Love Unsent

After a passionate night, my childhood sweetheart, Jack Jenner, thoughtfully prepared birth control pills for me.

I held his wrist and pleaded coquettishly, "The pills are bitter. I don't want to take them. Let's just get married if I get pregnant."

Jack patted my head and chuckled. "Don't be silly. Childbirth is much worse than taking pills. Besides, I'm getting engaged on Sunday. Whose child would it be if you gave birth?"

I froze as he casually kissed my forehead, gently coaxing me, "My darling Ariana, pack up your things and take them with you. We can't fool around like this anymore. My fiancée asked me to be chaste."

I numbly threw the things into the trash can and dialed my father's number. "I'll marry him."

"To be honest, I'm used to having you around. How many years have we known each other, ever since elementary school?"

As my childhood sweetheart, Jack Jenner, embraced me, I could not stop the shivers that wracked my body.

I had known Jack for 16 years, and we had been sleeping together for eight.

Just five minutes ago, he wished he could merge into one with me.

I thought we were in love. Although we never said it out loud, I always believed we had a strong understanding. I had long assumed that we were a couple, but I never expected... myself to just be his friend with benefits.

The birth control pill did not go down smoothly. It stuck to my throat, making it hard to speak.

"How about another round?" Jack gently pushed me back onto the bed.

The pink bed cover was the one I put on yesterday while Jack lifted the mattress for me. He had joked, "We're like an old couple."

Now, my mind was in a complete mess.

"You've taken the pill anyway. Don't waste it. Consider it as drawing a perfect ending to our absurd youth."

I instinctively pressed against Jack's shoulders. "You said you're getting engaged?"

In a good mood, Jack grabbed my wrist in one go as his melodious voice invaded my ears. "I wanted to tell you, but a little greedy cat was eager for some action and blocked my mouth. Lina came back. She said she still wants to marry me."

Lina Andrews was the class belle who rejected Jack's confession at our high school graduation ceremony. Later on, Jack would even drink three full glasses of liquor to stop her name from being mentioned.

They were getting engaged?

Oblivious to my shock, Jack excitedly shared, "I had someone check the dates, and the earliest will be Sunday! Lina doesn't have many old friends since she's been abroad these past few years. You can help her fend off the drinks at the engagement party and be her bridesmaid at the wedding."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and pulled an invitation card from the bedside table drawer. "Lina said she wants me to design the wedding invitations, but I don't understand