Chapter 1

My girlfriend of three years asked me a question during our video call.

"Your roommate is so handsome. Is he seeing anyone?"

Seeing that look in her eyes―the look of a predator spotting prey―my heart skipped a beat.

Before we got together, she was known for being a player.

Over the years, she had settled down quite a bit.

At most, she would glance at someone she found interesting, but she never acted on it.

The last time I saw that unmistakable, eager gleam in her eyes was three years ago, when she was chasing me.

1

I stood downstairs at my dorm, seeing Selina and Chase kissing passionately.

They were in their own world, completely ignoring the students passing by who were staring at them.

I felt like I had been struck by lightning, frozen in place.

My girlfriend, Selina, had told me she loved me just two hours ago on text, promising to bring me snacks later that evening.

Now, she was kissing my roommate right outside my building.

A memory from two weeks ago hit me hard.

We were on a video call, and Chase had walked into the frame for a split second.

I had seen the intense interest in her eyes.

Chase was a heartthrob, tall and athletic, and he was popular on campus.

I had always known Selina was restless, so I did my best to keep them apart.

That day, when she asked me if Chase had a girlfriend, a wave of panic washed over me.

Trying to hide my anxiety, I lied to her.

"Him? Of course he has a girlfriend. She is beautiful, and they are very much in love."

"Oh, I see," she said, sounding disappointed, but then her competitive streak kicked in. "So, tell me, is his girlfriend prettier than me?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I frowned, feeling annoyed. "Selina, what do you mean? You aren't interested in him, are you?"

She didn't push it, just waved it off with a laugh.

"Relax, Noah. You are overthinking it. I was just curious."

"Besides, I have you. Why would I ever be interested in someone else?"

Even though she didn't bring him up again, I felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

The following days were agonizing. I couldn't tell if I was being paranoid.

She would disappear for hours at a time.

Whenever I asked, she claimed she was busy with her thesis and didn't have time for her phone.

My roommate was also coming and going at strange hours.

Today, everything finally clicked into place.

I stared at them, my heart aching so badly I could barely breathe.

"Selina, when are you going to give me a title?"

After they broke the kiss, I heard Chase ask.

Selina leaned in and kissed him again before saying, "Don't worry. As soon as I break up with Noah, I will go public with you."

"So when is that happening? I get so jealous when I see you stuck with him, pretending to care about his calls."

I gripped the bark of a nearby tree, my face pale, waiting to hear her answer.

Selina sounded indifferent. "Soon. Do you think I enjoy dealing with him?"

"He is just so clingy. I have been fed up with him for years. If I don't find the right moment, he will never stop pestering me."

Chase hugged her, his voice sounding offended.

"So what is the right moment? Just tell him you like someone else, and be done with it."

Selina reassured him, "Be patient. I have been acting cold toward him these past few days. Knowing him, he should be at his breaking point by now."

I stood there, dazed, for a long time after hearing that.

I touched my face, realizing I was crying without even knowing it.

Only when they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways did I emerge from behind the tree.

I walked back to my dorm.

As soon as I entered, Chase leaned back in his chair and greeted me.

"You are back. I ran into your girlfriend downstairs. She asked me to give this to you."

He tossed a bag at me.

I caught it and realized it was a bag of sour cherry gummies.

I squeezed the bag and asked, acting like it was no big deal.

"My girlfriend? How did you know she was my girlfriend?"