Chapter 1The Guy I've Had a Crush on for Years Got Together with My Roommate

"Asher and I are together now."

Daphne's words felt like a bucket of ice water poured over my head. I involuntarily stopped my stretching routine, frozen for a moment before forcing out a smile.

"That's... sudden."

Asher had only been back for five days, and I had introduced Daphne to him just three days ago. Yes, how could I have forgotten? The lady beside me was known as the "straight guy killer" of our performing arts school. Apparently, even the guy I'd been crushing on for five years wasn't immune to her charms.

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"He's picking me up for dinner this afternoon. Want to join us?" she invited.

"No thanks, I don't want to be a third wheel on your date," I refused without hesitation.

"He said he wants to thank you. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have met. So you have to come," she insisted, wrapping her arms around mine and pouting.

I gave in and nodded, "Alright."

Daphne had once seen my phone gallery, which included a photo of Asher and me from our high school graduation.

"You like him?" she had asked point-blank.

Embarrassed at having my feelings exposed, I blushed and defended myself, "We're just good friends from school."

I don't know if she believed me, but from that moment on, she started showing an unusual interest in Asher, constantly pestering me for information about him. A few days ago, when Asher returned to the States and asked me out for dinner, Daphne saw the message. What was supposed to be a one-on-one catch-up turned into a group hangout.

I never imagined that with just one simple meeting, I'd hand over the guy I'd been crushing on for five years to someone else.

That afternoon, Daphne and I walked out of the school gates. In the distance, we saw Asher leaning against his car, waving at us. Daphne immediately beamed and ran towards him. He caught her in an embrace, his smile affectionate. I stood rooted to the spot, the scene before me almost too painful to watch.

After two minutes of cuddling, they finally remembered my existence.

"Olivia, come on!" he called out, holding Daphne's hand.

I nodded at him and walked over, tactfully getting into the back seat. As soon as I got in, a huge bouquet of roses on the front passenger seat caught my eye. Daphne, true to his expectations, was delighted. She hugged the flowers, happily cooing, "Baby, I love you so much."

So, he was quite the romantic after all.

He drove us to the best restaurant in the city. Daphne's eyes darted around, taking in the luxurious surroundings. Although she tried to hide it well, I could see the longing in her eyes at that moment.

"Olivia, thank you for introducing me to Daphne. This is a gift we picked out for you," he said, pulling out an elegantly wrapped box from behind him and handing it to me.

"Olivia, take it. It's that perfume you like," Daphne said, hanging on his arm, sounding like a princess bestowing a gift upon her handmaiden.

I suddenly felt a sense of time displacement. Just three days ago, I was standing next to Asher, introducing him: "This is my roommate, Daphne." How did our roles reverse so quickly? I felt like an awkward and out-of-place clown between them.

The table was laden with exquisite and expensive dishes, but I could hardly swallow a bite.