Chapter 9: New Old Year

At the beginning of the year, during the university's foundation event, I arrived at the same time as Jackie, who was accompanied by her dad on a motorcycle. She greeted me enthusiastically, asking, "Hey Simon, did you see my dad? Cool, right?" It struck me that she singled me out among our friends.

Throughout the event, all our friends were present—Jackie, Charlize, Melisandre, Bradley, Dane, and the others. During the mandatory parade for the foundation event, Jackie chose me as her partner, and I held an umbrella to shield us from the scorching heat. It felt special, spending that time with her in our usual, comfortable way.

As the event concluded, the group decided to have lunch at a famous mall nearby. Just before we entered the restaurant of our choosing, a shady-looking guy approached and introduced himself as Geller. I was taken aback and confused until Jackie stepped forward and introduced him as her boyfriend, expressing that they were giving their relationship another try. He was her ex-boyfriend, the one I had heard about before, now standing right in front of me.

Despite my mixed feelings, I couldn't deny that Geller seemed like a good match for Jackie. They looked comfortable together, and it was evident they had a history. Amidst my inner turmoil, all I could think was, "What now?" I couldn't bring myself to resent Geller when I knew deep down I would do the same if I were in his shoes—fighting to make things work with someone I cared about as much as I cared about Jackie.