Chapter 2

Theresa stood over me, a big armful of Juliet roses cradled against her chest.

The petals layered on top of each other, and in the dark they looked especially beautiful.

Three years into our relationship, I had once stood outside a florist's window and looked at these same flowers.

Daniel had asked if I liked them.

I nodded.

But the moment he saw the price, his brow creased.

"A single bouquet costs tens of thousands, and it withers in a few days."

"Maya, don't waste money on something this meaningless."

After that, every Valentine's Day, he only ever gave me the most ordinary red roses.

And I kept telling myself.

What matters in a gift is the thought. Price doesn't measure feeling.

It wasn't until today that I understood.

It wasn't that Daniel found these flowers meaningless.

He just found it meaningless to give them to me.

Theresa stroked the petals lightly and asked me with a smile,

"Pretty, aren't they?"

"I mentioned them offhand once when I was abroad. I never thought Daniel would remember all this time."

Daniel's face turned visibly awkward.

"Maya, don't read too much into it."

"Theresa turned down her work abroad to come back and help you."

"The fireworks and the flowers today, that's just me thanking her on your behalf."

Theresa jumped in at once, smiling.

"Exactly. We're best friends. How could I ever steal your fiancé?"

"Daniel was so worried you'd misunderstand, he wouldn't even use the same spoon as me for the ice cream just now."

But I had seen it clearly.

Back in that alley, Daniel had scooped up a spoonful of ice cream with his own hand and slowly fed it into her mouth.

How many times, exactly, had they shared the same spoon.

How much closeness had there been that I never knew about.

Probably only the two of them knew.

I opened my mouth, but before any sound came out.

The final round of fireworks shot up into the night sky.

Countless golden sparks slowly formed a line of words.

【Theresa, welcome home.】

Daniel's so-called thanks on my behalf became a joke in an instant.

Theresa tipped her head back to watch the fireworks, her eyes curved with a smile as she leaned into Daniel.

"We only meant for the two of us to see it."

"I never expected Maya would catch it too."

Daniel didn't push her away.

He only tossed the blanket onto me.

"You're in poor health. Stop imagining things."

Wrapped in that cold blanket, watching the two of them stand side by side under the fireworks, I suddenly understood everything.

Three months ago, I was trapped in that alley, and I never walked out of the nightmare again.

But Daniel had long since started a new life with someone else.

And that someone happened to be the best friend I'd grown up with since childhood.