My Younger Boyfriend Tells Others I'm an Older Woman Chapter 2

I got up quietly and washed up.

Near noon, I started receiving birthday messages from various brand websites I'd registered with.

Only then did I remember - today is my birthday.

I stared at the wilted, yellowing hydrangeas on the coffee table, now attracting fruit flies. In a daze, I recalled that three years ago today, 18-year-old Chase was the first to say he loved me.

Back then, Chase had just started college. He was being bullied at his part-time job at my company when I stepped in to help him.

His eyes sparkled as he looked at me with admiration, following me around, constantly calling me "big sis".

It annoyed me so much that I had no choice but to take him under my wing.

Back then, Chase was pure and sincere. He would always steal glances at me, quickly looking away when I caught him, pretending nothing happened. Only his ears would slowly turn red.

When other interns tried to flirt with me, Chase would get anxious, staying close to me like a little wolf guarding its territory.

Occasionally, when we had accidental physical contact, he would blush and sit still for hours, too embarrassed to move.

On my 32nd birthday, he showed up with a huge bouquet of my favorite hydrangeas and a birthday cake.

The young man's gaze was shy yet brave and persistent. He said he loved me.

I told him our age gap was too big and that I needed to think about it.

For the next few days, Chase visibly became anxious and lost weight.

When I finally said yes, the joy in his eyes was almost overflowing.

He hugged me tightly, his low voice swirling around my ears like a vow, "Vera, from now on, every birthday of yours will be our anniversary. I'll always be with you to celebrate."

...

My phone kept ringing with birthday wishes from family, friends, and even colleagues flooding in.

Only the pinned chat with Chase remained silent at the top.

Silent as if that boy who loved me three years ago was just a figment of my imagination.

I got up and threw the wilted flowers from the vase into the trash.

Rotten, spoiled things shouldn't be kept anymore.

The same goes for flowers and people.