My Boyfriend's First Love is My Best Friend - Chapter 19

Thomas knew Amelia had returned to the company and called me several times.

My mind was a mess, so I didn’t answer.

Anyone who has dealt with someone as extreme as Amelia needs time to digest.

Now, whenever I think of Amelia, I associate her with Thomas. Why should their grievances be vented on me?

The more I think about it, the more depressed I become.

I left Thomas hanging for a week. Partly on purpose, but I was genuinely busy too.

The person taking over Amelia’s work was a rookie with connections.

I worked overtime for two days, basically collapsing into bed as soon as I got home, with no time to check my phone.

Today was no different.

The only difference was that after my shower, while blow-drying my hair, the power went out.

The property management had notified me in advance, but I’d been so busy that I forgot.

With my hair still damp, I fumbled in the dark for my phone, but before I found it, there was a knock at the door.

“Bella, open up.”

“…”

It was Thomas.

I was stunned for a moment before I reacted and went to open the door. Even though it was my own home, I still bumped my knee on the way.

Thomas stood at the door, his anxious expression visible even in the darkness. “Power’s out?”

“How did you know?”

“Just happened to be passing by.”

“… Still trying to fool me?”

He rubbed his nose. “I’ve been downstairs the whole time.”

“Why?”

“You’ve been working overtime for several days. I was worried and needed to see you come home.”

But I’d been home for an hour, and he still hadn’t left.

Maybe he’d been waiting like this every day.

My heart was a mix of emotions, and I stepped aside. “Come in.”

He glanced at me twice and turned on his phone’s flashlight.

“I see the whole building is dark.”

“Yeah.”

“When will the power be back?”

“Probably in an hour.”

After Thomas came in, he helped me find my phone.

The only light in the room came from the phone on the coffee table. I sat in a corner of the sofa, and after a moment of silence, I said, “Amelia said something to me before she left.”

After repeating it, I looked at him. “Why is it retribution?”

He clenched his fingers, as if craving a cigarette.

“During the winter break when I first got together with Amelia, her parents invited me to dinner at their house. Afterwards, Amelia told me her parents had a good impression of me.”

“I believed her.”

“But I also knew her family was well-off, so I had to work harder to give her the best. That’s why I rarely said no to her.”

Suddenly, he chuckled and continued, “In our senior year, I was busy and things weren’t going well with Amelia. But I kept thinking that if I could just get through it, everything would be fine. I held on with sheer determination.”

I felt a pang in my heart.

Suddenly, I understood the unspoken truth he hadn’t shared with me.

These words were as sharp as knives, and hearing them from him hurt more than Amelia’s indirect jabs.

He had truly been too good to her in the past.

That’s why he didn’t dare explain it to me.

Even though I already knew the background, I still felt like crying.

“What did her parents say to you?”

“I don’t remember the exact words, but it was basically that I wasn’t good enough for Amelia and should stop bothering her, that we should part ways amicably.”

“I didn’t believe it at the time and insisted Amelia hear it directly from me. But by then, Amelia had been out of touch for a week. Clearly, she didn’t want to see me. Maybe she was sulking, or maybe she had tacitly agreed with her parents’ actions.”

“But what really made me give up was that her parents looked down on my mom, and she didn’t speak up for me, not even a word.”

“She said she tried to reconcile with you shortly after, but you didn’t agree.”

“Yes. It was that day I realized she was quite like her parents.”

High and mighty, trampling on people’s dignity.

“I was in my early twenties, too young and easily provoked, and I swore to myself that I would make something of myself.”

“Recently, I met with her parents and returned their words verbatim. Honestly, I felt a sense of revenge.”

“But when the satisfaction faded, I felt empty inside and suddenly didn’t understand the meaning of what I had done.”

I said dryly, “How could it be meaningless…”

“Back then, my pride got the better of me. I was young and reckless, making grand promises and daring to dream. It wasn’t until I entered the real world that I realized those things were trivial. If I initially worked hard to prove them wrong, everything I did afterward was for myself, for you, for us.”

“I got my priorities wrong. I took those insignificant taunts too seriously, working day and night, and neglected your feelings…”

The sofa was small, and Thomas leaned over, sitting beside me.

He held my hand.

His tone was earnest. “Bella, I’m sorry.”

I looked at his approaching face, not backing away.

I said, “I’m not as decisive as you. I might not be able to be so clear-headed. This matter has left a knot in my heart, and I guess-”

I guess I won’t be able to move past it. Would that be okay?

But he didn’t let me continue.

“Give me a chance.”

He touched my face, his palm unusually warm.

“But I don’t know…”

“Then let’s take it slow.”

Then he silenced me with a kiss.

Thomas didn’t leave that night.

I forgot when the power came back. The living room lights stayed on all night, but the bedroom remained dark, with occasional whispers.

But I was drowsy and forgot what else he said to me.

Probably sweet nothings.

I turned my back to him and slept the best sleep I’d had in days.