[Nina, are you going too?] A classmate asked in surprise; obviously, she didn't catch the sarcasm in my message.

I understood her confusion. During college, I was a loner and had little interaction with Marlon, Maya, and their group.

They were the classic high school sweethearts, having dated for seven years. Although they broke up shortly after graduation, almost everyone still paired them together automatically.

No one knew that Marlon and I had been together for over a year and a half.

Five people decided to go, and we created a small side group.

A girl immediately asked. [How much should we give?]

[What's Maya suffering from? Is it serious?]

[100 dollars should be enough. If it's more, I'm not going.]

[I think 100 dollars is about right.]

……

[I'll give separately.]

[I'll give separately.]

As soon as I sent my message, I noticed someone else had said the same thing.

I clicked on the profile picture, which was a forest, and the nickname was a black period.

[Thomas, Nina, are you two going together?]

Thomas? I shook my head, not recognizing the name.

October 16th.

Auspicious day to visit the sick.

In the morning, I opened my phone and saw Marlon had finally replied to a message I sent a few days ago.

[Dad's birthday is this Sunday, don't forge.] The message was sent on October 13.

[Sorry, Nina, I've been too busy these days, but I'll definitely remember the party on Sunday.] At this point, Marlon's reply seemed particularly ridiculous.

I arrived at the hospital where everyone had agreed to meet, but no one else was there yet.

Waited only a few minutes.

"Nina? You're already here."

I turned around at the sound of the voice and saw a handsome man in a black shirt, who looked vaguely familiar.

"Don't remember me? I'm Thomas, the head of the literary club back in college," the man explained calmly, seeing my puzzled look.

"I work at the hospital, so I came to visit Maya," he paused for a moment. " With Marlon."

Before I could answer.

"Nina? Thomas? Is that you? Wow, you both have changed so much!"

An eager female classmate exclaimed, "Hey? Did you two come together?"

Noticing their growing curiosity and suggestive glances.

I quickly clarified, "No, I came from the west side of the city."

"Let's go inside; it's getting late," Thomas interjected, skillfully easing the tension.

I glanced at a familiar silver-gray sedan in the parking lot.

Great, Marlon.

Driving the car I bought to take care of your ex-girlfriend.

"What brings you here?" Marlon opened the door, his face a mix of fatigue and surprise.

But the next moment, he caught sight of me standing at the back of the group.

"Hahaha, you must be thrilled! We messaged you both in the group chat, but neither of you replied." A classmate stepped forward, handing over a fruit basket and some cash.

"These are our well wishes, Maya. Take good care of yourself."

"Marlon, you better take good care of our lovely Maya; she's lost so much weight, you hear?" The girls chimed in one after another, filling the hospital room with lively chatter.

The only exceptions were Marlon, who was clearly flustered and uneasy, and Maya, who looked at me with a smug expression as if she had won it all.

Initially, I thought Maya was unaware that Marlon had a new girlfriend.

But it turned out she knew everything and did this on purpose.

"Nina—why are you here?" Marlon quickly stepped closer to me, his voice urgent.

"Why wouldn't I come? I'm here to visit an old classmate." I shot him a sideways glance, emphasizing the words old classmate with a biting tone.

I walked past him and approached Maya.

"What's your condition? Is it serious?" I pulled out an envelope.

The others stared in surprise at the thick wad of cash.

"This is for your recovery," I said, standing up. I then turned to Marlon, who looked increasingly panicked, "And this is a gift for your everlasting happiness together."