On my birthday, my girlfriend, Amelia Davis, organized a spectacular fireworks show for her childhood sweetheart, Oscar Phillips.

A passer-by captured a video and swiftly shared it online, sparking a continuous flow of good wishes.

Amelia's friends collectively saw me as a joke and playfully asked, "What's your take on this?"

I replied calmly, "Well, it was beautiful."

——

The video soon went viral online.

The comments section was full of praise for Amelia and Oscar being a perfect couple.

As I listened to the joyous laughter mingling with the fireworks from my phone, the sight of the delicious food on the table left my heart heavy with sadness.

Today was my birthday, and Amelia had promised me that she would come back early to celebrate with me.

However, she called in the afternoon to explain that an unexpected issue had arisen at home, delaying her return.

I trusted her words, eagerly waiting for her.

To my surprise, the social gathering she had mentioned was to set off fireworks with Oscar.

How ironic!

In the video, Amelia's typically reserved and aloof expression transformed into a warm beam as she gazed at Oscar with evident tenderness.

It was a side of her I had never witnessed before.

I had thought she was indifferent by nature and not good at expressing her love.

With a mocking smile, I peeled back the wrapping on the cake and quietly ate it.

A greasy sweetness filled my mouth. I suddenly found it quite boring.

I fetched my phone and called Amelia.

She answered quickly, her voice as cold as before. "What's wrong?"

I could clearly hear the bursts of fireworks.

After a moment of silence, I swallowed the cake in my mouth and asked, "Where are you?"

"I'm dealing with some matters at home. If there is anything, go ahead."

Amelia seemed to have left the riverside, and the sound of fireworks disappeared from the other end of the phone.

She sounded as composed as ever, devoid of any hint of guilt despite her lie.

I caught a glimpse of the video on my tablet and found it even more boring.

"Let's break up."

"What are you angry about?"

I sneered, "Watch more videos if you are free, my dear online influencer."

With that, I hung up the phone.

Since we had parted company, I shouldn't stay here anymore.

Glancing at the untouched dishes on the table, I got up and went to the kitchen to find some takeaway boxes and pack them one by one.

Then, I cleaned up the kitchen and put away all the things I had brought.

Afterward, I took a taxi back home.

Amelia's own house was conveniently close to her office.

Yet, my residence was situated to the east and hers to the west, resulting in considerable distance between them, much like the gap between her and me.

No matter how hard I tried, we still seemed to be separated by the Pacific Ocean.

Back at home, I stored the packed food in the refrigerator, then took a shower, and went to bed.

The next day, I woke up and saw only a few messages on my phone.

[Why are you so mad?]

[Didn't you agree to celebrate your birthday when I got back? Where are you?]

It appeared that Amelia hadn't followed my instructions to check the video online.

I ignored her messages and just went about my own business.

This wasn't the first time she had stood me up.

Oscar used to contact Amelia whenever something happened to him. Even after his late-night break-up, he would invite her out for a drink to relieve his boredom.​

I had lost my temper, argued with her, and questioned her.

However, she replied, "Immoral people always entertain lewd ideas."

Every time, Amelia would give me gifts after abandoning me to find Oscar.

As long as she coaxed me, I would continue to revel in this relationship as if nothing had happened.

Because my friends all said that girlfriends needed to be spoiled.

If I kicked up a fuss, I would lose.

But no one realized that I had already failed miserably in this relationship.

And now, I was tired.

In the evening, after finishing work, I left the company and saw her standing outside.

She was dressed impeccably with a cold expression and a tall figure, like a runway model. Her body proportions were exceptional, drawing the attention of passers-by.

In the past, I would have approached her and asked her to get into the car to avoid being seen by anyone.

However, now, I simply ignored her.

I walked toward the station alone, and soon, Amelia caught up with me. Instead of explaining the incident, she said calmly, "It's Debra's birthday today. She's treating us to dinner."

I stopped and looked up at her. "Sure."

After we got in the car, there was silence.

As the wind blew in through the window, I caught a faint scent of jasmine.

It was Oscar's fragrance.

It was not unpleasant. I suddenly asked, "Do you enjoy floral fragrance?"

Amelia narrowed her bright eyes. "So-so."

Really? But why did I always smell this scent on you?

I didn't speak anymore.

When we arrived at the agreed hotel, Oscar and Debra Wilson had been there for a while.

He was obviously surprised to see us coming together.

"Amelia, Adrian, you're here. We've been waiting for you for a long time."

I smiled at Debra. "I'm sorry. I came in a hurry and didn't prepare a gift for you."

She was a childhood friend of Amelia and Oscar. Amelia would bring me along whenever she had a party with them, and we gradually became familiar with each other.

"I gave her a gift. You don't need to apologize."

Amelia pulled me to the table.

I wasn't sure if Oscar and Debra had done it intentionally, but the remaining two seats were directly opposite each other.

I released Amelia's hand and went to sit across from her.

Despite her displeasure, she said nothing and took the empty seat next to Oscar.

I was well aware of what her friends were thinking.

From the start, they were not optimistic about Amelia's relationship with me, believing I wasn't worthy of her, and their attitude toward me was lukewarm.

I had endeavored to build a good relationship with them by giving them thoughtfully chosen gifts during festivals.

However, no one had actually used them, which led me to understand they weren't fully accepting me wholeheartedly.

​I was too stupid to realize such an obvious fact until now.​

I just ate the food quietly.

Amelia chatted with them with ease while peeling shrimp.

She avoided seafood and would only try it reluctantly if someone helped her peel and debone it, finding the process troublesome.

However, she didn't mind the effort now. After peeling an entire plate of shrimp and placing it in front of Oscar, she carefully wiped her hands with a wet wipe.

Oscar stared at her lovingly.

She had never been so considerate to me.

Witnessing all this, I felt very depressed.

Despite my determination to move on from her, the scenes filled me with sadness.

Debra also noticed her actions. While covertly observing my expression, she nudged Amelia and teased, "Amelia, don't be partial. Your boyfriend still craves your attention."

Amelia suddenly came back to her senses and looked at the empty plate on the table.

She said, "Let's order another one."

"No need." I took a sip of the drink with composure. "I don't like shrimp."

"What about fish?"

"No."

Amelia frowned slightly and glanced at the table. "What about clam chowder?"

"No."

She was stunned, evidently not anticipating my decisive refusal.

Meeting her gaze, I calmly wiped my mouth with a napkin and continued, "Please stop. I don't like any of those."

"Adrian, are you angry?"

Oscar added tentatively, "If so, I'll give you this plate. You're a mature man, so don't get upset with Amelia over such trivial matters."

Oscar's calm demeanor made me feel like a villain.

"Why am I angry? Have a good time. I just remembered that I still have some work to do, so I'll head out first."

With a smile, I stood up and was about to leave.

"Wait. Are you still upset about Amelia setting off fireworks for Oscar?" Debra asked deliberately, gazing at me provocatively.

As this matter was mentioned, Oscar said, "I'm sorry, Adrian. I was in a bad mood at that time, so Amelia came up with this idea. If it bothers you, we can take you with us next time we have fun."

Amelia frowned. "I just organized a fireworks show. Why are you so annoyed? Adrian, you are too petty."

Her words created a tense atmosphere in the room.

Oscar grinned at me out of her view, as if quietly asserting their closeness.

Wasn't it ridiculous that those who did wrong often failed to recognize their own mistakes?

Amelia remained oblivious to her fault as ever.

She believed that with time, I would forget about it and that the matter would be resolved.

I beamed calmly. "Well, you are right. The fireworks were beautiful. You can do it again."

With that, I walked away without hesitation.

When the door closed, I heard Oscar's voice. "Amelia, go chase him and apologize. Adrian is obviously furious."

"Leave him alone. He will be fine in a few days."

Amelia's words hurt me like a sword.

​What had I done to inspire her with such confidence?​

I stepped out of the hotel slowly.

A cool autumn breeze swept through the night.

I strolled along the bustling streets.

The roadside was crowded with people.

Couples passed by me, their loving demeanor truly enviable.

Before Oscar returned, Amelia and I had been as affectionate as them.

We held hands tightly, unwilling to let go, fearing the other might vanish.

So, why did we become like this?

I panted heavily, feeling breathless.

At the sight of an ice cream stall on the roadside, I pondered for a while and went to buy one.

The moment I received the ice cream, Amelia's complaints suddenly came to mind.

"Your stomach problem is so severe. Why are you eating something cold? You're risking your life."

I took a bite, and it tasted just cloyingly sweet.

It was not delicious, even somewhat bitter.

The air also became foul.

I was about to ask the boss if the ice cream had gone bad when a couple happily ate theirs with relish.

That seemed to be my problem.

Suppressing the melancholy, I turned back home.

Upon my arrival, Amelia texted me.

[Are you home yet?]

I glanced at it but didn't reply.

Not long after, she sent another message. [We didn't enjoy the meal today because of you. Let's host them another day.]

I still didn't reply.

Perhaps Amelia had lost her patience and called me directly.

I put down my phone and ignored it.

When I got back from the shower, my phone had stopped ringing.

Before going to sleep, I habitually checked Instagram, only to unexpectedly see a post by Oscar from five minutes ago.

Amelia appeared to have hired a surrogate driver, with her and him seated in the back of the car.

In the photo, she leaned lazily on his shoulder with her eyes closed. He lowered his head slightly, and his lips were only half an inch away from hers.

The caption read: [No matter how much time goes by, we'll always be the same.]

With a mocking smile, I replied to her: [Congratulations.]