Five years. That’s how long I chased Aiden. It’s also how long his brother, Jimmy, chased Bree. Then, on New Year's Eve, I waited at the movie theater for an Aiden who never came. And at the amusement park, Jimmy waited for a Bree who never showed. Instead, at the stroke of midnight, we both saw their social media posts, announcing to the world that they were a couple. Later, we found ourselves commiserating. He was the one who said it first. "How about we just make a go of it? We both know what we're getting into." I was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay." And just like that, we were a whirlwind of activity—trying on wedding dresses, scouting venues, picking a date, writing invitations. The goal was simple: get married before they did. Weeks later, as I was drowning in a sea of venue brochures, a sharp knock echoed through my apartment. I opened the door to find Aiden standing there, his jaw clenched, the rims of his eyes red. "Are you serious?" he bit out. "Are you really going to marry Jimmy? Have you even thought this through?" 1 On New Year's Eve, I stood in the plaza just off Central Square, watching the helium balloons float into the snowy sky, a sea of embracing couples all around me. I clutched a pair of movie tickets in my hand, the falling flakes melting on my skin. I couldn’t quite name the feeling, only that after loving Aiden for so many years, this was not the ending I had hoped for. My phone buzzed. It was Jimmy, Aiden's younger brother. She didn't show. The three of us—Aiden, Jimmy, and I—had grown up together. I fell for Aiden, and Jimmy fell for my roommate, Bree. We’d made a pact: he’d help me, and I’d help him. A spectacular failure. On the biggest night of the year, he was stood up by Bree, and I by Aiden. I let out a long, slow breath, a white cloud in the frigid air, and was about to leave when my phone rang. It was Jimmy. The background was a cacophony of noise, but his voice came through, clear and a little raspy. "Did you see their posts?" A cold dread washed over me. My hand hovered over the screen, my thumb refusing to tap open the app. It felt like if I did, everything would change forever. But I did it anyway. My feed was flooded with couples celebrating the new year. I only had to scroll a little before I saw it. And when I saw the photo, my numbness overshadowed the pain. It was a picture of them in their old school uniforms, standing on the athletic field, grinning and flashing peace signs at the camera. They both looked so genuinely happy. Aiden so rarely smiled in pictures with me. And Bree had always refused to take any photos with Jimmy. Bree and I were classmates in high school. I'd moved into the dorms for a while after a fight with my parents. They'd asked Aiden and Jimmy to bring me things, and through those visits, Bree got to know them both. But when had this happened? When had they fallen for each other? Jimmy and I had been such fools, moths drawn to a flame. I couldn't speak, a lump lodged in my throat, choking me. Jimmy was still on the line, silent. Finally, he spoke. "Are you still at the theater?" "Yeah," I managed. "Wait for me there. I'll buy new tickets. We can still go." "Okay," I whispered. It was a pathetic situation, but at least I had someone to be pathetic with. That made it a little less unbearable. As I waited, I didn't try to piece together the clues I must have missed. My mind was just… empty. I didn't cry. It all just felt so sudden. I don't know how long I waited, crouched by the entrance until my legs went numb. Finally, I saw him coming down the escalator. A few days ago, he'd dyed his hair a fiery red. "For a prosperous new year," he'd said, convinced it was a sign of good things to come. I had wanted to dye mine red too, but since he beat me to it, I’d settled for a milky brown. He saw me and quickened his pace. I waved a weak hand. "Help me up. My legs are asleep." Jimmy pulled me to my feet and studied my face. "Not bad," he said with a half-smile. "No tears." I punched my numb thighs, a pins-and-needles sensation shooting through them. "You either." "Eh," he waved a dismissive hand. "Come on, the movie's about to start." By unspoken agreement, we didn't mention it again. After the movie, he drove me home. It was only after I’d showered and crawled into bed that I saw the text from Bree. Stella, Aiden and I are together. I hope you're not mad? I closed my eyes, a wave of irritation washing over me. Lying in the dark, I typed back a single, emotionless word: No. Who she was with was her business, even if it was Aiden. But I had considered her my friend. I had giddily shared every single moment of my teenage crush on Aiden with her. And not once did she say a word. All these years I spent chasing him, only for them to end up together. Anger and heartbreak swelled in my chest. I wasn't angry that she was with him. I was angry that she never told me she liked him too. What was she thinking all those times I confided in her? Was she laughing at me, at my pathetic, unrequited love? Suddenly, she felt like a stranger, a terrifying one. The moment my text went through, she replied, as if she'd been waiting for it. Oh, Stella, I'm so glad you're not mad! I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you, I just… I didn't know how… It was a wall of text. I exited the chat and unpinned her from the top of my contacts. A moment later, another message came through. Stella, do you want to get barbecue at that place on Central tomorrow? I knew what this was. A test. To see if I was really angry. But we weren't friends anymore. Whether I was angry or not didn't matter. No, I'm tired. Going to sleep. She didn't reply. Instead, a new message popped up. It was from Aiden. I was the one who went after Bree. I liked her first. Stella, I hope you won't blame her or take your anger out on her. How could I even describe it? I used to love Aiden so much it felt like my heart would overflow. Now, in the space of a single night, the thought of him just made my stomach turn. This couldn't have been a sudden thing. They didn't just suddenly fall in love. All this time, they must have looked at me and Jimmy like we were a couple of clowns, enjoying the attention we showered on them, only to turn around and say, "Thanks for liking me, but I don't like you back." I could have accepted any outcome. What I couldn't accept was that the person I had loved for so long was, in reality, a total piece of shit. I didn't reply to him. I just took a screenshot of both their messages and sent it to Jimmy. You get one of these? A minute later, he sent one back. It was from Bree. A long, rambling text about how grateful she was for his years of affection… Jimmy: You'd think in five years she could have mentioned she liked my brother. Stella, we're not that pathetic, are we? We wouldn't have kept chasing them if we knew. I had chased him for five years, but I’d liked him for much longer. Me: I was just unlucky to meet them. But I don't want to see them again. I bet I'll have to tomorrow, though. And then I'll have to say 'It's fine, no big deal.' I'll feel like such a fake, but they won't be happy until they hear it, so they can feel better about themselves. As I typed, a surge of frustration hit me. I just wanted to delete and block them both. Jimmy: Same. My brother just knocked on my door asking if I was asleep. I didn't answer. It's just so exhausting. It's not even that sad, really. I chased her for so long, I can accept it. But it just sucks. Why did it have to be those two? How could they do this to us? Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind. A second later, my phone was ringing. It was Jimmy. We’d been a chaotic, imaginative pair since we were kids, our crazy ideas often syncing up perfectly. "What if we…" I started. "What if we…" he said at the exact same time. I pursed my lips. "You first." He cleared his throat. "How about we just make a go of it? We both know what we're getting into." I was silent for only a second. I knew he couldn't see me, but I nodded anyway. "Okay." "And we have to get married before they do." "Don't worry," I said. "Leave it to me." 2 I never knew Jimmy could be so efficient. Last night, I couldn't squeeze out a single tear to mourn my wasted years. I just kept wondering, numbly, if my feelings for Aiden had already died out long ago, in all those years of hopeless pursuit. Then this morning—early, like, crack-of-dawn early—my mom started banging on my bedroom door. Each knock was louder than the last, like a death march. "Mom, what is it? It's the midd—" I threw the door open, my hair a mess, but before I could finish my complaint, she clapped a hand over my mouth. "Honey, you… you need to get washed up and come downstairs. Now." I blinked, my eyes heavy with sleep. "What's going on?" "Your boyfriend is here to ask for your hand!" she whispered excitedly in my ear. My mom was always nagging me to date and get married, even threatening to set me up on blind dates. Seeing Jimmy here, making a formal proposal, must have been her dream come true. "Huh?" The words shocked me fully awake. No way. I crept to the top of the stairs and peered down. The living room was filled with familiar faces, and a pile of gold bars gleamed under the crystal chandelier. I showered, did my makeup, and changed in record time. When I came downstairs, Jimmy's mom, a warm smile on her face, beckoned me over. "Stella, come have some breakfast first. Your uncle and I picked it up from the dim sum place on our way." Then she turned to my mom, her expression apologetic. "Sarah, I'm so sorry for showing up so unannounced. We must have startled you." "Oh, don't be silly!" my mom laughed. "We've watched these two grow up. If they want to join our families, I couldn't be happier." "Exactly," my dad chimed in. "We're practically family already. Who needs all those formalities?" Jimmy was sitting ramrod straight in a formal suit, his red hair slicked back. "You work fast," I whispered, sitting down next to him and popping a shrimp dumpling in my mouth. He leaned in. "Well, I saw my brother was out of town. I figured if he came with us to propose, it might make you uncomfortable." I just raised an eyebrow and said nothing. Our parents were already enthusiastically planning the wedding. "I think the fifth of next month is a great day," Jimmy's mom said. "The almanac says it's auspicious for marriage." "Yes, yes, a lucky day!" my mom agreed. "Great, then it's settled…" Jimmy and I stared at each other, stunned. "Why are they in a bigger hurry than we are?" I mouthed. He whispered back, "They're probably both terrified we'll bolt." That actually made a lot of sense. My mom was constantly sighing about how "young people these days just don't want to get married." 3 The following weeks were a blur of wedding prep. Jimmy and I were busy with dress fittings, venue tours, and writing invitations. Meanwhile, Aiden and Bree had gone on a trip to Seabrook, a coastal city. They posted a new photo every day, looking blissful. While waiting for Jimmy to change into another suit, I found myself staring at a picture of them with the ocean sparkling in the background. A pang of something hit me. I had actually planned a trip to Seabrook with Aiden a long time ago. I’d even told Bree about it. I’d seen a travel blogger's video of the city and sent it to her, gushing about how I wanted to go there with him for my birthday. But then Bree sprained her ankle a few days before, and I stayed to take care of her, so the trip was postponed. I never imagined they would be the ones to go together. "What are you looking at?" Jimmy emerged in a sleek black suit, a faint smile playing on his lips. I didn't hide it, just turned my phone so he could see. He was fastening the buttons on his jacket. As he looked up, I said, "Let me help." Once the buttons were done, he’d seen the photo. He handed my phone back. "Do you want to go?" I shook my head, then nodded. "Yes." Even though Jimmy and Aiden were twins, once you got to know them, they were easy to tell apart. Aiden had this air of effortless disdain, always impatient and aloof. But Jimmy had his mother's eyes—they crinkled when he smiled, bright and warm. He was sunny and emotionally stable. "It's not because they went," I said, my gaze firm. "I've wanted to go for a long time." Jimmy gently guided me towards the full-length mirror. "Okay," he said softly. "I know." In the mirror, we looked like a perfect match, a striking couple. "You two make such a handsome couple," the sales associate offered at the perfect moment. "What do you think of this one? Do you like it?" he asked, leaning down slightly. I thought for a moment, chewing on my lip. "I don't know… it just doesn't feel… breathtaking." I held my fingers up, a tiny space between them. "It's missing that little something." Jimmy chuckled, his eyes sparkling like diamonds under the crystal lights. The store manager approached us. "Sir, Madam, have you found a suit and gown that you like?" She noticed our hesitation and added tactfully, "We actually have a new collection of gowns arriving from Europe in a few days. Would you be able to wait? I promise you, they are absolutely exquisite. We have the designer's sketches, and I can walk you through the concepts." She gestured towards a private viewing area. "If you have a moment?" I looked at Jimmy, and he nodded. I smiled at the manager. "Yes, that would be wonderful."
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