Chapter 6: Bittersweet Beginnings

I thought being with Rachel was fate.

But now I realize—I was nothing more than a tool for Rachel to test Caleb’s feelings.

On the way back, Rachel was gloomy the whole time.

“You saw Caleb with a girlfriend, and you’re upset, aren’t you?” I asked bluntly.

The streetlights painted gold stripes on the sidewalk as we walked, our footsteps echoing in the quiet.

“N-no... We’ve played together since we were little. If I liked him, I would’ve gone for him long ago. Why wait until now? I really don’t like him... Besides, we’re the couple now...”

I listened patiently, then said, “Maybe you just haven’t realized you like him? You agreed to be my girlfriend just to provoke him, right? Rachel, maybe you and he need to talk things through. Let’s break up.”

With no real feelings between us, facing a girl who had only briefly moved my heart, I was able to think clearly for both of us and break up without hesitation.

Rachel looked at me, her eyes immediately filling with tears. “Derek, I’m sorry. I used you to get at Caleb, and you’re not even mad. You’re really a good guy.”

I smiled and patted her head. “Don’t hand me the ‘good guy’ card. Alright, I’m going. You should head home early too.”

Three days later, I heard Rachel and Caleb were together.

Rachel came to me, excited. “Derek, we’re together!”

“Mm. If you like each other, don’t mess around—cherish your relationship, okay?”

“Got it.” Rachel nodded. “Derek, let me treat you to a meal, okay?”

“Why?”

“To thank you. Because of you, I could get together with Caleb.”

She grinned, but I could feel the distance already stretching between us, like we were waving from opposite sides of a football field.

“Better not. You should focus on dating Caleb.”

After that, Rachel and I barely saw each other.

She’d occasionally post about her dates on Instagram. I’d like and comment a bit—that was the only connection left between us.

Sometimes, I’d scroll through her posts late at night, feeling a strange mix of relief and regret. Our friendship faded quietly, like a song winding down on the radio.