Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother

I beckoned with my eyes and warned them to stay away from the door in case they got hurt. They promptly ignored me and continued indulging in their voyeurism. Noticing that he might never catch me, Colin gave up. He stood up and walked toward the kitchen with a stern face.

Since he was a lecturer at Jesselton College, Andrew, as a student, knew better than to disrespect his teacher. He rubbed his nose in embarrassment and dragged Queenie back to the stove. They resumed cooking.

After joking for a while, Colin sat next to me, unlocked his phone, and typed, "Happy Birthday. I'm busy today but I'll buy you a present. I heard the millefeuille from Lehalle is very good. I'll have it delivered to you."

After he typed the message, he showed me his phone with one brow raised, asking me if it was alright. I mulled. While it was satisfying to reject Jasmine categorically like that, it might be too harsh. Colin knocked my head with his. "You idiot, now is not the time to be a saint. With people like her, you must stand your ground and make your stance clear. You must tell her no clearly or there'll be no end to it." Then, he tapped the screen and sent the message. I patted my cheeks and reminded myself not to be too kind to others. Once breakfast was ready, Queenie asked us to gather at the dining table. Colin and I sat around the table. Between us was his phone. I liked how honest and open he was.

I took a mouthful of my oatmeal, and before I could have my first slice of fruit, a notification popped up on his phone. The red number next to Jasmine's profile picture continued to increase.

I lifted my head to look at Colin. He was having his oatmeal in an elegant fashion. Meeting my gaze, he uttered nonchalantly, "What's mine is yours. Deal with it as you see fit."

How lucky was I to have found such a sensible boyfriend. Since he wanted me to deal with her, I would happily comply. With his permission, I opened the chat window. The first two messages were text messages.

"Don't do this to me, Colin. You don't have to like me, but that doesn't mean you can despise me. It isn't my fault that I'm in love with you. My pure feelings shouldn't be mocked or trampled." Hmph. Did she have a permanent residence on the moral high ground?

"My birthday wish is to spend it with you. You're my best friend. Surely, you'll grant me this wish? The world is vast and ever-changing. Only genuine friendships stay forever."

Wow, was this her way of saying that Colin's and my relationship would never receive a happy ending? What a bitch.

I tilted my head to peer at Colin, wondering if I could walk away with disfiguring his face. If I wrote "Hands Off My Man" on his face, would he attract fewer women?

The third message was a voice message. I played it out loud. Since Colin's phone was the latest model, its speaker was impeccable. Everyone around the dining table could hear the voice message perfectly. "Colin, I know you're in love with Luna now. But life is long. What makes you think that I won't be a better match for you than her? I love you as much as she does, and I can help your career too. I'm your best choice.

"You're much older than her, so there's bound to be a gap between you two. And that gap will bring forth many conflicts. I don't want you to get hurt. So please, Colin, hang out with me from time to time, okay? love you a lot."