Chapter 1The Five-Year Friend Zone

I loved Xavier for five years.

From freshman year of high school to sophomore year of college, people came and went, but I was the only one who stayed by his side.

On his birthday, I was a little late. Outside the private room, I heard him say, "Chloe? Don't talk nonsense, we're just friends."

Heh, friends.

I sneered, turning to leave.

Zach walked out from around the corner. Seeing me at the door, his tone was affectionate, "Sister Chloe, you're here. Why don't you go in?"

I looked at his handsome face, reached out to hook his neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his lips.

The door to the private room was accidentally pushed open by him. The laughter inside stopped abruptly. Everyone's eyes widened, watching us kiss.

* * *

Zach's lips were soft and sweet, very exciting to kiss.

I originally intended to just taste it, but didn't expect him to taste so good, got a bit carried away.

By the time I reacted, Zach was already kissed flushed, eyes misty.

When I let go, he was still subconsciously searching for my lips like a puppy looking for food.

I took his arm, smilingly walked into the private room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, I'll punish myself with three shots."

I poured three shots of Tequila, placed them in front of me.

Zach stopped my hand reaching for the drink, his beautiful eyes full of seriousness, "I'll drink."

He downed a shot in one gulp. Three shots down, his face slightly red, looking innocent and pitiful.

Xavier stood up holding his wine glass, walked to us, asked indifferently, "Haven't had time to congratulate you, when did you get together, why didn't you tell us?"

Before I could speak, Zach put his arm around my shoulder, head resting on my shoulder, provocatively looking at Xavier, "We've been together for a while, Chloe is shy, didn't let me tell others."

Others.

Xavier sneered, handed the wine glass to me, eyes cold. "Chloe, this joke isn't funny. If you don't want me to get angry and ignore you, drink this glass, I'll pretend I didn't see what just happened."

He stood in front of me, seemingly certain I would follow his will, like the past five years, throwing away everything for his special regard.

I looked at the wine glass close at hand, the bright red wine swaying gently. There was a faint scar on the hand holding the glass. That scar at this moment was more dazzling than the light overhead.

I looked up at Xavier's angry face, raised my hand, under his confident gaze, firmly pushed that glass away.

"Sorry, Xavier, what you said is a bit ugly. Neither my boyfriend nor I like it. Please don't say such things to provoke our relationship in the future."

Xavier's face became very ugly. He raised the glass to me again, words like thorns,

"You think Zach really likes you? He just wants to snatch my things. If I don't want you, he won't even look at you.

I give you one last chance, drink this, we can still be like before.

You know the consequences of refusing me."

I smiled brilliantly, took out my phone from my bag, in front of him, first blocked, then unfriended him on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, blocked his number, deleted all apps, including LinkedIn contacts.

Now, as long as we don't meet, I can never contact him again.

I held up my phone, shook it at him, "If you didn't say, I would have forgotten. Zach is very insecure."

Zach blinked his eyes, tea-artfully said, "Yeah, I'm very petty. Brother Xavier, Chloe deleted you, you won't mind, right?"

Everyone present was stunned by our drama, exclaiming "OMG".

I didn't remember the taste of the food that night at all.

I only remembered Zach's grinning face like a fox that got the grapes.