No Mercy for the Unfaithful

I’ve known James Jonas for five years. From college sweethearts to walking down the aisle, countless people envied our relationship.

"A perfect match, a pair made in heaven, the ideal love story…"

I’ve heard these words so many times, but they never meant much to me.

I knew James’s heart was with someone else.

He’s known Mia Rodriguez for ten years, five years longer than he’s known me.

The strange thing was that James and Mia always referred to each other only as best friends. Their bond seemed so pure, untouched by even a hint of romance.

They ended up at the same college, in the same major. Yet, for reasons I still don’t understand, James decided to pursue me—a girl from a completely different department.

Back then, I had dreamy ideas about college romance.

James was handsome, polite, and incredibly charming.

So, when he asked me out for the second month in a row, I finally said yes.

During the first week, everything felt perfect. It was like the beginning of one of those romance movies. However, soon, I noticed something, or rather, someone, that didn’t sit right with me.

Mia.

She was an average-looking girl who wore her hair short.

She’d call me, “Ames,” with a bright smile while casually slinging her arm around James’ shoulders, saying things like, “James, you’re unbelievable! Bagging such a gorgeous girl so quickly. Got any tips for me?”

Now, Mia was at least a foot shorter than James, so whenever she threw her arm around him, her face would naturally end up close to his ear.

Too close.

Their closeness felt intimate, though James acted like it was perfectly normal.

It kept happening again and again.

I couldn’t understand why James, who now had a girlfriend, still had such a physically close female friend.

At first, I convinced myself I was overthinking things and brought it up to him casually. What I didn’t expect was his response. It left me speechless.

“Mia and I have been close friends for over five years. That’s just how we’ve always been. I can’t just cut her off because I’m in a relationship. That would be an insult to our friendship!”

I decided to talk to Mia as well.

Her response was equally ridiculous.

“What are you even talking about? James and I are just friends. Always have been. Whatever romantic nonsense you’re imagining, that’s not us. James is more suited to dating… well, someone like you!”

Mia paused, looking me up and down as if trying to decide whether calling me a “little girl” would stick.

Admittedly, I was taller and had a more mature look than her, so she faltered.

Fine, then.

Even if their friendship was so pure, I wasn’t going to stick around to see it.

I broke up with James shortly after.