14

I smile at Yen and Kim as if they aren't the ones who break my heart. Seeing them happy together reminds me of how miserable I have been since three years ago. However, I don't want them to see how wretched I am because pride is the only shield I have in this battle. I don't need their pity — it's eating up my self-worth.

"Come on, Zed! We have lots of things to catch up on," Ara exclaimed, her beautiful eyes as big as the round LED light above us.

I shake my head, annoyed at how spineless Ara seems. As Yen's best friend, she's a witness to all of our emotional struggles, but now she's acting like she has forgotten them all. I even ran away — she knows that — because it's just impossible to heal and move on while they are around the corner. Kim used to be our neighbor, so when Yen moved in with him, I almost went crazy. It's because I knew that in that other house, Yen was there in another's arms.

"Dear, do you mind if we join them?" I tell Ella, pulling the edge of her shoulder c