The Rival I Married

Episode~4

If you ask me what changed after that festival...

I'd say nothing.

And that's exactly what made it so strange.

I had finally escaped high school. We were in different universities, living different lives, attending different classes, yet somehow... Kael kept appearing in places where I happened to be. At first, I didn't think much of it. Crown University and Aster University weren't exactly neighbors, but the shopping district between them was popular with students from both campuses. Seeing him once or twice wasn't surprising.

The problem was...

I kept seeing him.

I'd stop by the convenience store to buy a bottle of water after class, and there he'd be, standing near the instant noodles with two of his friends. The next week, I'd visit a café to finish an assignment, only to find him sitting by the window, lazily stirring his coffee while pretending not to notice me. A few days later, I went to the bookstore to buy reference books for my midterms. Guess who walked out of the history section carrying three books?

Him.

The first few times, I brushed it off as coincidence.

The fifth time...

It stopped feeling like one.

One afternoon, after spotting him outside a bakery again, I marched straight toward him, grabbed his sleeve before he could react, and dragged him into a quiet alley beside the building.

He looked down at the hand holding his sleeve before raising an eyebrow.

Well... this is new. Should I be flattered?

I crossed my arms.

Why are you everywhere?

He blinked.

Everywhere?

Don't play dumb. Every time I go somewhere, you're already there. The convenience store, the café, the bookstore... don't tell me Crown University assigned you to follow Aster students.

The corner of his lips slowly lifted.

Did you miss me that much?

I immediately regretted asking.

Excuse me?

You keep saying I'm everywhere. Sounds like you've been paying a lot of attention to me.

I pointed a finger at him.

Don't make this about me. Answer the question.

He leaned against the wall, looking far too relaxed.

Maybe the world just wants us to meet.

I stared at him for three seconds before letting out a long sigh.

Forget it. Talking to you is a waste of my time. Stay away from me.

For the first time in years...

He didn't argue.

He simply looked at me for a moment before smiling to himself.

A small smile.

Not the smug one he always wore whenever he won an argument.

This one was... softer.

I frowned.

Why are you smiling?

Nothing.

You're being weird again.

He shrugged.

Have a safe trip home, Shrimp.

Before I could ask what that was supposed to mean, he turned around and walked away with his hands in his pockets.

I stood there, completely confused.

What was that?

Well...

I eventually decided he was probably just happy because he'd managed to annoy me again.

That explanation made the most sense.

Weeks passed, and university life became busier than ever. Assignments piled up, midterm exams arrived before anyone was ready, and every professor acted as if their subject was the only one we studied. By the time the exams ended, I felt like sleeping for three straight days.

Then...

Something unexpected happened.

I was walking across campus after class when someone called my name.

I turned around and saw a boy from the business department jogging toward me. He looked nervous enough to trip over his own feet.

Um... Seraphina?

Yes?

He scratched the back of his neck before taking a deep breath.

I've liked you for a while now. Would... would you go out with me?

I froze.

My brain completely stopped working.

My second confession.

Well...

Technically, my second proposal.

The first one had ended with me getting rejected so badly that I promised myself I'd never confess again.

And after that...

Nobody confessed to me either.

Unlike my sister, who somehow attracted love letters like a magnet attracted iron.

Life really wasn't fair.

I looked at the boy standing in front of me.

He seemed sincere.

Kind.

And incredibly nervous.

After thinking for a few moments...

I smiled.

...Okay. Let's give it a try.

The relief on his face was almost funny.

He thanked me at least six times before walking me to the university gate.

When I arrived home that evening, I couldn't stop smiling while replying to his messages.

Apparently...

That was my mistake.

My sister noticed everything.

She walked into the living room carrying a bowl of fruit, glanced at me once, then looked at my phone.

A slow grin spread across her face.

Why are you smiling at your phone like that?

I quickly locked the screen.

I'm not smiling.

She sat beside me.

You are. Your cheeks have been hurting from smiling for the last ten minutes. Spill it.

I gave up.

...I have a boyfriend.

For a full second...

She simply stared at me.

Then she burst into laughter.

You? A shrimp like you actually got a boyfriend? Did the sun rise from the wrong side today?

I pouted.

Why can't I have a boyfriend? You've had dozens.

She proudly crossed her arms.

Experience, little sister.

That's not something to be proud of.

She laughed again before nudging my shoulder.

Alright, jokes aside. Tell me honestly. Did you confess first, or did he confess to you?

I shook my head.

He confessed.

This time...

She looked genuinely surprised.

Seriously?

I nodded.

She stared at me for another moment before laughing even harder.

That guy really has terrible taste...

I grabbed the nearest cushion.

I'm throwing this at you.

She raised both hands.

Okay, okay! I'm kidding! Tell me about him first. Is he a good person?

I spent the next few minutes telling her everything I knew about him.

She listened without interrupting, occasionally nodding, but when I finished, she quietly picked up her phone.

I assumed she was texting one of her friends.

Or maybe one of her ex-boyfriends.

Instead...

She tapped a familiar contact.

Kael.

She didn't even hesitate.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Then Kael answered.

Big Sis? Calling me this late? Did your little sister finally throw a chair at you?

Celeste glanced at me before grinning.

Not yet. But I have some interesting news.

I rolled my eyes.

"Why are you calling him? If you're going to gossip about me, at least do it when I'm not sitting right beside you."

She ignored me completely.

Guess what?

There was a short silence from the other side.

What?

My little shrimp got herself a boyfriend.

I expected him to laugh.

Or make fun of me.

Or ask if the poor guy had lost a bet.

Instead...

The line went completely silent.

Even Celeste stopped smiling for a second.

She slowly looked at her phone, making sure the call hadn't disconnected.

Kael?

His voice finally came back.

Much quieter than before.

...Really?

Really.

I folded my arms.

"Tell him not to sound so disappointed."

Celeste covered the speaker with her hand before whispering,

"Quiet. I'm trying to hear his reaction."

"I don't care about his reaction."

"Oh, I do."

She uncovered the speaker again.

So? Aren't you going to congratulate her?

Another pause.

Then Kael spoke in an unusually calm voice.

That guy... really doesn't have an eye for good-looking people.

I blinked.

"...What?"

Celeste laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone.

"I knew you'd say something stupid."

Without explaining anything, she stood up and walked toward the terrace.

Before sliding the door shut, she looked back at me.

Don't wait up. This might take a while.

I frowned.

"What are you two even talking about?"

She only smiled before disappearing outside.

From where I sat, I couldn't hear every word.

The glass door blocked most of the conversation.

Still...

I could see their expressions.

Celeste leaned against the railing with one hand in her pocket, looking unusually serious.

Kael stood somewhere on the other end of the call.

I couldn't see him, of course.

But I knew his habits well enough to picture him standing with one hand behind his neck whenever he was thinking.

After a few moments, Celeste spoke first.

So... what are you going to do?

The answer came after several seconds.

...I don't know.

Really? That's not the Kael I know.

Another silence.

Then he sighed.

I was too late.

Celeste smiled faintly.

I warned you before. If my sister falls for someone else, I can't help you anymore.

"..."

But don't make that face. I haven't even met the guy yet. Let me check whether he's actually decent.

Kael's voice became slightly firmer.

And if he is?

Celeste looked across the dark sky for a moment before answering.

Then you'll leave them alone.

Another long silence followed.

She chuckled softly.

See? You couldn't even answer.

A quiet laugh escaped him.

...You're scary, Big Sis.

I've known you since you were a kid. You think I can't tell what you're thinking?

He didn't deny it.

Instead, he asked,

What if he isn't a good person?

Celeste's playful smile disappeared.

Then I won't let my sister stay with him. Whether you exist or not, I'll end that relationship myself.

She paused before adding,

But don't do anything yet. I'll watch him first. If he's kind to her, you'll respect that. If he's not... we'll talk again. Deal?

A few seconds later...

Deal.

She smiled in satisfaction.

Good boy. Now go to sleep. You sound miserable.

Thanks. That helps a lot.

You're welcome.

The call ended.

I was still sitting on the sofa when she walked back inside.

She tossed her phone onto the coffee table before stretching lazily.

"So?"

I looked at her suspiciously.

"What were you talking about?"

She smiled.

"Nothing."

"You never call Kael just to talk about 'nothing.'"

"I was bored."

"Liar."

She shrugged.

"Believe whatever you want."

I narrowed my eyes but eventually gave up.

Arguing with my sister was somehow even harder than arguing with Kael.

...

The next few days passed peacefully.

My boyfriend and I texted almost every night.

He'd send me funny videos during lectures, wait for me after class whenever our schedules matched, and sometimes buy me coffee before I even asked.

For the first time...

I thought maybe dating wasn't as scary as I'd imagined after my first rejection.

Then, one Friday evening, he sent me a message.

Can we go somewhere tomorrow? I have something important to tell you.

I smiled while reading it.

Something important?

Knowing him...

I assumed he had planned some kind of surprise.

I had no idea that the next evening would become one of the worst nights of my life.

The next afternoon arrived much faster than I expected.

I spent nearly twenty minutes standing in front of my wardrobe before finally giving up.

It was just a date.

Not a wedding.

Still...

It was my first relationship.

I wanted to look... presentable.

When I walked into the living room, my sister looked up from the television before slowly scanning me from head to toe.

She nodded thoughtfully.

Hmm... not bad.

I smiled proudly.

Really?

Yeah. You almost look like someone a guy would date.

"..."

I grabbed the nearest cushion.

She burst into laughter before raising both hands.

Alright, alright! I'm kidding. Have fun. Just don't come home after midnight.

I rolled my eyes before leaving the apartment.

...

The city looked beautiful that evening.

The streets were crowded with couples, families and university students enjoying the weekend. Colorful lights decorated both sides of the road, and music drifted through the air from nearby cafés.

When I reached the meeting place, he was already waiting.

The moment he saw me, he smiled.

You came.

You asked me to.

We walked around for a while, trying different food stalls and playing festival games.

For a few hours...

Everything felt normal.

He won me a small rabbit keychain after spending far too much money trying to knock over bottles.

I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.

You could've just bought one instead of wasting your money.

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

That wouldn't feel special.

I looked at the tiny rabbit in my hand.

"...Thank you."

He smiled.

Seeing him like that...

I honestly thought I'd made the right decision.

Maybe...

Relationships weren't so scary after all.

...

Night slowly fell.

The festival became even brighter as thousands of lights lit up the park.

People started gathering near the river.

I looked around curiously.

What's everyone waiting for?

He checked his watch.

The fireworks show starts in five minutes.

"Oh..."

No wonder so many couples were holding hands.

The atmosphere suddenly became strangely romantic.

When the first firework exploded across the sky, everyone cheered.

Beautiful colors reflected across the river, painting the water in shades of blue, gold and red.

I smiled without realizing it.

"It's beautiful..."

He didn't answer.

Instead...

He quietly looked at me.

His expression was different from before.

Serious.

Almost guilty.

My smile slowly disappeared.

...What's wrong?

He lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

I frowned.

For what?

"...I don't think we should keep dating."

For a second...

I thought I'd heard him wrong.

"What?"

He took a deep breath before speaking again.

"I've met someone else."

"..."

"I thought I liked you."

"..."

"But after spending time with her..."

He looked away.

"I'm sorry."

The fireworks continued exploding above our heads.

Everyone around us was laughing.

Some couples were taking pictures.

Some were hugging each other.

Meanwhile...

My first relationship was ending before it had even properly begun.

I couldn't hear anything anymore.

Not the fireworks.

Not the crowd.

Not even my own heartbeat.

I simply stood there...

Looking at him.

He bowed once.

"I'm really sorry."

Then...

He turned around.

And walked away.

I didn't stop him.

I couldn't.

My legs refused to move.

Looking back now...

The relationship only lasted a few weeks.

But at that age...

It felt like my entire world had collapsed.

...

I don't remember how I got home that night.

I only remembered opening my bedroom door, throwing my bag onto the floor and locking myself inside.

My phone kept vibrating.

Messages from classmates.

Messages from my roommate.

Even a few from my sister.

I ignored every single one.

I buried my face in my pillow and cried until my eyes hurt.

Maybe I was crying because he left.

Maybe I was crying because, for the second time in my life...

I wasn't someone's first choice.

A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts.

Shrimp?

It was my sister.

I didn't answer.

A few seconds later, she knocked again.

Open the door.

Still...

I stayed silent.

She sighed from the other side.

Listen... don't waste your tears on a guy who couldn't recognize your worth. If someone walks away that easily, then let him walk. One day you'll meet someone who'll choose you without hesitation.

I wiped my face with my sleeve but didn't reply.

After waiting for a moment, she suddenly laughed.

...Besides, I told you that guy had terrible taste.

My eyes widened.

Seriously?

Right now?

I jumped off the bed, unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Can you stop saying that for one minute?!

The words came out much louder than I intended.

Silence.

My sister blinked.

I blinked too.

In my entire life...

That was the first time I'd ever shouted at her.

The hallway became so quiet that I could hear my own breathing.

Celeste looked at me for a long moment.

Then...

Instead of getting angry...

She smiled softly.

She placed a warm mug of hot chocolate into my hands.

There you are.

I looked at her in confusion.

She gently brushed a few messy strands of hair away from my face.

I was waiting for you to get angry. It's much healthier than blaming yourself for someone else's mistake.

She smiled one last time before turning toward the stairs.

Drink it before it gets cold. And tomorrow... we'll eat something nice. My treat.

I stood there silently, watching her walk downstairs.

At that moment...

I still didn't know...

That the breakup wasn't as simple as I believed.

And I definitely didn't know...

Someone else had been involved from the very beginning.