A Game of Hearts

Jessica finally said it.

As I looked at her face, I felt no anger, nor a sense of betrayal or sadness. Inside, I felt completely calm, as if I had solved a puzzle.

"Sure, let's go."

With those words, I confirmed that I didn't feel sad at all and followed her to the airport.

Throughout my years with Jessica, Cameron's existence had always been suffocating for me. It was like a sharp claw had gripped my heart and twisted my throat. But now, as I watched him walking toward us, dragging his suitcase, I felt surprisingly unaffected.

On the other hand, Jessica was a bundle of nerves as she fidgeted with her clothes.

Finally, she glanced at me anxiously and asked, "Do I look okay in this outfit?"

"Don't worry, you look great," I replied.

In all the years we had been together, I had never seen Jessica care this much about her appearance in front of me. Usually, it took a lot of coaxing for her to follow me for a night out with friends. Even then, she would grab any old jacket from her closet and head out.

During parties, she would look miserable the entire time. Whenever I tried to engage her in conversation, her eyes were always filled with impatience and disdain. If friends asked about our relationship, she would simply say we were just friends.

She had never once admitted in public that I was her boyfriend.

It made sense, I guess. Being a simp probably didn't earn me much respect, right? No wonder Jessica never looked my way.

Cameron approached us, suitcase in tow. He embraced Jessica first before his gaze shifted to me.

He appraised me from head to toe before asking, "Jess, who's this handsome guy?"

Jessica shot me a guilty glance, then said, "This is my friend, Sebastian Grant…"

She called me a friend, not her boyfriend.

For a moment, it felt like my heart was being squeezed, making it hard to breathe. But just as quickly, that sharp pain faded, replaced by a strange sense of relief.

After Jessica spoke, I extended my hand to Cameron. "Jess has missed you very much for the past five years. Welcome back."

At my words, Jessica's expression shifted from guilt to shock. She stared at me, her eyes flickering with confusion.

I found it amusing.

Was she really surprised that I hadn't outed myself as her boyfriend right in front of Cameron? Shouldn't she feel happy that I was playing along? After all, Jessica had denied our relationship publicly more than once.

When Jessica's university friends came to Ashenford to visit, she had also introduced me as just a friend. That night, I had my first real argument with her. I asked if she was embarrassed to have me as her boyfriend. In response to my outburst, she simply smiled coldly, not even bothering to say a word. The way she looked at me made it seem like I was just a ridiculous clown throwing a tantrum.

Looking back, I realize I was being foolish. In the grand scheme of things, whether she acknowledged our relationship didn't matter as much as I had made it out to be.

Cameron clapped me on the shoulder. "Thanks for looking out for Jess all these years."

Before I could respond, Jessica chimed in, "Alright, you two are meeting for the first time, so let's skip the emotional stuff."

I smiled at the irony. Jessica still didn't really know me. She was worried I might overshare and accidentally reveal that we were more than just friends. But she seemed to forget that I was never one to beat around the bush.

"I'm starving after a whole day on a plane. Let's go grab something to eat!" Cameron suggested, lovingly ruffling Jessica's hair.

He deftly steered the conversation away, and Jessica's eyes lit up.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Fried chicken."

Soon, the three of us made our way to the parking lot. This time, I didn't open the passenger door for Jessica. Instead, she slid into the back seat next to Cameron without hesitation. She chatted with him the entire drive, asking about his time abroad and laughing at his stories. I realized I had never seen her this animated before.

Maybe the Jessica who was so lively around Cameron was the real her.

Thinking back on the five years I had spent pouring my heart into our relationship, it struck me how little I had received in return. She wouldn't even show her true self to me.

I was such a failure.

I needed to wake up.

Cameron and Jessica were completely wrapped up in their own conversation, treating me like I was invisible. But that was fine. If I stayed out of their discussions, I wouldn't feel awkward.

I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror. I wore a light smile, appearing indifferent to it all.

Following Jessica's directions, I drove them to a small place tucked away in a narrow alley in Ashenford. The area felt remote, and the cold winter air was filled with the scent of fried meat that made my stomach turn a little.

I had never seen Jessica eat in a place like this before. Now, she walked side by side with Cameron, her gaze fixed on him. The crunch of snow beneath my feet faded as I slowed my pace, and she didn't even notice.

I watched their backs. Jessica was clad in a white down jacket that perfectly matched Cameron's outfit. She even reached out to steady him when he slipped on the steps.

The restaurant was bustling, mostly filled with students from the nearby university. I followed them inside, and as I entered, I heard the cheerful voice of the owner's wife.

"Oh! It's you two! It's been ages since you last came. You must be married by now, right?"