It was hard to tell if it was a coincidence or deliberate, but Mia's seat ended up right next to James.

With a cheeky grin and her popcorn in hand, she chirped, "Perfect! After the movie, we can grab dinner together."

I kept my eyes fixed vaguely ahead. I had no interest in joining their conversation.

This movie must’ve been the kind they all liked. By the second half, James and the others were huddled together, whispering enthusiastically.

Me? I was so bored I couldn’t stop yawning.

Seeing them chatting away happily, I decided to take a quick nap. Who would’ve thought that by the time I woke up, even the credits had finished rolling?

As we left the theater, Mia was eagerly discussing the movie’s plot with James.

The two of them grew more engrossed in their conversation, gradually drifting farther ahead of the group.

That left me trailing behind with James’ buddies.

Maybe my silence made everyone think I was upset because they started trying to cheer me up.

One guy cracked jokes, while another went off to buy me a smoothie and snacks.

"Don’t mind Mia. She’s known James forever. They’ve got all these shared interests and always get carried away talking. We’ve learned to just stay out of it."

I smiled warmly, trying to be understanding. "I get it. They’re best friends. It’s normal for them to have a lot to talk about."

It took James thirty minutes to realize he’d left me behind with his entourage. By the time he came jogging back, he looked genuinely apologetic.

“Ames, I’m so sorry, I—”

I raised my hand dramatically, cutting him off mid-sentence.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You and Mia haven’t caught up in a while, right? A little extra chatting is no big deal. I’m not that petty.”

Handing off the smoothie and snacks to his friends, I looped my arm through James’ with a sudden burst of affection.

“James, I’m starving! Let’s go eat!”

I swear, I had never used such a sugary tone since I was a kid. However, it worked like a charm!

James’ face went beet red, and his friends were instantly fired up, hooting and hollering in delight.

The only one who wasn’t amused was Mia. She stood frozen, fists clenched at her sides, her eyes suspiciously shiny.

Gone was her bubbly, talkative demeanor from earlier.

In the private room, the only person I knew well was James.

Mia, however, was in her element, rallying the crowd to keep pouring drinks for him.

Some of the guys looked a little guilty, sneaking glances my way as they raised their glasses.

It wasn’t hard to piece it together. Mia had probably put them up to this.

I had to admit she had her ways. Getting this many people to follow her lead wasn’t easy.

Then again, they’d all been friends far longer than I’d been in the picture.

As the alcohol started to take effect, James suddenly turned to me, his face flushed, and pulled me into a drunken hug and kiss.

“Ames, Ames, you’re so beautiful. I like you so much.”

Smiling faintly, I placed my hand between his alcohol-scented lips and my face.

“My dad likes you, too. He said I have to marry you.”

Internally, I scoffed. Joe could keep dreaming.

Before James could lean in again, Mia stepped forward, prying him off me.

“James, calm down. Look, even Ames is tired of you now.”

Then, somehow, Mia managed to position herself right in James’ path. His next attempt to kiss me landed squarely on her lips instead.

Mia’s reaction was immediate. She shoved James back hard, and he stumbled onto the floor. A glass of water tipped over, drenching his head.

The splash was loud enough to snap him halfway out of his drunken haze.

Mia’s eyes brimmed with tears, glistening, but not quite falling. She glanced at me, then locked eyes with a dazed James for what felt like an eternity.

Like a whirlwind, she bolted from the room.

James, now sitting on the floor, touched his lips in confusion before scrambling to his feet and dashing after her.

“Haha! Don’t take it personally, Ames,” one of James’s buddies joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“How could I be upset? It was just an accident, after all,” I responded to their awkward attempts to act like everything was fine.

My response seemed to shock them. They were probably surprised at how much I seemed to not care about my dignity.

Or maybe they just thought I was crazy.

We stayed in the private room for another hour, waiting. Finally, James came back, dragging a tear-streaked Mia along.

They’d clearly cooled off in the night air, and the tension between them was now replaced by a cautious distance.

“James, you’re back! Let’s head home!” I said cheerfully, pretending nothing had happened.

I didn’t care what had gone on between the two of them outside. All I knew was that it was late, and I was ready to go to bed.

James’s buddies took the opportunity to make a quick exit, probably relieved to escape the awkward atmosphere.

I hailed a cab and invited James to ride with me. After all, we lived nearby and were headed in the same direction.

James hesitated, glancing between me and Mia. Finally, as though steeling himself, he turned to her.

“Mia, don’t take what happened tonight to heart. It was all my fault for drinking too much. From now on, let’s stay good friends, alright?”

I slid into the cab first, rolling my eyes where no one could see. Was the alcohol affecting his brain?

By the time James joined me, I had already composed myself, my face soft and gentle once more.

“All taken care of, James,” I said sweetly. “I called Mia a cab, too. No need to worry.”

Since the last encounter, things between James and Mia have become complicated.

Even though James still accompanied me to class, his mind was clearly elsewhere. His eyes often wandered to empty spaces, and a conflicted expression lingered on his face.

I didn’t think too much about him while I diligently took notes during lectures.

What could he possibly be struggling with? Did he trade his IQ for those good looks?

Caught between Mia’s subtle pressure and my constant attention, James seemed to buckle under the weight. He even started losing weight at an alarming rate.

Oh dear, how heartbroken I was for him!

So, naturally, I took it upon myself to restore his health. Every day, I dragged him to the cafeteria for nutritious meals.

I piled his tray with chicken, beef, and vegetables, all while wearing a worried expression.

“James, are you getting too tired from keeping me company in class? You’ve lost so much weight. Eat more, okay? Otherwise, I’ll feel so bad for you.”

He gave me a tired smile and reached out to pinch my cheek affectionately.

“Ames, you’re so good to me!”

I immediately returned his affection with a bashful look.

The better I treated James, the closer we became. He started relying on me more and more.

However, no matter how much I occupied his time, his thoughts still strayed to Mia.

After I’d monopolized him for a while, Mia finally cracked and sought us out.

Our duo quickly became a trio, with her tagging along wherever we went.

Every time I showed up to a class together, I was flanked by my two bodyguards. Even the professors couldn’t help but glance our way.

One day, while the three of us were out shopping, we ran into James’ father.

Dressed sharply in a tailored suit, Joe cut a striking figure. He was tall, refined, and exuded charm.

“Ah, Amy! Out with James, I see? Tell me, what caught your eye? I will buy it for you.” He said warmly before turning to Mia, as if only just noticing her presence.

“But isn’t it a bit odd for a couple on a date to bring someone else along? How can you have fun like that?”

Mia stood nervously at James’ side, fidgeting with the hem of her jacket.

“Joe, I… I’m just…”

I stepped forward, closing the distance between me and Joe.

“What can you do? If a girl admires James so much that she insists on tagging along, let her. At least when I eventually break up with James, she can swoop in to comfort him so he won’t be too lonely.”

The moment the words left my lips, all three of them froze and stared at me in utter shock.