Chapter 3

From the very first time I met Mia, something about her rubbed me the wrong way.

She transferred to our university and, like Evan, was studying architecture.

At the freshmen welcome party, Evan performed a song onstage.

Mia stood in the crowd clutching a bouquet, staring at him with sparkling eyes.

“Evan, you have such a beautiful voice, and you’re the top student in the entire department! If you were my boyfriend, I’d slap myself before I’d ever pick a fight with you.”

The words were vague enough that I could not outright accuse her of going after him, but infuriating enough to make my blood boil.

Evan looked at me helplessly.

I stepped up beside him and looped my arm through his, making it perfectly clear who I was.

“Excuse me, but I’m Evan’s girlfriend. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make comments like that again.”

Mia shoved the bouquet into his hands.

“I just think he’s a great guy. It’s not like I’m trying to steal your boyfriend.”

Evan handed the flowers back and tightened his grip around my hand.

“Jenna and I are doing great. Let’s not make jokes like that, okay?”

Even after being rejected, Mia did not get angry. She simply smiled and walked away.

I trusted Evan to keep me feeling secure.

When Lily heard what happened, she tore into Mia for playing innocent.

“She doesn’t even come close to you, Jenna, yet she’s always finding excuses to get near Evan. Talk about shameless!

“Don’t worry. I’ll make Jason cut back on his gaming and keep an eye on Evan for you. And I’ll keep Mia in check around campus too. I won’t let her get anywhere near your man.”

I never understood why, but that determination did not last long.

Before long, I started hearing compliments about Mia from all three of them.

Jason said, “Mia is an incredible dancer. She’s won huge competitions before."

Lily chimed in, “Mia has such a great personality. She’s always smiling, and she takes amazing pictures too. I even followed her photography account!”

Even Evan stopped pushing back against Mia’s increasingly friendly behavior.

“Mia’s architectural drawings are better than mine. Our professor was right. I should learn from her.”

Somewhere along the way, our friendships and my relationship quietly shifted from what they once were.

Evan and I started arguing more and more because of Mia.

Little by little, Lily and Jason stopped taking my side.

It finally got to the point where she was added to the group chat, and I was the one who had to leave.

They had finally gotten exactly what they wanted.

I set down the karaoke microphone and said plainly, “Mia, I was here first. I didn’t deliberately choose the room next to yours. As for how Evan and Lily want to celebrate with you, I couldn’t care less. And I don’t want your stupid welcome cake either. So please, just leave.”

Those simple sentences were enough to make her eyes turn red with hurt.

She took a step toward me, her voice trembling.

“Jenna, could you please stop thinking the worst of me? I never wanted my presence to come between you and Evan.”

The moment her first tear fell, Evan walked through the door.

He shot me an irritated look before taking Mia by the wrist, positioning himself protectively between us.

“Jenna, Mia feels terrible about all this. She’s been trying so hard to make peace with you, yet you still have to push her until she cries?”

Lily poked her head through the doorway and gently patted Mia’s shoulder, comforting her.

Then she heaved a sigh and looked at me.

“Jenna, your temper is seriously impossible. Mia is such a sweet person, yet you still managed to make her cry. Honestly, you’re exhausting. You’re impossible to please.”