Cheated by Ex-boyfriend, I Became Childhood Enemy's Girlfriend

I, Lisette Jones, was at the one-year anniversary of dating with my boyfriend, Tristan ‌Miller.

During the game with classmates, he lost a round, so he was punished to kiss Alice Collins, the renowned beauty of our college.

When I questioned him, I was met with anger.

"It's just a joke, can you stop making a fuss?"

Later, I left him with a cold smile, as he wished.

But then he knelt before me, begging for another chance.

I laughed coldly, linking arms with the man beside me.

"I already have a boyfriend. Can you stop making a fuss?"

1

Today marked the one-year anniversary of my relationship with Tristan.

After finishing my experiment, I hurried to the dining room of restaurant he ordered.

I only arrived a few minutes late.

Through the crack in the door, I witnessed the scene.

"It's just a joke, Tristan, can't you handle it?"

"Tristan, Alice is waiting, don't embarrass her."

"Yeah, if you can't, I'll do it for you." Friends were heckling.

Alice, the so-called beauty of our college, shyly bit her lip. "Tristan, if it's difficult for you, I'm willing to take the drinking penalty."

After a long silence, Tristan suddenly reached out to stop Alice from drinking.

His large hand covered her slender, fair fingers.

The atmosphere was sweet and vague.

"No, you can't handle alcohol."

Amidst the teasing from others, Alice leaned in for a kiss, The angle of her kiss was just off a bit, landing on the corner of Tristan's lips.

All people fell silent, shocked by the unexpected scene.

Then, laughter erupted again.

Alice covered her face in embarrassment. "It was just an accident, please don't spread it around."

Then, as if remembering something, she said regretfully, "Tristan, Lisette won't misunderstand, right?"

Tristan took a sip of his drink, his tone indifferent.

"Lisette is easy-going, she... won't."

"Yeah, Alice, don't worry. Lisette adores him so much."

"Everyone knows that Lisette has been chasing after Tristan for six years, she wouldn't get upset over something so trivial."

"Tristan, I envy you. Lisette is so obedient to you, unlike my girlfriend, she goes against me in everything."

I clenched my bag tightly. The strap digging into my fingers, leaving bruises, but I felt no pain.

Perhaps I was the only fool who believed Tristan and Alice were just neighbors.

I laughed at myself, turning to walk quickly toward the elevator.

2

Bang-

I bumped into someone just as I reached the elevator.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to."

A familiar, deep voice spoke, "Lisette?"

Through the teardrops under my eyes, I barely made out the person before me. It was Richard Pearson.

Richard was dressed in black, held a fruit platter I had knocked askew, his tone lazy.

"I just ordered these fruit, and you spilled them. What are you going to do about it?"

Richard had been my enemy since elementary school.

Now, I was caught in this situation, which was met by him. It made me feel even more humiliating.

"How much for these fruits? I'll pay you back."

Not wanting to engage further, I took out my phone to transfer the money.

As I was about to leave, he stopped me, And he offered the last piece of fruit with a fork.

"You've paid for it, why not try it?"

I didn't want to deal with him, but Richard was persistent.

Over the years, I had come to know his rebellious and unruly nature too well.

I took a bite, feigning enthusiasm, "So sweet."

He glanced at the private room behind me, mocking, "Even when you're being cheated on, it's sweet?"

I straightened my back, ignoring his sarcastic tone.

"How do you know it's not sweet if you haven't tried it?"

He suddenly laughed, leaning closer.

With my hand, he took a bite of the remaining fruit.

"Now I know, it is indeed sweet."

A strange feeling rose within me.

Just then, the elevator arrived, and I quickly stepped inside.

As the doors were about to close, he blocked them with his arms, his gaze intense.

"Be my girlfriend, I'm sweeter."

3

I glanced at the half-open door of the private room, and Alice had noticed us.

I recalled a post on the campus forum I had accidentally seen before.

The College Beauty's Confession Rejected

Although it was quickly deleted, it left a deep impression on me.

The boy in the photo was blurry but familiar.

Suddenly he was overlapping with the person in front of me.

Looking at this handsome, carefree man, I suddenly smiled, "Alright."

After all, I had nothing to lose, right?

As the elevator doors were about to close, Richard stepped in.

And he wrapped his arm around my waist and lowered his head to kiss me.

I noticed that Alice's expression grew panicked, shocked, and unwilling.

A thrill I had never felt before surged from my feet, spreading through my body.

Suddenly, there was a sharp pain on my lips.

I covered my slightly swollen lips, annoyed.

"Richard, are you a biting dog?"

Richard was tall, and even with shoes, I barely reached his chest.

The air was filled with his unique mint scent.

He rested his chin on my head, his voice hoarse with dissatisfaction.

"You were distracted."

We had always been at odds when we met before.

This was the first time we interacted peacefully.

The first time we were this close.

I coughed lightly, awkwardly pulling away.

He tightened his grip on me, "It's too late to regret now."

My phone suddenly rang, piercing the confined space.

Richard frowned, releasing me and leaning lazily against the elevator wall, "Not answering?"

I looked at the name on the screen, hesitated for a second, and answered.

Tristan's voice came through the receiver.

"Lisette, Alice said she saw you earlier, why didn't you come in? Everyone's waiting for you."

"No need to wait, I won't be coming."

"Lisette, don't make a fuss."

"Everyone's here, don't embarrass me. We can talk about it when we get back."

He was still the same. Relying on my affection, he always knew how to manipulate.

I looked at the reflection in the elevator's stainless steel wall, seeing a blurred image of myself.

Was the girl with long black hair in a white dress really me?

Where was that carefree, confident girl?

I had forgotten the things I loved and the person I liked to be.

Pleasing him had become my only goal.

I hadn't expected to lose my soul in the process.

"Tristan, you want me to consider your feelings, but when have you ever considered mine? I'm tired, let's end this."

After hanging up, I remembered there was someone beside me.

The atmosphere was awkward and silent.

Richard suddenly spoke, "Do you dare to come with me?"

4

His fingers were clear and even, like finely polished jade.

And he reached out to me.

It inexplicably inspired trust.

As if under a spell, I placed my hand in his palm.

He paused for a moment, then tightly clasped my hand, interlocking our fingers.

By the time I realized it, I was already in his passenger seat.

The car sped along, the wild evening breeze hitting my face.

A long-lost sense of joy and ease blossomed within me.

The car stopped at a climbing gym.

In an instant, memories flooded back.

Richard and I had our first clash here.

As a child, I was competitive until I met Richard.

As a transfer student, he immediately took my top spot.

Unwilling to accept it, I challenged him to a climbing match.

In my eagerness, I made a mistake just before reaching the top, not only losing the match but also scraping my skin.

I blamed Richard for it all.

Even as I grew up and began to see him without bias.

But for all these years, we still fought whenever we saw each other.

In hindsight, it was mostly me who stirred up the conflict, while he crossed his arms, watching coldly, and occasionally retorting.

Richard gentlemanly helped me out of the car, smiling confidently, "Dare to compete with me again?"

"Sure."

I looked down at my dress, feeling a bit troubled, "But I didn't bring any clothes."

"I have clothes stored here, in your size."

I looked at him in disbelief.

Richard leaned lazily against the car, a hint of unease in his eyes.

Since learning that Tristan liked quiet, obedient girls, I had completely given up on adventure activities.

This was the first time these years I had set foot here.

A myriad of emotions surged silently within me.

I had tried so hard to become Tristan's ideal girlfriend.

But I nearly forgot my true self.

After I changed the clothing, Richard carefully fastened my safety harness.

He tugged it firmly before moving to secure his own on the other side.

Before setting off, he raised his eyebrows, exuding a carefree charm.

"Lisette, show me that never-give-up attitude you had back then. I won't give in to you."

In that moment, something seemed to roar, ready to break free from my body.

"Neither will I."

I used my legs to power up and my arms to assist. Once my body adapted, I began to climb.

Suddenly, my foot slipped, and half my body dangled precariously.

I struggled to maintain balance, a hand steadying my tilted body.

And I turned to meet Richard's obsidian eyes.

"Just keep moving forward, I'll be right behind you."