He texted back fast, with a little sticker of a puppy wagging its tail.

I snorted a laugh before I could stop myself, and the next second my phone was pulled out of my hand.

Jerome tugged me off to an empty corner.

"Joanna, there's a limit to how long you can keep giving me the silent treatment."

"You lie like this, and when your parents find out, how are you going to cover it?"

"They're all heading back to make dinner. If I don't go, won't that put them in an awkward spot?"

"You could at least think about the older folks a little more..."

He said it, sighed, and took out a velvet box.

"Here. That necklace you said you liked last time, I bought it for you."

"Lola just broke up with someone and she was a wreck. I stayed with her all night. I wanted to explain yesterday, but there was never a chance."

"Don't be mad anymore, okay?"

I looked at the box and just found it funny.

Half a year ago I told him I wanted it, and he said he'd buy it for me next time.

Last night Lola posted that she loved this brand, and by today he'd bought it for me.

I took my phone back and scrolled to her post.

Three thirty in the morning, captioned:

【Maybe people only understand what real love is after they've lived through it.】

The photo showed a whole set of jewelry, with a large hand in the bottom right corner of the frame.

The watch on that hand, the familiar one, was the gift I'd saved three months' wages to give Jerome.

"This stuff, you gave it to her?"

Seeing the photo, Jerome's expression flickered, and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You know how she is. The second Lola gets upset she hurts herself. I have to keep her calm."

"When did you get this cold-blooded?"

Right. Of course I knew.

Back then, who in our class didn't know about this pair of doomed lovers?

Fighting, slapping each other, living like a romance novel.

Jerome gave up his guaranteed college placement for Lola, and when Daisy found out, she tore the two of them apart.

Later, riddled with guilt, she couldn't do enough for Lola.

I gave a dry laugh and handed the necklace back to him.

Before I could say anything, that special ringtone of his went off.

Jerome's voice instantly warmed with a smile.

"Okay, okay, I'll go buy you breakfast right now, you little princess."

He stepped off to the side as he talked, motioning with his eyes for me to wait.

I glanced at the necklace lying there alone on the ground, the one I'd waited half a year for, and turned to leave.

I wasn't going to wait anymore.

By the time I got in the car, Kenneth had already sent a whole string of messages.

I answered them one by one, and a smile finally reached my eyes.

When Mom and Dad heard that the boyfriend I'd mentioned was Kenneth, they were thrilled.

"That young man is steady, dependable!"

Back then my dad was hauling more than a hundred pounds of flour into the store by himself, in and out.

He was drenched in sweat and worn out when he ran into Kenneth passing by.

After that, Kenneth started coming around to lend a hand.

One thing led to another, and the two of them became unlikely friends despite the age gap.

One weekend when I came home, I saw someone skulking around in front of the counter.

I thought he was a thief and threw him over my shoulder.

Only later did I find out he'd come to pay the supplier's order money for my dad.

That was how the two of us got connected too.

I was home cooking when the doorbell rang.

I ran to the door, bouncing on my feet, but the one standing there was Jerome.

Lola and Daisy were behind him, looking a little put out.

"Ken's here?"

Mom wiped her hands and came over, then froze for a second when she saw them.

"Huh? Jerome, weren't the three of you going to stay out another day?"

Jerome, holding Lola's hand, paused, and couldn't help asking,

"Ken is...?"

"My boyfriend."

His face changed, and Lola quickly explained to my mom,

"Sorry to intrude, ma'am. Jerome said you've been neighbors for years, so I thought it wouldn't be right not to come pay a visit."

Daisy nodded and handed over a gift.

"Yes, yes, this child is just so thoughtful!"

"You really shouldn't have."

Dad came out of the kitchen, but there was no warmth in his tone.

The Gilberts were well off, and their whole family looked down on us. I knew it, and so did my parents.

My dad's breakfast diner, Jerome had never once set foot in it.

As he came through the door, he ground out a whisper in my ear,

"And to think I worried you were too heartbroken and came back early. You really do put on a full performance, don't you!"

At the table, he kept showing off how in love he and Lola were.

Kenneth messaged to say he was stuck in traffic.

As it got later and later, a trace of contempt crept onto Jerome's face.

"Joanna, how come this boyfriend of yours still isn't here?"

Lola smacked him, but her voice was all mockery.

"Oh, come on, maybe he's just busy with work."

"Honestly, you. It's not like Joanna would lie to us, right?"

Daisy weighed in too, all earnest concern.

"Being on time really does matter. It also lets us help you keep an eye on him."

My parents looked a little uncomfortable, but I stayed perfectly calm.

Just as they were about to start in again, the doorbell rang.

Kenneth pushed the door open, apology written all over his face, both hands loaded down with bags.

When he saw me, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and swept me into a big hug.

Then he held out a bouquet.

"Lady Joanna, this humble servant is late. Please accept my apologies!"

It made me laugh, and I took the things from his hands.

A neck-and-shoulder massager for my dad, chamomile tea for my mom.

You could tell he'd put thought into it.

Mom and Dad hurried over, beaming.

"You silly boy, why bring so much just for a visit!"

"Really, look at you, all worked up and sweaty. Sit down, take a rest!"

The few people at the table kept changing color.

When Kenneth sat down beside me, Jerome's face went dark and he gave a cold snort.

"Smooth-talker. All flash, no substance."

Dad's eyes cooled a few degrees at that, but Kenneth pressed a hand over his.

He smiled, laid a piece of food in my bowl, and said mildly,

"Still better than the ones who put on airs. My worry would be holding that pose too long, until it's too late to regret it."

Mom, all smiles, ladled him some soup.

Jerome's face went red, but Lola pulled him back.

The whole meal ended in an eerie silence.

Afterward, my parents rose to see the guests out.

Jerome hung back at the end, saying he wanted to talk with me.

Lola seemed to sense it. She turned back, eyes reddening, and called out to him.

"Jerome…"

His step faltered. I smiled and said,

"No need. Your girlfriend's calling you. Go on."

And with that I linked my arm through Kenneth's and went back inside.

Jerome ground his teeth, but he still turned and left.

Early the next morning, though, the one who showed up at the door was Lola.

She came straight to the point.

"I'll say it plainly. I know you and Jerome had a thing once."

She paused, a trace of scorn in her eyes.

"But I don't care. You've seen how Jerome loves me, haven't you?"

"He never forgot me."

"Getting with you back then was just to spite me."

My hands didn't stop tidying the room. I answered without much interest.

"Fine. Got it."

Lola clearly hadn't expected that reaction. She drew a few sharp breaths, then grabbed my hand.

"Enough! Stop standing there pretending you don't care!"

"Everyone knows you had a crush on Jerome back then!"

I shook her hand off.

Before I could get a word out, Jerome rushed over and threw himself in front of Lola.

"Joanna! Sulk all you want, but don't hurt Lola!"

The look he gave me was full of disgust. He never once noticed my wrist, red where she'd grabbed it.

Only when Lola spoke up did he register what had actually just happened.

He raised his voice, a little uneasy.

"Lola's emotionally fragile. I was just afraid you'd set her off."

I let out a scoffing laugh.

"If that's how you want to see it, there's nothing I can do."

Furious, Jerome charged forward without another word and tore apart the thing clenched in my hand.

I looked at the scraps all over the floor, and for a moment I couldn't breathe.

It was the blessing letter my grandmother wrote me before she died.

Back then I'd told her I'd met someone truly wonderful.

Someone who would stand in front of me when classmates bullied me, who would stay up late organizing notes for me.

Because of him,

I'd finally gone from "the diner owner's daughter" in people's mouths to Harding the Straight-A Star.

I told her this was the person I loved.

And so my grandmother wished for the two of us to end up together.

I crouched down and picked up the pieces one by one, dropping them into the trash.

Panic flickered through Jerome's eyes. He reached out, wanting to wipe the tears from the corner of my eye.

I dodged his hand and said, my voice gone hoarse,

"My boyfriend's coming soon. The two of you should go."

"I've forgotten everything that happened before. I wish you a long and happy life together."

Jerome tried to say something more, but Kenneth stepped in front of me.

He ruffled my hair and pulled me behind him.

"I'm sorry. I got here late."

"Are you hurt?"

When I shook my head, his face went cold as he looked at the two across from us.

"This family doesn't welcome a dog that bites its owner!"

Jerome, eyes rimmed red, reached to grab me, and Kenneth landed a punch on him.

What came next was pure chaos. The two of them grappled all over my tiny room.

Lola watched it all, her hateful glare fixed on me.

The noise gave me a headache, and I shouted:

"Enough!!!"

The two of them finally stopped. I hurried over, anxious, and helped Kenneth up.

"Are you okay?"

"Joanna! I'm hurt worse than he is!"

Jerome stared at me, stunned.

Before all this, seeing him hurt like that would have had tears springing to my eyes.

But now I was busy cleaning Kenneth's cuts, and I brushed him off.

"Got it. Go find a doctor, then."

Lola helped Jerome up. His face was frighteningly dark.

"Fine. Fine. You'd better not regret this!"

After that, Jerome went back to acting like I didn't exist.

He led Lola around introducing her to the neighbors, and everyone said they made a perfect pair.

Lola's feed was full of the designer bags and jewelry Jerome had given her.

Even the class group chat, dead for years, came back to life because of the two of them.

【Oh my God, the ship we all shipped back then is alive again!】

【The class president and the school beauty. My youth is back! Hahaha!】

【Oh please, back then everyone knew Mr. Gilbert only had eyes for Lola. Some people just couldn't take a hint and kept throwing themselves at him……】

【Right, but it all worked out. True love wins in the end~】

【Guys, the person you're talking about is still in here, ahem ahem.】

None of it touched me.

After everything we'd been through, Kenneth and I only grew surer of each other, and things kept warming between us.

When my old deskmate called, I was busy planning the engagement dinner with him.

"Joanna, they're saying they want to hold a reunion!"

"Do you want to come and set the record straight? You explained so many problems to me back then. I can't just stand by and watch them drag your name like this……"

I smiled and turned her down.

"The second I'm off work I get hauled off to look at venues. I'm run ragged. Where would I find the time to bother with that?"

"Don't worry, I'll invite you to the dinner. Don't waste your temper on those people!"

Then I quietly left the group chat.

That only made the ones who couldn't stand me bolder.

They said I had no ground to argue back, and they piled the mud on thicker.

Lola dropped her share of wounded, wronged-sounding posts too, some open, some sly.

It only nailed down the rumor that I'd wedged my way between them.

A few classmates spoke up for me now and then, and got shouted right back down.

Before I knew it the reunion came, and when they saw I hadn't shown, the whole crowd started up with the snide remarks again.

"Some people look like straight-A stars, but who knows how nasty they are underneath?"

"Exactly. All that high-and-mighty act, isn't it just a guilty conscience?"

And then they went back to fawning over Jerome and Lola.

But this time, Jerome cut in with a frown.

Once everyone was full of food and drink, he suddenly called the server over.

"Pack up an order of the crispy skillet potatoes."

Someone beside him teased, "Mr. Gilbert likes little-kid food like that too?"

Jerome let out a soft laugh.

"It's for my girlfriend."

Beside him, Lola went pale.

Someone caught the awkward mood and stepped in with a laugh:

"Hey, look, everyone, Joanna just posted."

My deskmate stood right up:

"That's right. Some people should think before they talk."

"She's busy getting engaged. Of course she didn't come."

The ones who'd been trashing me flushed red.

When Jerome heard that, he froze on the spot.