization that, from the very beginning, I had been a complete joke in her eyes.

I reached over and ripped the sticker off, hastily concocting an excuse, "I lost a bet playing Truth or Dare with some friends and just forgot to take it off."

I smiled, hoping to deflect any further questions. Besides, Jessica probably didn't care about it.

As I closed the door for Selena with care, Jessica pursed her lips, then said in a lighthearted tone, "Lena, Seb's got the worst insecurity. Now that you've claimed his passenger seat, you can't sit in another guy's passenger seat ever again!"

Knowing Jessica's personality, I didn't take her words as mockery. At that moment, I realized she felt a flicker of guilt towards me. She was at least somewhat aware of the pain and anxiety I had experienced over the past five years in our relationship.

But Cameron had always been her first choice. She had made up her mind before ever really considering me.

As I started the car, Jessica and Cameron took a few steps back. Unexpectedly, she looked up and glanced at me. After driving a certain distance, it struck me that she was watching as I drove off, her gaze locked in the direction I was heading.

A week after getting to know Selena, she started reaching out to me more often.

[Sebastian, there's a new movie out that's supposed to be really good. Want to go see it?]

[Sebastian, do you like Eastern cuisine? I know a place that has amazing food.]

[Sebastian, we got a ton of coffee beans at work, but I don't usually drink coffee. Can I bring some over for you?]

I loved drinking coffee, which was something Jessica knew all too well.

Seeing Selena's message gave me a little jolt of excitement, so I replied: [Do you get coffee beans from your company every year?]

Selena responded instantly: [Yep! I save them all up. I'm not really a coffee drinker, but it's good stuff. Want me to bring it to you from now on?]

Selena and Jessica worked at the same company, where they received coffee beans every year. Jessica knew how much I loved coffee, yet she had never brought me any—not once in five years.

Thinking back, it hit me how much I had invested emotionally, only to come up empty-handed.

I didn't reply to Selena right away, but when I got off work, she showed up looking flustered.

When she saw me, she looked genuinely anxious and babbled, "I didn't mean to show up unannounced! You didn't reply to my message, and I wanted to bring the coffee beans for you…"

Her nervousness made me smile.

Perhaps having a girlfriend this cute might actually be fun.

Selena handed me the coffee beans, and the next day, I asked her to join me after work for a movie I had been wanting to see.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of a movie theater. I had tried to take Jessica out to see movies a bunch of times, but she always found an excuse to bail. Going alone felt pointless, so eventually, I just stopped asking.

While scrolling through my phone yesterday, I discovered that this particular movie was back in theaters. Since it was an old movie, there weren't many people watching it, and the environment was comfortable and open.

As the movie approached its climax, I suddenly heard a light laugh that felt oddly familiar. I instinctively looked down to see the outline of a face in the row ahead. Without needing a second glance, I recognized them immediately—Jessica and Cameron.

So, Jessica didn't dislike movies; she just didn't want to watch them with me.

But seeing her now, I felt surprisingly calm. The fluttering of my heart had quieted down.

As the credits rolled and the audience started to leave, Selena and I walked out together, only to bump right into them.

"Lena?" Jessica called out.

When her gaze landed on me, her expression grew more serious.

Selena smiled and nodded. "Hey, Jess. Were you guys here to see a movie too?"

Jessica tightened her grip on Cameron's hand. "Cam said this movie was really good, so I came to keep him company."

When Jessica spoke, her face lit up with a warm smile. It was a look I had never seen in the five years we were together. Maybe it was the glow of true love. Her typically cold eyes sparkled softly, and her smile was brighter than I ever remembered.

I could see her love for Cameron clearly, and it made me feel like I'd been a fool for the past five years.

I exchanged quick pleasantries with the two of them before turning to Selena. "Shall we go?"

Selena waved goodbye to Jessica and followed me out of the movie theater.

As we passed a café, Selena glanced inside for a while, so I decided to buy a drink for the two of us. I ordered her a hot chocolate, which was still warm in my hands as I handed it to her.

"The air conditioning in the movie theater was too strong. Your hands must be freezing. Do you like hot chocolate?"

Selena cradled the cup and nodded with a smile. "I do!"

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Jessica. This was the first time she had reached out to me since Cameron returned.

[Did you enjoy the movie with Selena?]

What did she mean by that? Was it a genuine check-in after cutting ties, or was it a sarcastic jab at my happiness?

I didn't reply. A few moments later, another message from Jessica popped up.

The words felt like a slap.

[Things seem to be going well with you and Selena. I guess you two have slept together already? What position did you use?]

I stared at the screen, processing the message for a few seconds before I typed out my response.

[Are you that curious? Want me to send you a video to watch?]

[Not interested.]

[It's been five years, and I honestly didn't think you'd be interested in Selena.]

Not wanting to see any more of Jessica's messages, I shut off my phone and walked with Selena, chatting as we made our way to her apartment.

When we reached the building, I turned around after bidding her goodbye.

But then, she called out, "Sebastian."

I turned back to find her nervously fidgeting with her fingers in the dim light, hesitating before finally speaking up.

"The next time we meet, can I... hold your hand?"

I smiled and nodded. "Sure."

Selena looked up as if electrified, then stepped forward and gently kissed me. It was a shy kiss, fitting for her personality. As soon as it happened, she turned away, not daring to meet my eyes.

"Get some rest once you arrive home. See you tomorrow," she said nervously before she turned and hurried off, her face a bright shade of red.

My heart fluttered at the unexpected kiss, leaving me momentarily dazed.

-

The next day was a Saturday, so I savored a leisurely sleep-in. In the past, I would jump out of bed right on time, rush to the market for the freshest ingredients, and then queue up in the city for a serving of pudding that Jessica loved.

I had acted like a diligent, devoted man.

But without that obligation weighing on me, I felt a newfound lightness. Still, my body's internal clock kicked in, waking me up sooner than I wanted.

As I picked up my phone, a message from Jessica flashed on the screen.

[I'm craving some fried chicken and mashed potatoes today.]

Before I could even process it, she retracted the message.

It must have been meant for Cameron, but accidentally sent to me instead. Did she really think I would still jump to obey her commands?

Ignoring her, I got up and started my morning routine.

A little while later, Selena sent me a message inviting me out to the pedestrian mall. Her enthusiastic invitation was hard to resist, so I eventually agreed to meet her later that evening.

The pedestrian mall was located in the old town of Ashenford, lined with low-rise buildings and small shops. The lights twinkled in the evening, and the street was adjacent to the river. Many locals came out to stroll and enjoy the cool breeze.

When I met up with Selena, she was holding a thermos close to her chest.

As I approached, she smiled mysteriously. "I made coffee at home just for you! It's still warm. You have to try it before it gets cold."

I felt a warmth spread through me at her thoughtful gesture. I reached for the thermos, unscrewed the lid, and took a sip. The bittersweet taste of coffee filled my mouth. It was pleasantly refreshing.

"Is it good?" she asked eagerly.

I nodded earnestly. "It's really good."

She let out a breath as if a weight had been lifted, then took my hand to stroll along the riverbank.

Selena wasn't overly talkative or outgoing, but that suited me just fine. We walked side by side, enjoying the comfortable silence. I noticed how she furrowed her brow, trying to think of something to say. It was adorably endearing. Even when there were pauses in the conversation, the air didn't feel stifling.

I couldn't help but recall my time with Jessica. I used to tread carefully around her, watching her every expression, afraid I might provoke her. Looking back, I realized how much I had constrained myself by trying so hard to please her.

What a waste of my youth.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang.

The night sky erupted in a burst of color!

Fireworks lit up across the river, drawing the attention of everyone around. Selena and I had the perfect spot to watch the show. As I gazed up at the fireworks, a swell of emotion filled my heart.

When the display ended, Selena beamed at me. "I actually checked the official website and saw there would be fireworks tonight, so I invited you out."

Her voice bubbling with excitement, she continued, "In my hometown, there's a legend that if two people watch fireworks together, they'll receive the blessing of the gods and be together forever."

I had once said something similar to Jessica, but she had rolled her eyes and dismissed it as boring information.

I looked at Selena. Her dark eyes were shimmering in the night, and I saw sincerity and joy radiating from her smile. She was also watching me, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Thank you, Lena," I said, returning her smile.

But then she grew anxious, spinning in place, her hands running through her hair. "Sebastian, does this mean we're officially a couple?"

Before I could answer, she rushed on, her voice a mixture of eagerness and trepidation, "Don't worry! I'll only ever like you and will be by your side forever."

She laid her heart bare, presenting herself to me with a sincerity that shone brighter than the sun.

My eyes stung with emotion.

With Jessica, I had felt so unfortunate. Yet with Selena, I realized I was incredibly lucky.

I smiled warmly and pulled her into my arms.

"Lena… What is it about me that you like?" I asked curiously.