Chapter 4

By the time I reached the venue, the show had already started.

I thought I'd enjoy it, but instead, I checked my phone more than a dozen times.

I was still waiting for Tiffany to call, hoping that, just once, she'd come and comfort me.

Even if it was only once, maybe I wouldn't have lost quite so miserably.

But the show ended, and she still hadn't sent me a single message. The only thing waiting for me was a new post on her social media.

In the photo, the silhouettes of a man and a woman leaned against each other beneath the setting sun. It was romantic. Beautiful, even.

The caption was only two words: [Watching the sunset.]

She had time to watch the sunset with Blake, but she couldn't spare even a moment to call and ask how I was doing.

I let out a bitter laugh that felt more painful than tears.

When I reached the beach, Tiffany and Blake were already getting ready to leave. She didn't ask where I'd been.

Instead, she immediately started scolding me, "Nicholas, what took you so long? Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting for you?"

In contrast to Tiffany's anger, my reaction was almost indifferent. "You and Blake were having such a good time watching the sunset. I didn't dare interrupt."

Color flashed across Tiffany's face, first red, then pale. "Nicholas, you've been acting strange since this trip started. What exactly are you angry about?"

She looked at me as if I were a child throwing a tantrum.

"Tiffany, what do you think I'm angry about?" I shot back.

I pointed at Blake. My voice trembled despite my efforts to control it. "We agreed this trip was supposed to be just the two of us. Then, right before we left, you suddenly told me he was coming too.

"I spent two months planning our trip to the north, and you changed the entire destination to the beach just because he said he wanted to see the ocean.

"And just now, when people thought you and Blake were a couple, you didn't even bother to explain."

"Nicholas, I only see Blake as a younger brother. We're not what you think we are..."

She reached for my hand, but I immediately stepped back to avoid her touch.

At this point, I wouldn't believe anything she said. I turned and walked quickly toward the far end of the beach.

I didn't realize Blake had followed me until I heard his voice. "Nic, Tiffany and I aren't like that. We haven't crossed any lines. She only sees me as her little brother..."

"Blake, do you actually believe that yourself? You can pretend in front of Tiffany. You don't have to do it with me."

Blake fell silent for a moment. Then he suddenly laughed. "Nicholas, when you stole Tiffany from me, you should've known this day would come."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I swung my fist and punched him.

Tiffany and I had chosen each other. Our relationship had been mutual from the beginning. Yet in Blake's version of the story, I'd stolen his girlfriend.

The punch stunned him. Once he recovered, he shouted angrily, "Nicholas, how dare you hit me?"

He lunged at me like a madman and started throwing punches. I fought back with everything I had.

We'd lived under the same roof for more than a decade, yet this was the first time we'd ever come to blows.

Blake's face was covered in bruises. So was mine. Neither of us was willing to back down.

Then a massive wave suddenly crashed into us and knocked us both into the water. Another wave followed immediately and swept us farther and farther from shore.

Neither of us could swim. We kicked desperately and screamed for help.

A familiar figure appeared on the shore.

It was Tiffany.

She tore off her jacket and dove into the water, swimming toward me.

"Tiffany! I'm over here!" Blake shouted.

She turned sharply toward him. Without a moment's hesitation, she changed direction.

I kept screaming for help until my throat was raw, but Blake was the only person in her eyes.

She held him firmly and swam back toward shore. No matter how loudly I called, she never looked back.

The waves lifted me high before slamming me back down. Seawater rushed into my throat and choked me until I couldn't make another sound.

Tiffany reached the shore and laid Blake on the sand, then immediately checked him for injuries. From beginning to end, she never once looked in my direction.

The waves carried me farther and farther away. Despair slowly swallowed me whole and consumed me from within.

One could see a person's true feelings most clearly when life and death were on the line.

In the end, she still chose Blake.

I stopped fighting and let myself sink.

Through the howling sea wind came a heart-rending scream. "Nicholas!"

I no longer had the strength to open my eyes.