6

Actually, Jacob was my first love. 

I still remember how seriously I took that relationship back then, and how much I wanted it to have a future. 

On those quiet and silent nights, I cried with a face full of tears, just hoping for a response. 

Not every "I'm sorry" deserves forgiveness.

I replied to him,

 "Jacob, you know that emotional abuse is wrong, but you still did it. You're fully aware of how awful that is."

"I'd rather not be loved than have someone consume me under the guise of love. Let's end it here. Don't completely destroy the beautiful memories we once had."

Jacob didn't send any more messages, and I decisively blocked and deleted all of his contact information.

The day I returned to my homeland, Kai came to pick me up. 

He was as stoic as ever, not asking too many questions, but handling all the luggage and tasks without fail. 

I looked at his composed profile and suddenly felt very comforted.

I realized that Kai had always been like this. 

He appeared by my side in a manner that was neither too close nor too distant, not blazing with passion but never absent. 

"You just keep moving forward, I'll always be behind you." 

Kai, like this sentence, was reassuring.

"Kai, thank you."

 I moved my lips slightly, silently expressing these words.

The days that followed were exceptionally calm and peaceful.

Jacob never bothered me again, and the pain gradually faded with time.

However, Lily did come to see me once. 

We arranged to meet at a boba cafe.

I had expected a melodramatic soap opera-like encounter, but the first thing Lily said to me filled me with warmth. 

"Breaking up is good. He really doesn't deserve you."

I looked at her in surprise. 

"I thought you were here to plead on Jacob's behalf."

"Why would I?"

 Lily suddenly laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. 

"Don't tell anyone, but that guy Jacob might be flawed in many ways, but he has good taste in girlfriends. The first time I saw you that day, I wanted to be friends with you."

I raised my boba milk tea and clinked it with hers. 

"I agree with that."

During our conversation, we discussed that document, and Lily's face turned red with anger. 

"He's talking nonsense! That's just his self-indulgent fantasy."

"At the beginning of our relationship, he did try to please me, but as time went on, he became more and more distant. He would just go silent whenever we had a fight." 

"I put up with him for so long because of the foundation we had and my young, naive self."

"Looking back on those five years, I feel sick."

It was quite unexpected. 

I couldn't help but sigh. 

"Indeed, lack of commitment is lack of commitment, and it doesn't work on anyone."

"Exactly. I was afraid another girl would be deceived by him, so that's why I agreed to help him make you angry."

I noticed the wedding ring on Lily's finger. 

When I asked, she blushed and said, 

"Yes, I'm married now, and I'm very happy. Thanks to Jacob for not marrying me!"

We clinked our cups and laughed together.

As we were talking, a man suddenly walked in and headed straight for Lily.

"Honey, you can't control yourself for a moment and do something bad."

"The doctor told you to quit boba milk tea. If you don't listen now, you'll suffer in the future."

"Can't we wait for these ten months to pass before you have it again?"

Clearly, this was Lily's husband.

I looked at them in surprise.

"Lily's pregnant?"

The man rubbed his temples in exasperation. 

"Yes, she is. Pardon us for the disturbance."

Finally, Lily was pulled away by her husband. 

Through the large glass window, I watched them walk away hand in hand.

The man, a burly figure of about six feet, had a deliberately stern expression, but his gaze couldn't hide the tenderness within. 

Lily stood beside him, sticking her tongue out while listening to his reprimands.

The two of them created a picturesque scene.

I held my boba milk tea, watched the harmonious scene, and smiled gently.

There is so much genuine love in this world, we really don't need to waste our time on insincere people.