Chapter 2

I ignored Randy's provocation and casually mentioned that I had to go back to base the next day, so I would not be home tomorrow night.

I saw a glint of delight in Maya's eyes as she glanced at Randy.

Early the next morning, as soon as I left the house, I turned on the pinhole camera I had hidden in the bedroom.

Sure enough, Randy was in my house and in bed with Maya an hour later.

Afterward, Randy smugly groped Maya's chest as he said, "Hey, ask Eric to come with us to my friend's restaurant the day after tomorrow. We can do it in the restroom. Cheating right under his nose is going to be so exciting."

Maya only gave him an embarrassed slap, but she did not refuse.

I saved the video with shaking hands. Then, I took a deep breath and decided to pretend I knew nothing while gathering more evidence.

The next day, I returned home and got Randy's call as expected. "My friend opened a restaurant. You and Maya should pick me up, and we can go eat there together. Consider it a welcome home dinner for you."

I calmly agreed, then looked at Maya, who had already changed into her prettiest outfit.

After we picked Randy up, I drove to the restaurant in silence, my expression grim the whole way.

From the back seat, Randy gave my shoulder a hard squeeze. "What's with the long face, Eric? I'm the one treating you to dinner, yet you still look like you'd rather be anywhere else. What, just because you're an army officer now, you think you're too good for your old friend?"

I was about to answer him when I saw an SUV coming at us from the opposite lane. Out of instinct, I swerved to shield Maya.

With a bang, my head hit the steering wheel, and blood streamed down my face.

The driver who hit us hurried out and knocked on my window. "Hey, are you alright? My car suddenly skidded. I'm so sorry!"

I endured the pain and raised my hand, waving him off. Then, I said hoarsely, "Call the police."

"No, your head is still bleeding. Call an ambulance first."

"Right! An ambulance! Call an ambulance."

Maya, who was in the passenger seat, finally seemed to come back to her senses. She took out her phone in a panic and made the call.

Seeing how anxious she was, warmth began to spread in my heart just before it froze over again.

After Maya finished the call, she turned around with a worried look and grabbed Randy in the back seat. "Is your head alright? Does it hurt? When the ambulance gets here, you get in first."

I glanced at Randy's head. It was only a minor scrape, yet he was looking at me with a smug glint in his eyes. "I'm fine. Eric should get in first. He's bleeding, after all."

Only then did Maya notice me. She awkwardly let go of him and handed me some tissues. "Here. Wipe it for now."

I stayed silent until the ambulance arrived, and the paramedic confirmed it several times. "You want us to take the one with the minor scrape on his forehead?"

Each time, Maya nodded firmly.

I could not hold back anymore and questioned her coldly. "Can you not see the blood on my head?"

To my surprise, Maya simply looked at me impatiently. "What if Randy has a head injury? You're a soldier. You get hurt every day, so you're already used to it. What's a little blood to you? Can't you let your own friend go first?"

I thought back to how gentle and thoughtful she had been when we first got together. She would run around taking care of me even when I caught a cold. She would be so worried she could barely sit still.

When had everything changed?

Sensing my silence, Maya seemed to realize she had overreacted. Her tone softened as she tried to reassure me. "Randy's your best friend. If something happened to him while he was in our car, how would you explain it to his parents? I think the cut on your head has already stopped bleeding. Once we get home, I'll clean it up and bandage it for you myself, okay?"

She sounded so sincere, as if she truly were only doing it for my sake.

If I had not known the truth, I might have let her talk me into it again, just like before.