Chapter 4
839words
Julian, who hadn't seen this message, was attending the first birthday party of his childhood friend Alex's son.
He knew I would be here today too.
We hadn't seen each other for three years.
He casually skimmed over my name on the guest list and pulled out a chair to sit down. Sunlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the Brooklyn loft apartment, casting alternating patterns of light and shadow on his well-tailored suit.
People at the table were chatting about gossip:
"Have you heard? Leo Sanders is getting engaged."
"Oh my god, that Leo Sanders? Isn't he perpetually single, to the point where the media was starting to question his sexual orientation? How did he suddenly find someone?"
"I heard they met through a friend's introduction."
Julian raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this. Today he was particularly sensitive to the phrase "friend's introduction."
Someone asked, "What's his fiancée like?"
"She's somewhat similar to Clara."
Julian's gaze finally shifted from the scenery outside the window to the person who was speaking.
"So he likes this type," the person joked, then turned to ask Julian, "what made you think of introducing Clara to him back then?"
Julian's face still wore that indifferent expression, as if he were listening to a story that had nothing to do with him. But the cold wind blowing through the half-open window tousled the bangs on his forehead, making his gaze appear slightly heavy.
"I did introduce them," Julian said, his tone light, "she wasn't interested."
Leo Sanders, that sharp-eyed man with a rugged demeanor, was a completely different type from Julian.
"In freshman year, I kindly let him walk her home, creating an opportunity for them." Julian spoke casually. "But she came to me complaining that Leo looked fierce."
At that moment, Alex, the host of the party, walked over. He was one of the few people who knew about my past with Julian.
He looked at Julian with interest and asked:
"Do you know what 'hiding in plain sight' means?"
Julian looked puzzled.
Alex didn't explain further, but narrowed his eyes with a smile, and said to the group of gossip listeners at the table:
"They say it's through a friend's introduction, but actually she's someone Leo has secretly loved for many years."
"It's a pity that the girl was hopelessly in love with someone else, so he waited all these years until he finally got the opportunity to make his move."
Everyone was surprised.
"No way, with his status, he still needs to steal someone else's girlfriend?"
"Whose girlfriend did he steal?"
Alex fell silent, only patting Julian's shoulder meaningfully.
"Did Leo invite you to his engagement party?"
"No."
"That's strange, aren't you two close?"
Alex asked him with an even deeper smile: "Want to see a photo of his fiancée?"
After saying that, he took out his phone and shoved it in front of Julian.
Just as Julian was lowering his head to look, someone nearby called out:
"Clara, you're here!"
His gaze instantly shifted away from the phone screen, as if drawn by a magnet, toward me standing at the doorway.
I walked in wearing a beige knitted dress, its hem swaying gently with my movement.
Alex meaningfully put away his phone and said to Julian:
"Looks good, doesn't it?"
"How come I never noticed during our school days that Clara had such a good figure?"
Julian's calm gaze fixed on me without moving, as if he wanted to burn two holes into me. After a few seconds, he suddenly looked away and picked up the glass in front of him.
He knew.
That snowy night when things began between us, I was wearing a similar dress. It was my habit; I would wear styles I liked for a long time.
I am loyal to everything.
But he didn't know that people are different from clothes.
After hitting the wall, I would find my way back.
I pulled out the chair beside him and sat down, with an empty seat between us. The long-absent scent drew near, carrying that unique, cool woody fragrance that belonged to him.
Julian didn't speak to me, not even making eye contact.
He always had good relationships with people. People kept coming over to toast him, one group after another.
"When are you two getting married?" A classmate who had drunk too much put his arm around Julian's shoulder and waved his finger between us.
"What nonsense are you talking?" He was immediately pulled away by someone sober nearby.
"Oh, it's Clara." The person apologized with bleary eyes. "I thought she was Julian's girlfriend."
"You two dressed in black and white, you look so perfect together. I thought this was your wedding scene."
Hearing this, Julian finally showed his first smile of the evening. He smiled slightly and made a few witty remarks to dismiss this awkward topic, still looking charming as always. Then he raised his glass and drank the toast offered by that person.
