I’d never used the black card he’d given me.
I put both cards in an envelope and asked the
housekeeper to give it to Jason. Then, with a
small suitcase, I moved into the wedding
dress studio I co–owned with Alex.
It was winter break, and I spent all my time,
apart from eating and sleeping, working on
Melanie and Jason’s wedding attire.
Watching me work, Alex frowned. “Why are
you working so hard? You’ve lost so much
weight, and you were already thin!”
“Their engagement and wedding are so close
L
together. If I’m too slow, they won’t have
anything to wear.”
“Who cares about them? If they’re in such a
hurry, they can find someone else.”
“But Melanie likes my wedding dress designs,
and I’ve already promised them.”
Since I was six, Jason had been the one
giving to me.
It was rare for him to ask something of me. I
couldn’t refuse.
Seeing my persistence, Alex reluctantly joined
me in working day and night.
Besides handling the studio’s business, he
was also my assistant.
Г
But he was different from Jason.
Jason was always calm and collected, a faint
smile always on his face. Even after almost
twenty years, I often couldn’t read his
emotions.
Alex was the opposite. He never hid his
feelings, whether happy or angry.
He’d been grumpy these past few days.
When I worked, I usually got so absorbed that
nothing else mattered.
But after recent events, I couldn’t ignore
Alex’s mood.
“Ouch!”
L
I pricked my finger with a needle and winced.
Alex hurried over with an alcohol swab.
“What’s on your mind? How did you even
manage to prick yourself?”
Watching him clean my wound, I felt a pang
of sadness.
I had parents and a brother, but after
seventeen years apart, we were practically
strangers.
Jason and Alex were the closest people I had.
Now Jason had someone he loved and was
distancing himself from me. Would Alex do
the same one day?
L
The thought filled me with anxiety.
I’d been holding it in for days, but I couldn’t
anymore.
“Alex, when you have a girlfriend one day, will
we drift apart?”
Alex rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, that day will
never come. Because the person I like is you.
I’ve liked you for seven years, and I don’t see
that changing.”
I was stunned. “You… like me?”
“Yeah. Everyone who knows us can see it,
even your p bus uncle. Why do you think
he’s always been so wary of me? So you
don’t have to worry about me ignoring you.
<
It’s more likely you’ll be the one ignoring me.”
After his casual confession, he added
jokingly, “Of course, if you’re still worried, you
can consider being my girlfriend.”
His sudden confession made my head spin.
“But… but I have someone else in my heart. It
wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“You’re actually considering it?”
Alex jumped up, struggling to contain his
laughter. He leaned down, placing his hands
on his knees so we were eye level.
My reflection shone in his eyes. “I don’t care
about fail or not. I just want you to give me a
chance to replace that person in your heart!”
<
They say the best way to forget someone is
to start a new relationship.
His suggestion appealed to me. “I’ll… think
about it.”
Even though I’d only said I’d think about it,
Alex was overjoyed. He picked me up and
spun me around before putting me down.
Even while working, he was much more
enthusiastic.
