Chapter 3
Actually, Nicholas had barely worn that jacket.
I rushed into the store, dragged Matthew over, and studied his face closely.
He rubbed his chin. "Is there something dirty on my face?"
"No," I said.
Wait, it just hit me.
A photo from Nicholas's feed flashed through my mind. One of the people in it was Matthew.
I was taken aback. "Do you know Nicholas?"
Matthew just smirked and gave a vague reply. "Maybe, but he didn't seem to recognize me just now."
With those sunglasses on, Matthew really did look different from his usual self.
I doubted Nicholas ever even looked at my wedding invitation.
Matthew gave a knowing look, his eyes narrowing with a hint of mischief. "There's a party tomorrow. You'll find out then."
The next day, I arrived downstairs a bit late because I stopped to buy something on the way.
As soon as I reached the door, I could hear the lively chatter inside.
Nicholas asked Matthew, "It's been a while. What have you been up to lately?"
"I got married," Matthew replied.
As soon as he said that, the whole place went wild.
Nicholas was surprised. "Are you kidding me? You got married? I never saw you dating anyone."
Matthew crossed his legs and took a sip of his drink. "You met her yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Nicholas said dismissively. "That's impossible. I was on a date with Scarlett yesterday, and we only went to the hotel. And then—"
He paused, as if something had just occurred to him, and suddenly fell silent. A faint trace of melancholy passed through his eyes.
He pulled out his phone, changing the subject. "Sorry, guys. I just remembered I have something to take care of."
Just as I was about to push the door open, a message popped up on my phone. [Nora, I'm sorry about that bet. Come see me. Scarlett won't be here.]
It was the first time Nicholas had ever apologized to me.
I had no clue what was going on in his head, so I just switched off my phone.
Right then, a call came in, and almost simultaneously, the same ringtone rang out both inside and outside the door.
Nicholas followed the sound and saw me, his eyes lighting up for a split second. However, the next moment, his face fell.
Matthew pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the corner of my lips.
He turned to them. "Let me introduce Nora, my wife. We just tied the knot."
For a moment, everyone just stared at each other in disbelief.
Nicholas froze, his hand holding the glass hovering in mid-air. His face darkened.
I glanced around and realized that most of the people here were the same ones who'd made that bet with Nicholas.
This was getting awkward. I leaned in and whispered to Matthew, "What kind of party is this anyway?"
He just sat down like it was no big deal and raised his glass to everyone. "Sorry, I didn't invite you all to the wedding. Hope you guys can at least wish me a happy marriage."
He downed his drink in one go and shot a look at Nicholas.
After a moment of silence, people started chiming in with their congratulations. "This is great. Congratulations on your marriage."
There were also some quiet whispers.
"Wait, did Nicholas just mess up this time?"
"What do you mean? Nicholas never liked her."
"You just don't get it. Can't you see the look on his face right now?"
I thought for a moment and poured myself a drink.
Looking back, every time I showed up around these people, I always felt way too uncomfortable.
It was either their mocking or Nicholas putting me down.
Ten years of loving someone, and all it ever did was make me feel small.
I thought I might still feel awkward in this setting, but seeing Nicholas now, I realized I had no reason to feel embarrassed.
I filled my glass and raised it, saying calmly, "Thanks for your wishes."
As soon as I finished talking, Nicholas shot up and kicked the table over, sending it crashing to the floor.
He looked up at me, his eyes clouded with anger. "When did this happen? Nora, are you fucking with me?"
The drinks on the table rattled from the impact.
I took a step back, giving him a faint smile. "What do you mean? Didn't you get the invitation a few days ago?"
"Fuck," Nicholas spat, taking a few shaky breaths before shooting Matthew a glare and letting out a bitter laugh. "Are you with her now?
"Do you even know who she really likes?"
Matthew looked up. Their cold gazes met.
I gently tugged Matthew back. I'd handle this myself.
I responded to Nicholas, "If you think I still care for you, then let's be clear. Honestly, that's all ancient history. I don't care who you're dating.
"And who I like or marry isn't your business."
With that, I grabbed Matthew's hand and walked out the door.
Nicholas clenched his fists inside the private room, head down, not moving an inch.
Some people finally spoke up, trying to calm him down.
"Nicholas, calm down. She's just a lovesick fool. Not worth it, man."
"Yeah, Nora is nothing special. She's nothing compared to the other girls you date."
"Should I go bring her back so you two can have a proper talk?"
"No way," Nicholas snapped. "Everyone knows Nora would do anything for me. There's no way she'll actually stay away for good."
Even as I walked away, I could still catch what they were saying inside.
Anything for him? That phrase felt strangely familiar. It pulled me back to my college years.
Nicholas and I went to different campuses, and I'd always hang around late just to squeeze in a few more minutes with him.
Once the shuttle stopped running, I'd have to cut through some dark side path just to make it back before midnight.
There were no streetlights along the way, and I fell a few times, bruising my elbows pretty badly.
One time, one of Nicholas's buddies saw me and asked what happened.
Nicholas put on this worried act. "You know, she'd do anything for me."
I wasn't dumb. I could totally see that hint of pride in his eyes.
My devotion had become something he used to show off.
People would always ask me, "Why do you like Nicholas so much?"
I'd just stay quiet for ages, not knowing what to say.
I'd liked Nicholas for so long that I'd almost forgotten why I even liked him in the first place.