My mom took me to her friend’s house for New Year’s greetings.

I forgot my glasses, so from ten meters away, I couldn’t tell who was who. I mistook the dog lying on the sofa watching TV for the friend’s son and greeted “him” warmly.

"This must be Robert. It's been a few years since we last met, but you've lost so much weight."

Robert, who had just come out of the kitchen with a bowl of cherry, tilted his head in confusion.

Our mothers laughed so hard that they collapsed on the sofa. They patted their thighs and blushed from laughing.

Seeing that I was a little embarrassed, the innocent puppy that I mistook for Robert leaned over and licked my palm in a friendly manner.

I had known Robert since I was a child, but I was three years older than him. Later, we moved, and I hadn't seen him for several years.

I never expected that our reunion would involve me mistaking a dog for him.

I was so embarrassed that I almost dug my toes into the floor.

However, Robert looked quite unaffected and didn't take it to heart.

"Does it look a lot like me?"

Robert sat next to me and pushed the bowl of cherries toward me.

I picked up the puppy. “I can’t help it. It’s wearing our clothes.”

At a glance, Robert and the dog were wearing matching colors, so they did look somewhat similar.

"It’s my mother's bad humor."

Robert chuckled and then looked down, speaking softly with a hint of sadness, "I thought you were mad and didn't want to talk to me anymore."

My ears were always sharp, so I immediately caught that remark. My mouth jumped ahead of my brain, and I asked, "Why would I be angry?"

"...Because I stole your homework." Robert’s expression grew increasingly aggrieved, the 6-foot man towering over me like a big, sad puppy. “You said you never wanted to talk to me again.”

OMG. When five-year-old Robert said those words sweetly, it was charming, but hearing twenty-one-year-old Robert use the same tone was absolutely irresistible.

The stealing of my homework should have happened in junior high school. My family hadn't moved yet, and I had just graduated from primary school. My mother signed me up for a few tutoring classes after school, and I had loads of homework to do. Every weekend, I was either attending tutoring classes or trying to finish my homework.

Back then, Robert was in fifth grade and kept coming over to play. He’d visit me several times a day, and I told him I could only join him once I finished my homework.

When I still had two more sets of homework to do, I took out my school bag and found it empty.

Robert, being his single-minded self, stole my exam papers, thinking that this would make me available to play with him.

After losing the homework, I was so anxious that I rummaged through the house but couldn't find it.

Just as I managed to get a photo of the homework to make a photocopy, Robert showed up, eager to take credit.

"Hey, I throw that homework away, so you don’t have to work on them anymore."

He held a basketball in one hand, and his face was covered with dust. He smiled proudly.

Robert was a troublemaker at school, frequently skipping classes and avoiding homework. He was the type who didn’t care about consequences.

On the other hand, I was a diligent and earnest student who never missed an assignment. I was also quite sensitive and feared criticism.

I was furious and immediately kicked Robert out, leaving him with a parting shot. "Don’t come looking for me again. I won’t talk to you anymore."

To help me focus on my studies, my mom soon arranged for me to board at school. After we moved, I lost touch with Robert.

It was said that Robert visited me several times after that, but we kept missing each other. It wasn’t until my mom’s spontaneous New Year’s visit that we finally bumped into each other again.

It had been so many years, and it wasn‘t a big deal. I didn't expect that Robert still remembered it.

I patted his shoulder with a generous smile, like a mentor, and said, "It's okay. I’ve long since forgotten about it."

Unexpectedly, my words backfired. Robert looked even more aggrieved and said, "I even went to the University of Chicago to look for you..."

"Really? I don't think I saw you."

Robert gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with a hint of anger. "You were riding a shared bike with some guy with dyed yellow hair right in front of me."

"Yeah... that might have been two boyfriends ago. He was quite frugal and always used shared bikes whenever we went out."

In college, with the freedom to date, a decent-looking guy confessed his feelings to me. Without giving it much thought, I said yes. However, we broke up soon after because our ways of handling things were completely different.

"I even came looking for you during the summer of your junior year..."

I shifted uncomfortably and sat up straighter, feeling like Robert was keeping track of something. It was normal for him to have a bit of a temper, considering he had tried to see me several times but always missed me.

"I saw you with a guy holding flowers, and he even knew your home address. He was a guy with a tan."

Dyed hair and tanned guy... What strange nicknames.

"That was my ex. He came all the way to see me and confess his feelings, which actually touched me a lot..."

I couldn’t tell if it was just my imagination, but Robert seemed to relax noticeably when I mentioned "my ex”.

"I knew he wasn’t good enough for you," Robert said indignantly. "He gave you such ugly flowers!"

I burst out laughing.

My ex’s taste was definitely questionable. The flowers he gave me when he confessed his feelings were probably the best he could do.

"Then you’re now..."

Before Robert could finish, my cell phone rang.

"Sorry, I have to take this."

It was a call from my boyfriend, Wilson, who asked if I had received any gifts.

"Happy New Year, Liana. I’ve ordered a cake for you. Is it okay if it arrives tomorrow morning at ten?"

A few days ago, while talking on the phone, I mentioned I walked past a cake shop that was about to close for the day. He remembered it.

Even a casual comment from me would stick with him for a long time.

Compared to my previous two boyfriends, Wilson was much more gentle and considerate. He took great care of my moods, offered thoughtful advice, and helped me a lot with both my studies and daily life.

Since we started going out, every day has been comfortable and worry-free.

Because of this, my roommate even said that my previous tumultuous relationships were just to highlight how great Wilson was.

When I finished the call and turned around, both Robert and the dog were staring at me with wide, attentive eyes.

"A friend?”

Robert nervously held a cherry in his hand.

"Sort of."

"Boyfriends are friends, too," I thought and nodded, not noticing Robert’s tense and complicated expression.

"Is it an ex-boyfriend? Some couples can still be friends after breaking up..."

"He's my current boyfriend."

I sat back on the sofa and picked up a cherry.

There was a popping sound, and I turned my head to look.

The cherry in Robert's hand was crushed, and the red juice flowed through his fingers.

At that moment, I realized something.

Robert's earlier questions and his reaction upon hearing I had a boyfriend clearly showed that he was jealous.

He probably thought I had other close male friends, so he was upset.

Although Robert and I weren't biological siblings, we grew up together and were closer than real siblings. To him, I was a very important person.

After Robert washed his hands and came out, I patted his shoulder and forced a particularly kind smile.

"Robert, is there any New Year's gift you want? I’ll take you shopping."

Robert was silent for a while. "I'm three years younger than you, not three years old."

Alright, my attempt to mend our sibling relationship failed.

"Have you ever thought that maybe Robert doesn't see you as just a sister?"

Taking advantage of my mom going out to play poker, I hung out with my best friend Madison, whom I hadn't seen in two years.

The two of us were having a feast at a barbecue restaurant, chatting about recent events. I happened to be troubled by the matter with Robert, so I thought I'd get Madison's opinion.

Unexpectedly, her first words shocked me.

"Don't question the nature of our relationship! Robert and I practically grew up together, and he has called me sister since he could speak. I don’t see him in that way."

"Sure, sure." Madison grabbed a skewer of meat. "Growing up together means childhood sweethearts to other people, but to you, it's sibling affection.

"Besides, you may not have feelings for him, but can you guarantee he sees you the same way?

"He went to your university and your new address to see you. Do you have any other 'good little brother' who would do that? I'm telling you, Liana, you're blind as a bat."

Madison smacked her lips, still unsatisfied, and grabbed another skewer of meat. "Let me guess, are you thinking now that Robert doesn’t know what he’s doing? You two are only three years apart, so what's wrong with going out with him?"

"I still have a boyfriend."

"I've never liked that man. Look at his face, and you can tell he's no good!"

Madison grabbed my hand, her mouth greasy and shiny. "I’m a cougar relationship advocate. Go, girl! Be brave!"

I sighed.

Just when I was tossing and turning, not knowing how to face Robert, I received a message from Wilson. "Liana, let's go to the Hamptons next week."

But it was Madison's birthday next week. Birthdays only came once a year, so I planned to celebrate it with my best friend.

"Okay, you guys have fun. We can go next year."

Wilson was always gentle and considerate, and he was great with people. Many who knew him envied me for being his girlfriend, but Madison never liked him.

I shook my head, trying to shake off those confusing thoughts.

Madison didn't invite too many people to her birthday, just a few close friends.

We had dinner and went to Karaoke, but we still didn’t want to call it a night.

Someone suggested, "Let's go to the Hamptons to see the fireworks. I saw some photos. The decorations are nice, and there are many entertainment activities."

"Sure!"

The birthday girl nodded, and everyone immediately sprang into action, booking cabs and telling their families where they were going.

I had already informed my mom that I'd be back late, but I hesitated whether to tell Wilson since he also wanted to go see the fireworks with me.

My fingers hovered over our chat history when Madison suddenly gave me a heavy pat on the shoulder.

"Gotcha! It’s my birthday, and you’re still thinking about some man!"

I shook her hand off, laughing. "Alright, I'll think only about you."

But I didn't expect to see Wilson there.

I saw him carrying a bag for another woman and gently draping a coat over her shoulders.

When I noticed him from behind, I thought it was just someone with a similar build, but next to the man was a woman with long hair, wearing a furry bunny ear scarf that looked very similar to the one Wilson gave me.

So many people looked alike in this world. I should trust my boyfriend.

I turned my head slightly, thinking I must have made a mistake, but my eyes couldn't help but follow them. Finally, as they stepped into the store, I saw the man's profile.

The man who was sending me affectionate messages yesterday was now holding hands with another woman.

He gently tucked her hair behind her ear, whispering something to her.

I stared at them, raised my phone, and took a photo.

"What are you looking at?"

Seeing me standing there, Madison followed my gaze.

"Damn it, that guy really isn't any good! He’s cheating on my friend!"

Her voice was loud enough that all our friends heard it.