The Comments Said My Best Friend Would Steal My Boyfriend

Right before I was supposed to meet my online boyfriend in person, my best friend tried her hardest to talk me out of it.

I had just blocked and deleted his contact when a floating chat feed suddenly materialized in my line of sight:

[Wow, she really fits the ruthless female lead trope. The first thing she does after being reborn is steal her bestie's billionaire boyfriend. Hilarious!]

[The side character is so dumb. One little guilt trip and she deletes her multi-billionaire boyfriend. No wonder she's just a stepping stone.]

[But the female lead isn't the one who actually chatted with him. What if she gets exposed?]

[Relax! Our girl has the looks and the manipulation skills to play that pure-hearted rich boy like a fiddle. Just watch.]

While I was still reeling from shock, Harper was still playing the role of the caring friend, her tone full of fake concern.

"Amanda, you never know who you're talking to on the internet. He could be a creep. Deleting him was the right call."

I slowly snapped back to reality and nodded. "Yeah. You make a good point."

Even though I had seemingly blocked and deleted the "male lead", Harper still wasn't completely at ease.

She probed further, her eyes searching my face. "Amanda, you didn't send him your pictures, your phone number, or anything that could reveal your real identity, right?"

I smiled and shook my head. "I'm not that stupid."

A flash of secret delight crossed Harper's eyes, though she kept her voice sounding like a wise older sister. "Good. You have to protect your privacy online. Never hand out your personal info to strangers."

I nodded vigorously. "Don't worry about me. I'm not some naive college freshman anymore. I've been in the real world for over a year now. I know how to read people."

Harper stifled a laugh and teased. "Right, right. You're a seasoned veteran now. So cunning."

I pretended not to catch the dripping sarcasm in her voice and lifted my chin proudly. "Obviously!"

Harper secretly rolled her eyes, then faked a yawn. "Amanda, I have my part-time shift tomorrow. I'm going to crash. You should get some sleep too. Night."

I smiled back. "Night."

[The side character is painfully stupid. Getting sold out by the female lead and still counting the cash for her. Hopeless!]

[Yeah, but I'm still worried the female lead might blow her cover.]

[Don't stress. She's a top-tier actress and came fully prepared. She won't slip up.]

[Plus, the female lead is an absolute bombshell with killer curves. Way more seductive than this plain-jane sweet girl. Even if the guy finds out the truth later, he'll just be glad he ended up with the hot one.]

[True that!]

[Am I the only one who thinks what the female lead is doing is highly immoral?]

[The author literally tagged this as a toxic, selfish female lead story. If you want a saint, go read something else!]

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the floating text.

Seriously? Who actively roots for a homewrecker?

Once Harper's bedroom door clicked shut, I casually strolled back into my own room.

I pulled out my phone and unblocked my online boyfriend, adding him right back on a different messaging app.

I hadn't given him my phone number, but I definitely had his.

[Holy crap! The side character kept a backup plan!]

[Why did she lie to the female lead? Did she catch onto her scheme?]

[Not necessarily. Maybe she just got annoyed with the nagging and pretended to delete the guy to shut her up.]

[Fingers crossed.]

[It doesn't matter why she lied. What matters is that the female lead has no idea she's been played!]

[Stay calm, the female lead will figure it out. There has to be a plot twist!]

A plot twist?

We'll see about that.

My boyfriend hadn't messaged me during that brief window, so he remained blissfully unaware that he had ever been blocked.

I slipped into the white dress I had bought specifically for our meetup. I took several selfies, carefully cropping them to only show everything below the bridge of my nose.

I picked the most flattering shot and sent it to the contact named "Rowan".

I typed out a quick message: Don't mistake me for someone else tomorrow, handsome.

He replied almost instantly.

Rowan: Wouldn't dream of it!

Rowan: You look gorgeous, babe. [Drooling emoji]

Amanda: Good to know.

Rowan: Your lips are incredible. Can I kiss them tomorrow?

The chat feed wasn't entirely wrong. My overall vibe was sweet and girl-next-door, lacking Harper's natural, sultry allure. But my lips were my best feature. Naturally flushed and perfectly shaped, they looked incredibly inviting in isolation.

Amanda: Not tomorrow. Depends on how you behave. [Winking emoji]

Rowan: Challenge accepted! I promise I won't disappoint.

We flirted back and forth for about half an hour before I used sleep as an excuse to cut the conversation short.

I could tell he was craving more.

But basic psychology dictates that you never give a guy everything he wants all at once.

[She actually sent him a picture. I feel like our female lead might be in trouble.]

[Chill out. The female lead can turn the tide. Besides, it's only the lower half of a face. He might not even recognize her.]

[But those lips are pretty distinct. If he pays attention, he might be able to tell the difference.]

[Doesn't matter. The guy is obsessed with looks. The female lead will win him over with sheer beauty!]

I closed my eyes with a cold smirk.

I'd love to see Harper try to turn this tide.

Of course, if this so-called "male lead" actually took one look at Harper and fell head over heels, I'd have nothing to say.

But even if he was driven by pure lust, I was going to make damn sure he knew that Harper was a manipulative snake who tried to steal her best friend's man.

Harper wouldn't be leaving any perfect impressions on anyone's mind.

Harper and I had been college roommates.

She came from a struggling background with parents who blatantly favored her brother. Her tuition was paid through student loans, and she survived entirely on part-time jobs.

My family wasn't filthy rich, but we were comfortably middle-class. Being an only child, my parents never let me lack for anything.

When I found out about her financial struggles, I quietly took her under my wing.

I frequently paid for her meals without making a big deal out of it. Whenever I shopped for seasonal clothes, I'd buy her a couple of outfits too. I shared all my expensive skincare and makeup with her.

After graduation, we landed jobs at different companies.

Knowing she was drowning in loan repayments, I deliberately found an apartment exactly halfway between our offices. I voluntarily covered the entire rent, electricity, and water bills just so she could save every dime.

It wasn't a completely one-sided dynamic, to be fair.

In college, she was the one fetching my packages and scrubbing our dorm room. When we moved in together, she took over all the household chores without asking.

I never felt it was unfair.

I genuinely considered her my best friend. Yet, just to secure a luxurious lifestyle, she resorted to such deceitful tactics to steal my boyfriend. It left me feeling a freezing mixture of heartbreak and rage.

If she could throw away years of loyalty for money, she couldn't blame me for turning ruthless.

I tossed and turned that night, finally drifting into a restless sleep around three in the morning.

By the time I woke up, it was already ten.

At eight sharp, Rowan had sent a message: Morning, gorgeous.

Amanda: Morning!

Five minutes later, my phone buzzed.

Rowan: Sleepyhead. Just woke up?

Amanda: Yeah. Taking full advantage of the weekend.

Rowan: I respect that. Just don't forget our date tonight!

Amanda: Don't worry, I won't. I'll text you when I'm on my way. See you there.

Rowan: Can't wait!

[The female lead still hasn't noticed anything. She's in danger.]

[There's still hours left. She has a chance.]

[What if the side character just coincidentally gets hit by a car on the way to the meetup?]

[Oh man, maybe!]

Thanks for the heads-up, floating chat. I'll be sure to look both ways before crossing the street.

After wrapping up the chat, I took my time getting out of bed and throwing on some clothes.

When I walked into the kitchen, I noticed a sticky note Harper had left on the dining table. It read in her neat handwriting, "Left some pork and century egg porridge in the pot. Make sure you eat breakfast!"

A complex knot formed in my stomach.

Harper was only a year older than me, but she had always acted like a protective older sister. She knew I had a habit of sleeping through breakfast on weekends, so she prepared something for me every single morning.

I used to find it incredibly touching. Now, it just felt nauseatingly fake.

I walked over to the stove, stared at the perfectly cooked, aromatic porridge for a few seconds, then picked up the pot and dumped the entire thing into the trash.

[Holy shit! She just threw away the food the female lead made for her. Is she a reincarnated character too?]

[Highly likely! I hope the female lead realizes it soon, otherwise she's going to take a massive hit.]

[Stop worrying. Harper is the true protagonist here. Amanda is just a minor roadblock!]

Around three in the afternoon, my phone pinged with a message from Harper.

Harper: Amanda, I'm stuck working overtime today. I'll be home late. Just order some takeout or make something simple. I'll cook your favorite sweet and sour ribs tomorrow.

Amanda: Don't stress about me. Focus on work so they don't dock your pay.

Harper: Will do. I just ordered a mango pomelo sago for you from that place you love. I paid extra for extra toppings. Drink it as soon as it arrives!

Amanda: Aww, thanks.

Harper: Don't mention it.

We exchanged a few more casual, friendly texts before she claimed a customer had walked in and ended the conversation.

Ten minutes later, the delivery guy dropped off the iced drink.

I had just poured the entire cup down the toilet and flushed when the chat feed flared up again.

[Disaster! I don't think the side character just reincarnated. I think she reincarnated AFTER the female lead did!]

[That's the only explanation. How else would she know the female lead ordered the staff to use heavily contaminated tap water for that drink?!]

[Then the female lead is totally screwed!]

[Relax, she'll notice something is off and execute a flawless counterattack.]

[Am I the only one who kind of wants to see the toxic female lead crash and burn?]

[Quietly agreeing. I want to see her fail too.]

I stared at the empty plastic cup in my hand, my blood running cold.

I had a notoriously weak stomach. Eating anything remotely unhygienic would guarantee me a night of agonizing cramps and diarrhea.

She had gone to extreme, malicious lengths just to keep me trapped in the bathroom while she stole my life.

I really had overestimated her humanity.

Perhaps to verify if her little biological weapon had worked, Harper sent another text fishing for information.

I played along, telling her my stomach was cramping up and blaming it on some greasy takeout I had for lunch.

She swallowed the lie hook, line, and sinker, even putting on a show of ordering stomach medicine for me online.

That evening, I arrived at the plaza twenty minutes early.

Instead of heading straight to the designated meeting spot, I tucked myself behind a massive illuminated billboard near the bus stop, keeping my eyes peeled.

Ten minutes later, a gorgeous guy holding a bouquet of pink roses walked into view.

He headed straight for the south side of the fountain, pacing with a mix of anxiety and excitement.

Unless I was completely wrong, this was my online boyfriend.

The man the chat feed called the "male lead", Rowan.

Five more minutes passed. Then, Harper made her entrance.

She knew I was planning to wear a white dress, so she wore one too, opting for a stunning strapless design.

I had to admit it. Harper had a body that turned heads.

The moment she stepped into the plaza, she drew the eyes of everyone around her, including Rowan.

But probably out of a guilty conscience, she was wearing a medical mask, making her look incredibly suspicious.

Rowan spotted the white dress, gripped his flowers, and strode purposely toward her.

I was too far away to catch their exact words.

But based on Rowan's relaxed body language, he was clearly thrilled with what he saw.

And honestly, standing side by side, they looked like a magazine cover.

After a brief exchange, Rowan reached out, gently took Harper's hand, and started leading her toward the entrance of the luxury mall.

I didn't rush out to create a dramatic scene. Instead, I calmly pulled out my phone and dialed his number.

He answered on the second ring, but his voice was completely detached and cold. "Who is this? What do you want?"

I feigned total ignorance and let my voice go soft and sweet. "Handsome, it's me! I'm here. Where are you?"

Rowan stopped dead in his tracks. A heavy silence stretched for two seconds before he asked, his tone dripping with sudden vigilance, "Who exactly are you?"

I poured on the innocent confusion. "It's me! Didn't we agree to meet by the fountain at eight? Don't tell me you forgot!"

Rowan whipped his head around, his eyes desperately scanning the area around the fountain.

The chat feed exploded in real time:

[Holy crap! No plot twist! I'm getting massive second-hand embarrassment!]

[Give it a second! There's totally going to be a twist!]

[What if he finds out she's the real online girlfriend, but still chooses the female lead anyway? That would be the ultimate slap in the face for the side character. Hahaha!]

[Exactly! They've only ever talked online. They've never even met. Plus, with the side character's mediocre IQ, there is zero chance she can handle a dominant billionaire heir.]

[So true. Only a sultry temptress like the female lead can tame a wild alpha dog like him.]

Rowan stood frozen, looking over his shoulder.

After about ten seconds of silence, I let out an exaggerated sigh of complaint. "It's your girlfriend! Are you seriously telling me you forgot my voice?!"

"Fuck!"

Rowan cursed violently under his breath. He aggressively ripped his hand out of Harper's grasp and started marching back toward the fountain.

Harper panicked, instinctively reaching out to grab his arm to stop him.

"Get off me!"

Rowan shoved her hard.

Caught off guard in her heels, Harper let out a sharp gasp and stumbled backward, falling hard onto the concrete.

Rowan didn't even spare her a second glance. He broke into a jog, keeping the phone pressed to his ear.

"Babe, where exactly are you? Some crazy woman just tried to impersonate you. She almost had me fooled!"

I gasped in fabricated shock. "Are you serious? That's psychotic! Wait, I think I see you!"

I stepped out from the shadows and stood directly under the streetlamp next to the fountain, waving my arm high in the air.

"I see you too!"

Rowan locked eyes with me and sprinted over.

I walked forward to meet him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harper staring in my direction with wide, terrified eyes. She scrambled up from the ground and practically sprinted away, disappearing into the crowd.

Rowan jogged to a halt right in front of me. His chest heaved as his eyes darted down to my white dress, and then fixed intensely on my lips. It took him a few seconds to confirm I was the girl from the photo.

He let out a heavy breath, raking a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Babe, I'm so sorry. Some woman wearing a dress just like yours came up to me. I was this close to believing it was you!"

"Thank God you called when you did. I was about to get totally scammed."

I widened my eyes, playing the perfect innocent victim. "Who would do something like that? That's so creepy!"

Rowan turned and pointed furiously at the empty spot where Harper had fallen. "Some psycho wearing a mask and sunglasses! She was just standing right there, but she bolted."

I crossed my arms indignantly. "What an absolute freak."

Rowan nodded emphatically, absolute disgust written across his handsome features. "A total freak."

[I can't believe there was no twist.]

[The side character played that beautifully. The male lead is definitely disgusted by the female lead right now. It's going to be so much harder for her to steal him away.]

[Wait, two fake besties who both reincarnated? I kind of like this dynamic way more!]

[Honestly, reading this from an outside perspective is really satisfying. I hate homewreckers.]

[When men cheat, people excuse it. When women do it, they get crucified. The internalized misogyny is real!]

[Are you mentally ill? Who said anything about excusing cheating men? I literally just said I hate homewreckers of any gender!]

The chat feed devolved into a messy argument.

I found the whole thing ridiculous. Some of these invisible watchers seemed downright addicted to stories glorifying infidelity.

Probably reflected their own twisted morals in real life.