Chapter 1

I'm happily digging into a hot dog by the roadside when, sure enough, I spot my girlfriend, Jennifer York, in Felix Kenner's latest post.

The caption reads, "You make the best medicine."

After being stood up by Jennifer so many times, I've long since stopped caring.

If anything. I'm starting to think I should break up with her as soon as possible and let the two of them be together.

Chapter 1

I took a bite of my hot dog as I watched Jennifer York's name flash across my phone screen. It was slowing me down.

I was about to ignore the call when I accidentally brushed the screen with the base of my thumb and answered it.

With no choice but to pick up, I asked, "What is it?"

Jennifer sounded completely normal. She didn't sound the least bit guilty. "Something came up at work. I'm sorry I can't be with you again. I'll make it up to you another time."

I finished my hot dog and reached for another one.

"Oh, okay. It's fine."

There was a hint of confusion in her voice. "Where are you?"

I glanced around at the street. The restaurant we'd planned to go to was nowhere near this noisy.

"Uh, I just felt like getting something to eat, so…"

The hot dog was delicious.

"Why do you always do whatever you want? I had my friend make that reservation for me. If I don't go, it'll be a waste of her favor. What am I supposed to tell her?" she roared, clearly annoyed.

"Then just tell her the real reason you didn't go. I'm sure she'll understand."

"What real reason? What are you on about?"

I sighed. "Is Felix feeling any better?"

Her voice dropped, and she started sounding a little guilty as she said, "How did you… No, that's not it. Let me explain."

"You don't have to. I understand. I'd better eat before my food gets cold. See you."

I hung up.

"Sir, your order's ready!"

"Thanks!"

Ah, hot dogs. My favorite.

It wasn't hard to figure out why Jennifer had stood me up.

On the way to the restaurant, I saw a post from Felix Kenner.

"It's already mealtime, but I feel so bad that I don't even have an appetite."

I told the driver to turn around and take me straight to the food trucks instead.

By now, it was practically a reflex.

Ever since Jennifer got to know Felix, she'd always put him first.

Felix had started working at Jennifer's company as an administrative assistant. He was an energetic fresh graduate.

At first, Jennifer thought, "He's so damn clueless. Sometimes I feel like I should just fire him."

Then, it changed to, "He's actually trying. I feel bad for him."

That was when I knew she'd fallen for him.

Without me even realizing it, Jennifer became the first person Felix turned to whenever he ran into trouble.

All I could do was watch it happen.

It wasn't like we had never argued about it, but every time we did, Jennifer just brushed it off.

"He's a recent graduate. He doesn't really have any friends here. I'm just looking out for one of my employees," she would argue.

"Anniversaries aren't that important. If it really matters to you, I'll make it up to you later. He had a stomachache, so I went to take care of him. You've had stomachaches too. You know how miserable they feel.

"You sprained your ankle. He had a fever. You know which one was more serious."

I had gotten used to it. I didn't even care anymore.

Getting stood up was nothing. Compared to everything else, it was hardly worth mentioning.

…

The next morning, I was surprised to find Jennifer in the living room.

That was unusual. Whenever she stood me up before, she'd come straight from Felix's place.

She barely reacted when she saw me.

"I got back late last night, so I slept in the guest room."

I hummed a response.

She paused before adding, "You got up pretty late, too. You didn't have time to make breakfast, did you?"

"I'll eat on the way," I replied casually.

She smiled. "That's a shame. I kind of miss those simple breakfasts you used to make."

I rested my hand on the bathroom door handle.

"What's there to miss? You already had breakfast, didn't you?"

I closed the door.

I used to get up early every morning to make breakfast for her, but ever since Felix became part of our lives, she gradually stopped eating breakfast.

Chapter 2

I had just finished getting dressed and was about to leave when I looked up and saw the conflicted look on Jennifer's face.

"I've been busy lately, so I haven't had the time to eat breakfast at home," she said. "I'll try to eat at home more often from now on."

I smiled. "Don't. I'd rather sleep in a little longer."

The extra half hour of sleep had left me feeling surprisingly refreshed.

Jennifer looked at me like she wanted to say something, but held back. It wasn't until I reached the door that she finally hurried over and grabbed my hand.

I turned to her.

She hesitated for a moment. "I didn't see Felix's post until later. He didn't mean anything by it. Nothing happened between us, so don't get the wrong idea."

Even after finding out that Felix had made the post, she was still defending him.

Whenever I'd complained about something Felix had done, she would frown and tell me I was too narrow-minded and couldn't see the bigger picture.

If I kept pushing, she'd get impatient and accuse me of having a dirty mind. She'd insist that she and Felix were nothing more than friends, and that nothing was going on between them.

I smiled. By then, I was used to her taking Felix's side.

When Jennifer noticed that I wasn't reacting, she continued, "I know you're upset that I stood you up yesterday, but Felix suddenly got sick. He wasn't feeling well. You know he doesn't have anyone here."

I pulled my hand free.

"I know. I understand. Can I go now? I'm going to be late for work if I don't leave."

She caught the doorknob before I could open it. Her tone turned irritated. "I told you nothing's going on between us. Why are you still acting like this?"

"And I told you that I believe you. Why are you stopping me?"

"You're—"

"I'm really going to be late. I have to go."

I ignored her reaction and left.

…

When I got home that evening, I went straight to my bedroom, grabbed some clothes, and got ready to take a shower.

As I passed the study, I heard Jennifer's voice from inside.

"Send it to me. I'll take care of it. It's fine. I can get this much done while I'm at it.

"Sure. You owe me dinner next time."

Jennifer was helping Felix with his work again.

I'd once asked her to help me grade some student papers, but she put it off for two days. When I asked if she'd gotten around to it, she snapped, "Can't I have the weekend to relax and do something for myself? Do your own work. If I help you, it's a favor, not an obligation."

In the end, I'd stayed up late and finished everything myself.

After Felix joined the company, he always seemed to have something he didn't know how to do, and Jennifer was more than willing to handle it for him.

When I asked her about it, she said, "He's new to the corporate environment. It's normal for him not to know some things. Didn't you have a lot to learn when you first started teaching?"

That brought the whole ordeal with the papers back to mind, and we got into a huge fight.

"At least when I help Felix, I'm doing it for the company. What's my excuse for helping you?" she spat.

We barely spoke for a long time after that. Even then, I couldn't bring myself to let her go, so I forgave her when she offered a half-hearted apology.

After my shower, I went back to the bedroom and watched a show on my digital tablet.

A while later, the bedroom door opened.

I looked up to see Jennifer climbing onto the bed with a helpless smile. She wrapped her arms around me.

"Why didn't you come say hi when you got home? You just went off and did your own thing. I just finished work, and I'm starving."

"Have Felix make you something."

Her hands went still, and her expression darkened. "Why do you have to drag Felix into everything? Can't you stop having such a dirty mind?"

I set my device down.

"No, you spent all that time helping him with his work. The least he can do is make you dinner and return the favor."

She stared at me.

"You heard me?" she asked, frowning. "I told you Felix is new to the working world. Isn't it normal for me to help him? I'm doing it for the company, too. The better the work gets, the better the company does. You have a stake in it too. If the company makes more money, I can give both of us a better life.

"Why can't you understand that?"

She hadn't forgotten that I invested part of my parents' inheritance in the company.

Yet when I asked her to fire Felix, she snapped and asked, "Since when do you call the shots?"

Chapter 3

I calmly said, "I just don't understand. If a teacher at my school had been there for over six months and was still terrible at their job, they would have been fired."

Jennifer let out a long sigh.

"Okay, okay. I'll make sure he gets up to speed. I'll try not to help him anymore. If you have any student work that you need help with, you can give it to me. I'll take care of it. Is that enough?"

Her tone softened. "Anyway, I'm hungry now. Why don't you make me something to eat? It's been so long since we've had a meal together."

She was trying to coax me into giving in. She must still remember what happened before.

"Let's not. You were right before. Everyone should handle their own responsibilities. Besides, I already ate before I came home. Just order something for yourself."

Her expression immediately hardened. She fell silent, then turned and slammed the door behind her.

…

After that, Jennifer and I were back to giving each other the silent treatment.

Unlike before, when I'd been anxious and unable to concentrate on anything during our fights, I'd spent the past few days happier than I'd been in a long time.

And I certainly wasn't going to swallow my pride and beg her to make up with me the next day.

A week later, at 9:00 pm, Jennifer's best friend, Quincy Sanders, called me. "William, come to the bar near the office. Jennifer's—"

I hung up before she could finish speaking.

Jennifer's employees—who were also her friends—had never liked me. They thought a junior high school teacher like me wasn't good enough for someone as young, successful, and independent as Jennifer.

Whenever she brought me along to company gatherings, they mostly left me off to the side. Even when they talked to me, they would usually make some kind of pointed remark.

I couldn't even stop smiling without Jennifer accusing me of not being able to take a joke.

Looking back, I really was pathetic. But honestly, I had brought it on myself.

Quincy kept calling me, but I declined her calls and blocked her number.

Then, I started calling real estate agents to arrange viewings. After spending the past week looking for a new place, I finally found one.

For one thing, the house we were living in belonged to Jennifer. Moreover, it was close to her office but far from my school.

Having to get up early every morning left me bleary-eyed, and I was running on empty most of the time. Some of the teachers at school had even suggested I see a doctor because I looked so worn out every day.

With a schedule like that, it was no wonder I never felt well.

After I blocked Quincy, Jennifer's friends started calling me one after another. I'd barely finished speaking to the real estate agent when another call came in.

I was about to block that number too, but when I saw the name "Jasmine Yardley" on the screen, I answered.

Of all of them, Jasmine had always been the nicest to me. She never joined in when her friends made snide remarks about me, so I figured I'd return the favor.

She sounded hesitant as she said, "William, Jennifer's really drunk. She keeps calling your name. Can you please come over?"

"Have Felix pick her up. I'm really busy."

After all, packing was no small task.

"But it's Saturday… And honestly, nothing's going on between her and Felix…"

A loud crash suddenly came through the phone, followed by Jennifer's angry voice. "Hang up! Why did you call him? Why did you even explain anything to him?"

I hung up before Jasmine could be put in an awkward position.

After I finished packing, I collapsed onto the couch and idly scrolled through my feed.

As expected, Felix had posted something.

"I really feel for her. She's so drunk, and her boyfriend won't even get her. I guess this poor little employee has to deal with her instead."

The photo showed Jennifer asleep.

I felt completely calm. I put my phone down, then on a whim, I decided to go back and like the post.

Packing had worn me out. By the time I picked up my phone again, I couldn't find the post anymore.

Just then, I heard a key turn in the lock.

Jennifer, who was supposedly drunk out of her mind, stood there with a gloomy look on her face as the door opened.