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On My Boyfriend’s Birthday, I Discovered I Was Just a Stand–In
I rushed to the hospital with homemade chicken noodle soup after
my boyfriend fell ill, only to overhear his conversation with a friend:
“Now that the one that got away is back, it’s time for the stand–in of three years to exit the stage, right?”
“After you break up with her, let me have a go. I’ve never been with a girl like that before.”
There was no expected rebuttal. Arlo’s tone was indifferent.
“Sure, she’s pretty easy anyway. Just sweet talk her a bit and you can get her into bed.”
That night, I discovered his secret Instagram account. It documented years of pining for his first love.
Without confrontation or entanglement, I calmly booked a flight to Paris.
On our third anniversary, Arlo slipped and fell at work, spraining his ankle.
I rushed to the hospital after getting his call. He explained he was hurrying to the restaurant, afraid I’d
I took a few days off work to stay by his bedside and take care of him.
wait too long, and accidentally fell.”
On the day he was discharged, some friends came to visit. I went home to make chicken noodle soup, feeling reassured.
The thermos in my arms held freshly made soup as I hurried back to the hospital, timing it perfectly.
The door to the room was ajar. As I approached, I overheard voices inside.
Arlo’s good friend Milo was patting his shoulder, his expression amused.
“You didn’t have to be so excited just because Sage’s back. Rushing to pick her up from the airport and falling down the stairs?”
Hearing the name “Sage“, my heart skipped a beat.
She was part of Arlo’s close–knit group of friends from college – three guys and one girl.
Sage was Arlo’s college girlfriend. They dated for two years before breaking up when she went abroad.
Even so, everyone in their group still considered them a perfect match. I’d occasionally hear the other two guys tease Arlo about it.
In their eyes, if Sage hadn’t left, there’s no way I would have ended up with Arlo.
He used to always refute those comments.
But this time, perhaps because I wasn’t around, Arlo remained silent.
Milo was still grinning:
“Now that the one that got away is back, when are you going to dump the stand–in?”
“After you break up, can I go after her? I’ve never been with a girl like that.”
Arlo finally looked up at this, frowning as he smacked Milo’s arm.
“Sage hasn’t said anything yet. What’s the rush?”
“Besides, I’m not fully recovered. I still need her to take care of me at home.”
My ears were ringing. After the initial shock came a numb daze.
Milo didn’t seem to care much. He casually peeled an orange I had bought.
“She looks so innocent, but you always tell me how wild she is in bed.”
