Three's a Crowd, I'm the One Leaving

The holiday wasnt even here yet, but our little quartet in Newhaven was already holding a vote on one crucial matter.

The agenda: whether or not to let Connor join our purely platonic circle.

In my gut, I was certain my childhood best friend, my good buddy, and my girlfriend would all oppose it, just like me. After all, anyone could see Connor's intentions; not only did he subtly and openly target me time and again, but he was always cozying up to my girlfriend.

But reality delivered a brutal slap to my face.

My childhood best friend, Jenna, said she agreed, completely nonchalant. She even went on about how excellent Connor was in every way, then accused me of jealousy.

My good buddy, Liam, chimed in, saying I was too selfish, that I shouldn't stop everyone from making new friends.

My fists clenched in anger, pinning my last hopes on my girlfriend, Janelle. But she was already sending Connor a group chat invite. She even tried to convince me that a friendship of five wasnt so bad, telling me not to be so dramatic.

It was in that moment I finally understood: the love and friendship I had always deeply believed in had, it turned out, abandoned me long ago.

My throat felt like it was clamped by a giant hand, a wave of suffocation washing over me. Id known them for twenty years. Elementary school, middle school, high school, even college C the four of us had always been at the same school. There was nothing happier in the world than having both friendship and love by my side. I thought our world of four would never include anyone else.

Now, they were ganging up on me for a guy theyd known for less than three months. I couldn't help but feel furious.

"I don't agree. Connor isn't one of us. Why does he have to muscle his way in here?"

"Liam, you know hes sent ambiguous messages to Janelle privately. Are you still going to help him gang up on me?"

Before, if other guys coveted Janelle, he would unhesitatingly curse them out for me. Why was it different with Connor?

To my surprise, his face wore an expression that implied I was being unreasonable. "Ethan, why do you think so badly of Connor? He was just discussing group assignments with Janelle."

"You're so paranoid and suspicious. It must be exhausting for Janelle, as your girlfriend, and we, your friends, are tired of it too."

Connor asked Janelle to bring him an umbrella at the movie theater. He asked Janelle to accompany him to the infirmary when he got hurt playing basketball. He even bought heart-shaped chocolates and wanted Janelle to try some. Was all this just my paranoia?

I actually started to doubt myself. Tears welled up, but I forcefully held them back, making the tip of my nose ache.

Janelle's face began to show impatience. "Ethan, the world doesn't revolve around you."

"All three of us voted yes. Connor will join our quartet now."

"Afterward, we can discuss where to travel. You like photography, right? Connor is great at taking pictures, so he can even get some good shots of you. Isn't that a win-win?"

My heart, however, turned cold inch by inch.

The notification chime pinged. Janelle and the other two had smiles playing on their lips. I took out my phone and saw that the original group chat of four had become five. Connor had joined.

[Hey everyone, I'm Connor. Please take care of me from now on! I can do basketball, singing, photography, and video editing, so you can always find me. ]

He even tapped each of our four profile pictures. He tapped Janelle's first, and mine last.

Liam immediately sent a bunch of cute emojis, welcoming him.

Liam: [A huge welcome to Connor joining our Newhaven crew!]

Jenna: [Welcome, Connor!!!]

Janelle: [Let's go for a barbecue this weekend, as a welcome party for Connor.]

They chatted merrily in the group. A tear dropped onto the screen, which I haphazardly wiped away. I bravely looked at them: "If you insist on him joining, then I'm leaving."

They merely gave me a fleeting glance. "Ethan, throw your fit if you want, but it won't be so easy to get back in later." Then they continued their lively chat with Connor.

They thought I would compromise. They didnt expect I would say goodbye. I swiftly exited the group chat that had existed for over ten years. Then I blocked all three of them.

"Fine. From now on, we go our separate ways." I turned and left decisively. I heard Janelle whisper, "He'll regret it in a few days, just ignore him." I quickened my pace, refusing to let myself wallow in betrayal again.

Back in my dorm, I put on my headphones and started a movie. Frame after frame flashed by, but I wasn't really watching. I couldn't help but wonder what they were chatting about with Connor in the group. Were they talking bad about me behind my back, or were they simply avoiding the topic of my 'buzzkill' presence? I hated this feeling.

My roommates' discussion suddenly caught my attention. "Connor posted again, saying he's made three really good friends and joined their little crew."

"He also said the four of them are going abroad for the May Day holiday and he's really looking forward to it."

"Of course, being handsome means making new friends so fast. He only transferred here less than three months ago."

I clicked on his new post, and seeing the screenshots of their chat records, a chill ran through me. For him, Janelle and the others had changed the group chat name to "Connor's Crew." Connor had become the pampered favorite.

And since I'd left the group and blocked them, there hadn't been a single friend request on my phone. More than sadness, it was a profound chill. I became even more resolute about leaving. I turned off my phone and started packing. All the big and small gifts Liam, Janelle, and Jenna had given me went into a box.

On the windowsill sat a beautifully blooming tulip. My roommate saw me about to throw away the tulip and immediately came over. "Ethan, why are you throwing away the tulip? I remember all four of you had one, and you said you'd hold them up for a photo together at graduation. It was your unique memory."

Yes, Liam had suggested that idea. Janelle had laughed, saying she wanted to plant the same pink tulip as me. That night, when we video chatted in our dorm, she gesticulated wildly, saying hers was growing better than mine. But now, there was no need for this tulip to stay.

My tone was casual: "Things from the past, when it's time to throw them away, you should."

They exchanged glances. "Ethan, is it because Connor took your place, so you're cutting ties with them?"

"Honestly, we get it. Connor's gaze towards your girlfriend was never innocent. As your good friends and girlfriend, they weren't blind; they just underestimated you, ignoring your hurt."

"You should distance yourself from everyone who hurts you. You're doing the right thing."

I dreaded being comforted. Tears, disobedient, welled up. Such a simple truth, my roommates understood me, but Liam and the others, who had grown up supporting each other for twenty years, chose to sacrifice me.

That night, I stayed awake until dawn. The next day was Saturday, our usual hangout day. To vent my emotions, I decided to book a small private karaoke room, hoping to feel better after singing. I just didnt expect Connor to push open the door and pause my song.

My voice was displeased: "It's incredibly rude and uncultured of you to arbitrarily mess with my song like that."

But he maintained his innocent demeanor. "My apologies, I didn't mean to. Ethan, I know you have a prejudice against me, but I genuinely want to be friends with all four of you."

"You specifically chose the room next to ours, didn't you, hoping Janelle and Liam would come looking for you? I've come here to invite you, come join us for cake. Janelle bought such a big welcome cake; it'd be a waste not to finish it."

From the first time I met Connor, I clearly felt that his words and actions made me uncomfortable. He transferred to this university, a fellow architecture student like Janelle. At the freshman welcome party, Janelle sang a song. Connor, holding a bouquet of flowers, stared at her with sparkling eyes. "Janelle, you sing so beautifully, and your major coursework is top of our department. If you were my girlfriend, I'd slap myself during arguments." Such ambiguous words really ignited my temper.

Janelle looked at me, at a loss. I stood beside her, my arm linked with hers, declaring my claim. "Excuse me, but this is my girlfriend, Janelle. Please don't say things like that again."

He thrust the flowers at her: "I'm just admiring her, I'm not actually trying to steal your girlfriend." Janelle returned the flowers to him, tightening her grip on my hand. "Ethan and I have a great relationship. Please don't make such dull jokes, you're a fellow student." Rejected, Connor wasn't annoyed, simply smiled and walked away.

I believed Janelle would give me enough security. When Liam found out, he even helped me fiercely scold Connor for being a sly one. "He's nowhere near as good as our Ethan, just trying to cozy up to Janelle, shameless." "Don't worry, I'll make Jenna play fewer games and keep an eye on Janelle for you. I'll also keep an eye on Connor in the department, not letting him get close to your Janelle."

But for some reason, they soon became lax. I often heard them, the three of them, praising Connor. Jenna said, "Connor's piano skills are really high level, he's won major awards." Liam said, "Connor has such a great personality, always smiling, and takes good photos. I've even followed his account!" Janelle didn't even reject his ambiguous advances. "Connor's architectural drawings are even better than mine. The professor is right, I should learn more from him."

Both friendship and love had quietly soured. I often argued with Janelle because of Connor. Liam and Jenna gradually stopped siding with me. Until this time, the group chat had him, and it lacked me. Finally, their wish had come true.

I put down the microphone, my tone blunt. "Connor, I came to this karaoke place first; there's no 'specifically choosing to be next to you' involved."

"I have no interest in how Janelle and Liam want to celebrate you, nor do I care for any big cake. Please leave."

Two clear, simple sentences were enough to make him tear up in perceived grievance. He took a step forward, his voice cracking with a sob: "Ethan, please don't think so badly of me, okay? I also don't want to be the reason you and Janelle fight."

The moment his tears fell, Janelle walked in through the door. She first shot me an annoyed glare, then took Connor's wrist, standing in a protective stance over him. "Ethan, Connor feels terrible, he's been trying so hard to mend things between you two, and you just have to be aggressive and embarrass him?"

Liam poked his head out, patting Connor's shoulder in comfort. He sighed, looking at me: "Ethan, your temper is really strange. You even made someone as good-natured as Connor cry. You're truly no fun, no manhood at all."

Everyone sided with Connor; I became the scapegoat. Years of deep feelings had dissolved into a joke.

"That's right, I have a bad temper, and you've all been friends with me like this for twenty years."

"But you won't get that chance anymore."

I grabbed my bag, ready to leave, but Janelle grabbed my arm. "Ethan, take the easy way out, don't let it come to this."

"After we finish Connor's welcome party, we can all go back to campus together."

"I don't care for it" She and Liam shoved me, forcibly pushing me into their private room. On the table was a three-tiered cake with Connor's name on it. My gaze fell on the gift bags next to Jenna. At a glance, I recognized a pair of sneakers I had coveted for a long time. Janelle had even promised me she'd buy them for my birthday in June. There were also the over-ear headphones and camera Liam and Jenna had been clamoring to get me.

Connor immediately picked up the three gift bags, his face radiating happiness. "I absolutely love all the gifts you guys gave me."

"Ethan, it's okay, I'm just happy you could make it." I couldn't even bother to give him a look of disdain.

Jenna, usually quiet, had always been good to me. She pulled me down to sit, saying faintly, "Ethan, know when to quit. The five of us are pretty good too."

I just found it utterly absurd. "What good have I received?"

Music started playing, and Connor, surrounded by them, made a wish and blew out the candles. Afterward, he approached me with a canned beer. "Ethan, let's drink one, let bygones be bygones!"

I got up, not wanting to deal with a bunch of crazy people anymore. "No"

Connor, oblivious, came closer with the beer. Its sharp edge painfully grazed my wrist, making my whole body tingle. But his scream was even louder than mine.

"Ah, my hand hurts so much!"

"Ethan, if you don't want to talk to me, I can leave, but my hand still needs to draw" His fingernail was merely broken, it would heal in a few days. My wrist, however, was already bloody and mangled, hurting so much that I lost the ability to think.

Janelle's eyes were dark and stormy; she immediately grabbed Connor's hand to check his injury. "Don't be scared, I won't let you be unable to draw."

Liam and Jenna also angrily rebuked me, displeased. "Ethan, how could you be so heartless? That's his drawing hand!"

"Ethan, as a friend, I'm very disappointed in you!"

Connor cried incessantly, leaning into Janelle's embrace. "Don't blame him hiss, it hurts so much"

Janelle, holding him, walked out. As she passed me, her accusing gaze would have startled even a bystander. "Ethan, you went too far. You ruined a perfectly good celebration." She ignored my continuously bleeding wound, instead defending Connor.

My eyes stung, but my voice was incredibly firm: "Janelle, we're breaking up. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

"Liam, Jenna, we are no longer friends either."

Janelle paused, then led Connor away. "Suit yourself."

In the vast private room, I was left alone to bear the immense pain. The candlelight abruptly extinguished, just as our years of ties and affection reset to zero at that moment. I tore off some clothing to bandage my wound, held my breath, and walked out.

At the door, I ran squarely into a law student, Anya. Her expression was solemn; she immediately hailed a cab. "Your hand is quite badly hurt, you should go to the hospital." I didn't refuse or dither; I got in the car. "Thank you."

She stayed with me throughout the wound treatment. Finally, Anya even dropped me off at my dorm. As she left, she seemed hesitant. "Ethan, a few of us students are planning to visit a law firm during the May Day holiday for an internship. Are you interested in joining us?"

I figured I'd be alone anyway. Rather than wallow in sadness in my dorm, licking my wounds alone, I might as well find something to do and prepare for my future career. So I nodded: "Yes, I'll come along. Thank you for the invitation." Her steps were light as she left.

The long-awaited holiday arrived as planned. However, I received a friend request from Janelle.

[Ethan, you've been dramatic long enough. Take a cab to the airport now, apologize to Connor in person, and we'll all happily go on our trip abroad together. You have one hour to get here.]

Liam and Jenna sent similar messages, all demanding that I apologize to Connor. They even offered their forgiveness as a form of charity. I scoffed, ignoring them. I focused on visiting the law firm and learning with Anya and the others.

At the airport, Janelle, Liam, and Jenna looked expectantly at the security gate. The broadcast announced boarding. Janelle looked grim. "We're not waiting for Ethan. Maybe he's regretting it and will buy a ticket to join us tomorrow."

The group of four boarded smoothly. Before turning off her phone, Janelle irritably opened her social media. But in someone else's video, she saw Ethan with another girl. Watching him intimately embrace another person