Love and Fall: You Are No Longer My Only One

My girlfriend, Lucy, drew a dare. She kissed her childhood friend, Brian, for a minute, ignoring my threat to break up with her.

I drew a dare, which read, [Spend a night with someone of the opposite sex present.]

I chose the obedient girl, Estelle Berg.

"Let him be. He's just a traditional man. He is so conservative."

The next day, Lucy came to me with red eyes.

"Why is it Estelle who answered the call last night? Are you together?"

Lucy Shawn got a big deal done for her company.

She was celebrating it at a bar.

Upon walking into the bar, I saw Lucy sitting with a group of her girlfriends.

"Here he is! Lucy's boyfriend, Henry Lawson, is so handsome! Oh my god, his figure is too good! His chest muscles and abs render him like someone coming out of a comic book! This time, we're feasting our eyes!"

"Lucy, you are enjoying yourself so well!"

Lucy's girlfriends were all excited.

They were staring straight at me as if they wanted something from me.

Lucy especially reminded me to dress hotly today.

"But I'm a man. I don't know how to be sexy."

In the end, Lucy couldn't bear it anymore.

She pulled out a black shirt directly from the wardrobe and handed it to me.

"Wear this one! Unbutton two buttons and show your collarbone. That's enough. I signed a big contract today and invited the company's heiress to come and have fun. Make sure to make a good impression!"

I looked down and saw the shirt with a ridiculously low collar.

"But I will try my best to fulfill Lucy's request."

"After all, I sincerely love her."

Lucy enjoyed this kind of attention. She waved at me with a smile.

Lucy introduced me to a man opposite.

Before I could react, Lucy pulled me over and pressed me next to her.

"Let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend. How about him? He is not bad, right?"

Lucy took the opportunity to hold my arm and almost clung to me.

I moved my body awkwardly.

But Lucy seemed not to feel it, holding my arm tightly.

She didn't usually do this.

The man opposite smiled at me.

I knew him.

He was Brian Hunt as well as Lucy's childhood sweetheart.

Lucy always told me that they were just good friends and good buddies, saying there was no romantic relationship between them.

"But I know that her eyes are evasive when Lucy says this."

Brian was startled by Lucy's sudden move.

His hand, holding the wine glass, paused noticeably. He became somewhat unnatural.

He pretended to be calm and took a sip of wine, his Adam's apple rolling up and down. It was revealed that he didn't mean what he said. The statement that he and Lucy were just buddies was a false one.

"Lucy is using me to make him jealous."

I sighed gently.

I didn't want to spoil her excitement of signing a big contract today. I smiled at everyone present.

Lucy pulled a girl over and almost stuffed her into my arms.

I wondered what she meant.

"What does she mean by pushing other women onto her boyfriend?"

The girl seemed a little shy. She hid behind Lucy timidly.

This is Estelle Berg, the precious daughter of the boss of the dealsigning company today. She just graduated. I brought her to see the world. You must take good care of her!"

Lucy casually introduced Estelle.

The people around her all expressed their agreement.

"Come on, let's play something exciting. Truth or dare!"

Lucy took out a deck of cards from somewhere and enthusiastically invited everyone.

The playing cards were passed around in the crowd. Finally, they stopped in front of Lucy.

Someone shouted, "Oh, our protagonist is lucky today!"

...

Lucy pretended to be coquettish and rolled her eyes.

She drew a card.

"Kissing number 13 for one minute."

Everyone held their breath and looked at number 13.

It was Brian.

He sat there, looking gloomy.

"Lucy is my girlfriend. How can I tolerate another man kissing her?"

I stood up suddenly.

"Let me do it for her!"

The people around cheered.

"No, the rule of the game is no substitute!"

Brian took a deep breath and stood up.

He walked silently to the front of Lucy.

But Lucy acted as if nothing had happened.

Turning his head, Brian said to me, "It's nothing. We are playing around with friends. Don't take it seriously."

I became anxious.

"Lucy, we'll break up if you kiss him."

Lucy was stunned for a moment. Then, she impatiently waved her hand.

"Oh, come on. Are you annoyed? It's just a game. Stop making a fuss."

After saying that, she turned her head, closed her eyes, and tilted her face up.

Brian provocatively glanced at me. Then he lowered his head and kissed Lucy's lips.

I felt my blood flowing backward. My heart seemed to be tightly held by an invisible hand. I almost couldn't breathe.

They kissed for a whole minute.

After a minute, I felt a burst of chill all over my body.

The second round of truth or dare continued.

It was my turn this round.

I drew another card from the table.

[Choose to spend a night alone with a member of the opposite sex, who is present.]

I read the content on the card and sneered in my heart.

"Oh, this is interesting!"

Lucy hugged my arm tightly, almost pressing her whole body against mine. She laughed so hard that his whole body trembled.

"Does he need to choose one? Of course, I will spoil my boyfriend!"

As she spoke, she glanced towards Brian.

She did so to make him jealous.

I shook off her hand.

Indifferently, I said, "It says I should take the initiative."

I looked around. Finally, my gaze fell on the quiet girl in the corner.

Estelle, a boss's daughter, was brought here by Lucy to see the world.

She seemed scared by the chaotic scene in front of her. Huddling in the corner of the sofa, she lowered her head and nervously twisted her clothes.

I walked up to her and reached out my hand to her.

"Let's go."

Estelle looked up in surprise. She looked at me and then at Lucy. While her eyes were full of confusion.

"I..." She stammered.

"Let's go..."

I grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the sofa decisively.

...

Lucy finally realized something was wrong. She shouted, "Hey, what are you doing?"

I ignored her and pulled Estelle out.

"Hey! Come back here!"

Lucy shouted angrily.

Her girlfriends saw that something was wrong.

They said, "Hurry up and chase after him!"

"If you don't, he'll run away!"

Lucy sat on the sofa and crossed her legs.

She said indifferently, "Why chase after him? Don't I know him well? His parents are both highly educated individuals. How could he possibly do something out of line? Besides, he still needs my support in terms of his career."

She picked up a glass of wine and sneered.

"Estelle is a good girl too. They are both pretending to be serious and conservative. Let him be."

I drove Estelle to her apartment building.

"We're here," I said.

She lowered her head and said nothing.

"What's wrong? Did Lucy say something to you? Don't take it to heart. She just talks like that. She doesn't have any ill intentions."

Estelle was silent with her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Hey, don't cry."

I panicked. "I'm most afraid of girls crying."

Estelle suddenly raised her head.

She cried nonstop.

"It's not like that. It's not your business..."

She choked and said, "It's me..."

"What's wrong with you? Tell me if you have any grievances."

I was at a loss.

"They all say I am a good girl. I am obedient and timid..."

Estelle's voice was getting louder and louder.

"But I don't want to be like this. I want to be brave once, just once..."

As she was talking, she suddenly started unbuttoning her clothes.

I was startled. I quickly grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I will prove it to them now that I am not a coward!"

Estelle struggled with red eyes.

stay calm!" I held her tightly and said, "This is not bravery. It's just..."

I suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Just what?" Estelle asked me with a crying voice.

"It is just..." I took a deep breath, saying, "You are just punishing yourself for someone else's mistakes."

Estelle was stunned. She slowly stopped crying.

"True bravery is not doing something out of line in the eyes of others. Instead, it is about following your own heart and doing what you think is right."

I looked into her eyes and said word by word, "Do you understand?"

She seemed to be enlightened as she nodded.

I asked tentatively, hoping to give her some strength, "Can we agree then, to get rid of the labels of being a good girl or a good boy together?"

...

"How to do it?" Estelle sniffed. She looked at me with teary eyes.

"What are you most afraid of?" I guided her, hoping that she could face her inner self.

"What I fear the most is... " Estelle bit her lip and hesitated for a moment. Then she said, "What I fear the most is my parents urging me to go on blind dates and forcing me to marry those wealthy young men from other rich families."

"But I don't like them at all. They are all playboys. They are only interested in eating, drinking, and having fun every day. They don't have any ambition at all!"

As Estelle continued speaking, her emotions became more and more intense. Once again, she burst out crying.

I could feel her pain, her despair of being bound, and her helplessness of being unable to control her own life.

"Then start with this matter. Tell your parents bravely. Give yourself a few more years. You also want to have your career."

I encouraged her and hoped she could muster the courage to resist.

Estelle was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting me to say such words.

"But...but my parents are very dominant. Once they have decided on something, no one can change their minds."

Her voice became lower and lower. Her eyes dimmed.

"Then you should give it a try. How would you know if you don't try?" I clenched my fist and encouraged her, saying, "Like you said. If you want to be brave once, it's this time. Do it for yourself!"

Estelle took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind.

"Okay, I'll give it a try!" She was hopeful again.

She suddenly looked up and asked me curiously, "What about you? What brave thing do you want to do?"

"Me?" I smiled, saying, "I want to be brave. I would start my own business, even if there are many voices of opposition. I still want to give it a try."

"It's late now. You should go back." I glanced at the time and saw that it was 3 a.m.

"I'll accompany you. The truth or dare game says we will spend a night by ourselves."

Estelle stubbornly shook her head.

I smiled, saying, "It's okay. Go up."

She didn't say anything. She shook her head harder with a hint of indescribable struggle in her eyes.

I knew she was using this way to prove her determination to get rid of the good girl label.

"I'm fine. Go back now. You have to work tomorrow."

I advised her again, but a touch of pity welled up in my heart.

"I...I don't want to go home tonight..."

I asked tentatively with a faint guess in my heart, "What's wrong? Is it something at home..."

"They don't understand me. They don't care about my feelings..."

I knew what she needed now was not comfort, but someone she could confide in.

"I'll accompany you."

I whispered and took out a blanket from the trunk, gently covering her with it.

Estelle was stunned for a moment. Then she gratefully glanced at me.

We sat quietly in the car all night.

No one said anything.

What I didn't know was that Lucy called me after I fell asleep.

Estelle answered the call quickly.

"Hello, Lucy. Henry is sleeping soundly."

The next day, Lucy came to me.

"Henry!"

Lucy's voice came from outside the door. There was a hint of panic and hoarseness in her voice.

I opened the door. She was standing there with swollen eyes and smudged makeup. Her usual delicacy and elegance were gone.

...

She asked directly, "Why was it Estelle who answered the call last night? Were you together last night?"

There was suppressed anger and a barely noticeable panic in her tone.

I didn't say anything. I looked at her indifferently.

"You won't be with her, right?"

"Am I right?"