Kelly and I had been in a long-distance relationship for three years. After working overtime for a month to make time so I could see her, she could not be reached.

I waited alone in that unfamiliar place for ten whole hours before I finally got a reply from her.

My best friend, Hayden, called me and said gleefully, "Zachary, surprise! I've already explored Stranton for you. It's amazing. Kelly is a great tour guide!"

He excitedly shared his experiences, as if he had not noticed the 30 missed calls I left on Kelly's phone.

I listened quietly until he mentioned feeling cold.

Kelly took the phone and said bluntly, "I'll take him back to the hotel first. Give us a minute."

After she finished speaking, I asked, "Do you know how long I've been waiting?"

Kelly paused, her tone turning cold.

"He's your friend. Are you really going to make a fuss out of this?"

The blatant rebuke completely extinguished my desire to reply.

After hanging up, my ride back to Jazzville arrived.

The driver glanced at me and could not help but say, "Young man, it's the middle of the night. This area is quite dangerous. What urgent matter kept you waiting until now?"

Looking at my shoes, which had been soaked by the snow, I softly replied, "It was urgent at the time."

Then, I smiled and continued, "But not anymore."

Kelly Campbell only realized two hours later that I was no longer around.

Her ringtone was a foreign rock song. I disliked it and had even joked on several occasions that she should change it to the chill music I preferred.

Kelly was repulsed. Her cold tone made the song replay in my head.

"Must I do everything you say?"

Feeling awkward, I immediately apologized.

Just now, my best friend, Hayden Zachary, had posted to his social media.

[LOL! I've listened to that song I recommended to some idiot three months ago so many times that I'm sick of it, yet she's still using it.]

Kelly had replied three minutes ago.

[Who are you calling an idiot?!]

Hayden had replied quickly: [I'm talking about you!]

My phone kept ringing with incoming calls.

I suddenly felt like laughing. How could she string two men along at the same time?

Noticing that I did not answer her calls, she switched to texting me.

Kelly kept complaining: [Where on earth have you gone? Stop making a fuss, okay? It's late at night, and I'm really tired.]

The driver spoke to me again, sounding genuinely terrified. "You don't know this, but there was a robbery at that very station just two days ago. The victim died, and the whole city was in a panic. That's why I was so shaken when I picked you up today. If I were your parents, I'd be worried sick all night."

My fingers twitched, and my gaze returned to my phone screen.

[How could you be so inconsiderate? I was just a little late picking you up. Hayden's a guest and also your best friend. What's wrong with accommodating him?]

My hand trembled uncontrollably, and my heart ached as if a knife was scraping across it.

The driver noticed my reddened eyes and panicked, quickly comforting me, "I'm sorry, kid. I said too much."

I shook my head, my eyes still red, suddenly feeling a sense of relief. "No. I should be thanking you."

After a pause, Kelly sent another message when I did not reply.

[Never mind. I can't keep coddling you. You can calm down on your own.]

Out of her 28 messages, 27.5 were accusations against me, and the last 0.5 was about not being able to keep coddling me.

A wave of drowsiness washed over me, so I turned off my phone and fell asleep immediately.

When I woke up, I was already home. Seeing how tired I was, the driver let me sleep for three hours in the car, so I paid him an extra $100.

He was delighted. He reminded me when he left, "Young man, hurry back and change your shoes. They're soaked!"

Touched, I replied, "Okay."

While waiting for the water to heat up in the bathroom, Hayden updated his social media again.

[I tried out a new popular milk tea place. A good buddy of mine queued for an hour, but the taste was just mid. I took a sip and gave the rest to someone else to enjoy.]

That someone else was clearly Kelly, who was smiling slightly at the camera.

I never knew that my girlfriend, who was so germaphobic that she refused to even share a cup with me, would drink from another man's drink.

I softly sighed and liked the post. Then I called my boss, Greg Simpson. "Mr. Simpson, I regret turning you down earlier. Can I still take on that project?"

Greg was surprised but mostly relieved. "You've finally come to your senses! If you do this project well, you’ll be promoted twice when you get back! It’ll just be one year abroad. Believe me, one year is nothing if it's true love."

I smiled and did not refute. That relationship had already ended.

I slowly finished my hot bath.

When I came out, Hayden's post was gone.

I was surprised. It turned out that Hayden was not as indifferent as he seemed.

Kelly suddenly called me.

I had a bad feeling, but I answered anyway.

"Who are you trying to piss off this time? You’re not answering my calls and not replying to my messages, and now, you’re making a fuss on Hayden's social media." She spoke rapidly, carrying a protectiveness I'd never heard when it came to me.

I suddenly felt exhausted. I worked overtime for a month straight to be able to see her, yet this was what I got in return.

"Kelly, whose girlfriend are you?"

She paused abruptly and stayed silent for a long time before finally answering with disappointment, "Do you have to make such a big deal out of this?"

"Kelly, maybe I should talk to him." Hayden’s hesitant voice came from the other end of the line.

I glanced at the time. It was 11 PM, which meant they had been together since 8 AM.

"No need. The more we indulge him, the bolder he becomes."

"But he’s my best friend, after all..."

The two whispered amongst themselves, discussing something before finally hanging up.

Their interaction carried a familiarity that made me realize the two of them had probably crossed the line much longer ago than I initially imagined.

I took a quick nap, but my frostbitten feet only grew more swollen.

I grabbed a cane and took a taxi to the hospital.

I gritted my teeth and endured the pain as the doctor cleaned my wound. After getting some medicine, I went home.

As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by a soft embrace and surrounded by the familiar scent of jasmine.

Seeing me staring blankly at her, Kelly smiled good-naturedly. "You ignored me, so I had to come to you."

My eyes welled up. As I opened my mouth to say something, she casually took the medicine from my hand. "What happened to you?"

"My feet are frostbitten."

She hummed in acknowledgement and casually put the medication on the table. She did not ask how it happened nor how serious it was.

Suddenly, her phone rang with that ringtone that always gave me a headache.

I did not know what Hayden said.

Kelly laughed happily and teased, "You asked me to come, so how could I have refused?"

My heart sank sharply. The slight feeling of gratitude I had felt vanished instantly.

I limped to the table, took a pill, and popped it into my mouth.

Kelly hung up, came over, and hugged me from behind. She said affectionately, "Stop being mad. I had my phone on silent that day. I was upset all night after you left."

I forced a smile. Her smile the next morning did not seem to be that of someone who had been upset all night.

"Besides, he's come over several times already. I just wanted to get it over with so I could focus on spending time with you."

I paused while drinking my water. "Does he hang out with you often?"

She smiled. "Are you jealous? Don't worry. He's like a greasy old man. I wouldn't want him. We just occasionally travel together, and it's only because you're too busy."

Seemingly not wanting to say more, Kelly turned and said she was going to take a shower, making sure to take her phone with her before leaving.

After a while, Kelly asked me to bring her some pajamas.

I brought over a set. As I pushed the door open, Kelly quickly put her phone down. She smiled at me, her face wet. "Thank you."

The door was closed again with a swoosh.

I did not leave.

A few seconds later, I heard sounds from inside.

Hayden laughed loudly. "Why are you acting like we're having an affair?"

Kelly responded, her voice a little lazy, "Don't you know how your good buddy is? He's so petty."

Hayden snorted and answered lewdly, "Hurry up and show me your abs! I've never seen a girl with them before."

Kelly feigned anger. "You pervert!"

...

I did not finish listening to the rest.

Kelly returned an hour later.

Her face was flushed, and her eyes gleamed like burning flames. It was obvious she was aroused.

Before I could turn the lights off, Kelly lunged at me.

I reached out my hand to block her, my tone indifferent. "We don't have condoms."

Kelly paused and blurted instinctively, "Hayden said it's okay during safe period."

I looked at her sharply, disgust in my eyes. "You even told him about our sex life?"

"No." Kelly immediately denied it, running a hand through her hair.

However, seeing my gaze, she knew I was not convinced. Her voice sounded a little odd as she said, "He's not a random stranger."

My gaze slowly fell on her face. Her voice, expression, and actions all made it clear who she really had on her mind.

I felt like I was the stranger in this relationship.

At this point, I could not bear to even share a bed with her. "Go sleep in the guest room."

Kelly was startled, somewhat in disbelief. "Just because of this? I came all this way to see you, yet you want me to sleep in the guest room?"

"So you came all this way just to have sex with me?"

Kelly stared at me quietly, clearly angry.

I felt like this was a good time to break up, so I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, she slammed the door and left.

I shut my mouth, turned off the light, and went to bed.

I slept soundly. Greg had already sent me the plane tickets when I woke up, groggy.

Greg: [Tomorrow at noon. Don't be late.]

I replied affirmatively and got up to freshen up, but I heard a gasp from the bathroom as I opened the door.

I was stunned for a moment and tried to close it, but someone behind me was faster, slamming it shut before I could.

"Why didn't you knock before going in?" Kelly's voice was harsh.

For a moment, I really felt like an outsider. "Why is Hayden here?"

Kelly replied casually, "He missed you."

In the two years I had rented this place, he had never once visited, but he seemed to miss me now that Kelly was here.

I said nothing. Hayden came out, briefly greeted me, and plopped down at the dining table.

Kelly served him a cooked egg.

Hayden took a bite, and his eyes lit up. "You really know me well! You made the eggs runny, just like how I like them.”

Kelly snorted, clearly in a good mood. Then, she pushed another plate toward me. "Don't say I'm biased. I made one for you too."

However, my hand holding the fork just would not move. I never ate runny eggs.

After six years together, she still did not remember.

"Kelly, I need you to carry me later! I want to rank up!" Hayden kicked her.

"You're too much of a noob. I'm not carrying you!"

"Are you even my friend? You won't even help with something like this?" Hayden grew increasingly agitated, plopping down next to Kelly.

Their thighs were pressed tightly together.

Hayden was shirtless, revealing his well-defined abs.

Seeing Kelly blush slightly, he suddenly laughed, grabbed her hand, and pressed it against his body. "Since you cooked for me, I’ll let you feast on something too.”

Kelly's face instantly turned red. She quickly glanced at me and subtly backed away.

Nausea surged to my throat, and I put down my fork with a clink. I turned and said right to Hayden’s lewd display, "Didn't I tell you we're not friends anymore?"