Double Trouble: The Girlfriend Gambit

My boyfriend cheated on me.

I arranged to meet that girl and got straight to the point. "Do you know Vincent?" I asked.

She looked puzzled and replied, "Yes, I'm his girlfriend."

I scoffed and said, "If giving gifts, chatting, and making calls is enough to establish a relationship..."

"Then I guess I'm also his girlfriend," I added.

1

I received a video from my best friend.

In the video, my boyfriend Vincent held a girl. When she wasn't paying attention, he quickly kissed her on the cheek.

The girl shyly turned her head away. Her face flushed red instantly.

Then I heard the videographer tease her. "Daphne, how did you manage to win over this handsome guy?" they asked.

"I took him to movies, bought him clothes, basically showered him with gifts," she replied. "But of course, Vincent has given me much more," she continued.

Daphne shyly nestled into his embrace.

Hearing this, Vincent looked up with a smile. His demeanor radiated affection.

Then the camera shook violently and stopped abruptly.

I went back to the messaging app. My best friend sent a message that read, "What's going on? Why was your boyfriend at my sister's class reunion?"

I didn't reply immediately. Instead, I replayed the video, paused it, took screenshots, and zoomed in repeatedly.

Oh!

I uncovered a shocking secret!

2

The LV rose gold necklace around Daphne's neck matched mine exactly.

That necklace came from Vincent. He gave it to me on our third anniversary.

Under the dim candlelight, our two shadows overlapped.

Vincent put it on me himself and planted a soft kiss on my forehead. "It looks beautiful," he said.

Later, I accidentally found out something.

He worked several jobs and ate only steamed buns and vegetables every day, just to buy me that necklace.

Back then, I truly believed I had found someone completely devoted to me.

Now, that same necklace rested on another woman's neck.

A call popped up on my phone.

It came from Vincent.

I hesitated for a long time before answering.

I wanted to curse him out, but I calmed down quickly.

Giving him a piece of my mind might have felt good, I thought. But what would it achieve?

He would keep flirting with other girls and leave without a care.

Meanwhile, my three years of youth and devotion would amount to nothing!

"Claire, why did you take so long to answer the phone?" he asked.

I took a breath and replied calmly, "Oh, I was organizing debate materials for the end of next month and didn't hear it. What's up?"

"Nothing much," he said. "I just wanted to tell you my cousin's wedding ended. I'll be back at school tonight. Want to have dinner together?"

Hmph!

A week earlier, Vincent told me his cousin back home was getting married. He said he needed to return to be the best man.

But it didn't seem like he was just the best man. He acted more like the groom!

A faint female voice came through the phone. "Vincent, who are you talking to?" she asked.

Vincent's voice tightened. He whispered to me quickly, "Claire, my cousin needs me for something. I have to go."

I sneered but spoke gently. "Okay, see you tonight," I said.

"Fucking bastard! If it really was your cousin, why were you so nervous? You practically admitted it yourself!" I thought.

3

I switched back to my bestie's chat and replied to her. "Vincent is a player. He's juggling multiple girls. That girl probably doesn't know about me," I noted.

She sent a string of exclamation marks. With her fiery temper, she called me right away.

"Claire! What were you waiting for!" she shouted.

"Break up with that scumbag already! Then expose him online!" she urged.

I tapped my index finger on the table slowly, shook my head, and sighed deeply.

It was useless.

Many still believed a man's infidelity counted as charm, while a woman's marked her as disgraceful.

Exposing him would only dent his reputation at most.

But I wanted more than that!

"I won't break up," I told her. "Not only will I stay with him," I declared, "but I'll keep hanging out with him!"

4

I stepped out of the car at the agreed restaurant. Vincent strode toward me.

I smiled and observed him subtly.

Vincent still wore the black casual outfit from the video. His profile stood sharp, with light and shadow playing across it. Long, thick eyelashes cast delicate shadows.

I had to admit, his features impressed me.

"Come, Claire, see what you want to eat," he said.

He opened the menu first and slid it to me, gesturing for me to order.

I eyed this small gesture coldly. In the past, I naively thought he truly understood me.

Even with something minor like ordering food, he respected my preferences back then.

But now, I realized a player knew exactly how to win a woman's heart.

I pretended to study the menu carefully. In reality, I memorized his phone password.

Halfway through the meal, he stepped away to the restroom.

His phone sat on the table!

I glanced around, unlocked it quickly, and scrolled through his app records.

How ridiculous!

The necklace he claimed to have bought with savings from eating steamed buns and vegetables came from a cheap online deal!

While he chatted with me every night, he talked on the phone with Daphne!

Every cosmetic he gave me, he gifted to Daphne too.

He juggled two women!

Everything turned out fake!

I found it laughable that I once saw him as a good man!

My fingers trembled with rage.

"Vincent! How dare you play us like fools! How dare you!" I screamed in my mind.

5

When Vincent returned, he touched my forehead gently with the back of his hand.

He frowned, took off his jacket, and draped it over me. "You're grown up, yet you didn't mention you had a fever!" he said.

"Come on! I'll take you back," he offered.

He walked me to the girls' dormitory, hugged me loosely, and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"Claire, go rest well," he said.

I forced a smile, patted his head, and spoke in my gentlest tone ever. "It's late. You should head back too," I replied.

As his figure faded into the distance, my face darkened.

Pretending with such a scumbag all evening disgusted me!

I ripped off his jacket and tossed it into the trash can.

Damn it.

Trash belonged in the trash can.

"I heard your relationship with Vincent envied everyone," someone said. "But now it seems," the voice continued.

A clear, cold male voice startled me from behind.

I turned and saw a tall, slender figure leaning under the faint streetlight.

He turned his face slowly and sneered. "It's not that impressive," he remarked.