I Dated Twin Guys As Their Online Experiment, But I Had My Own Plan Chapter 05

I Dated Twin Guys As Their Online Experiment, But I Had My Own Plan Chapter 05

Life without an online boyfriend was quieter than I expected.

Monday morning, I woke up to a screen with zero “good morning baby”

messages.

Tuesday during class, my message list stayed silent. Nothing to leave me hanging and obsessing over.

Wednesday-

“Nora, why have you stopped staring at your phone?” Lena stabbed her straw into her iced latte and squinted at me.

“I dumped him.”

“What?” She nearly choked. “Wait, when? And why are you being so weirdly calm about this?”

“Yesterday. Broke up at the meetup.’

Lena’s face went from shock to sympathy to something almost like awe. “How do you manage to get dumped the same day you finally meet in person?”

“We didn’t click, so I just cut my losses early.”

I didn’t give her the full story about the twins and Vvivian. It was too exhausting to explain, and honestly, I didn’t really want to talk about them. Not because I was sad. I just didn’t want to.

Lena studied me, then leaned in carefully. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

I really was. I ate. I slept. I took meticulous notes in class and hit the library right after. My routine was a perfectly oiled machine.

Except occasionally-

Occasionally in the dining hall, I’d remember a photo someone sent me of General Tso’s chicken with a caption that said it was his specialty and he’d make it for me someday.

Occasionally walking past a Starbucks, I’d hear a voice in my head saying, [Babe, easy on those sugary drinks. They’re awful for you.]

Occasionally. Just occasionally.

I set my fork down and wiped those thoughts from my head, face completely blank.

It took me three days to write the project report. Solid data. Deep analysis. Even my professor scribbled a

are compliment: [Strong attention to detail in your observations.]

“You had quite an eventful online romance,” he said, flipping through the pages and adjusting his glasses.

“For the sake of academia. I didn’t blink.

He laughed. “Fine. For the sake of academia.”

I took the feedback form and walked out into the hallway, paging through it. Near the end, I spotted a handwritten note from the professor.

[Findings confirm romantic relationships significantly impact emotional states. Recommend the author pursue a positive romantic relationship firsthand, rather than only documenting anxiety fluctuations.]

I read it twice, folded the sheet, and slipped it into my bag.

A positive romantic relationship.

I’d like that. Just not with liars.

The comments shimmered into view again. They’d been appearing off and on for a while now, and I’d used to it.

[The side character is so composed. Hasn’t sent a single message since she deleted the twins.]

[What’s going on with the twins, anyway?]

[Don’t ask. I just switched from their POV. It’s a mess over there.]

[Details?]

gotten

[Evan’s acting like nothing happened. Ethan hasn’t touched a video game in three days. Said it reminds him of her.]

I walked along the path, reading their commentary with a blank face.

Ethan Sullivan hadn’t gamed in three days? Not my problem.

I popped my earbuds in and tuned the comments out.

At the same time, one city over.

Evan sat at his dorm desk, staring at a chat window with Vivian.

[Can you look over the data section of my report for next week? I feel like the control group numbers are off.]

{Sure.]

After he sent it, he stared at his phone, then opened another conversation.

The contact was still labeled “Nora.”

The last message was from three days ago. [Can’t wait.]

He scrolled up, reading older messages. [It’s cold out. Bundle up.]

[Goodnight. Sweet dreams.]

[I watched that movie you mentioned. It was really good, but watching it alone was kind of boring. We

should watch it together next time.]

He read them one by one, his face completely unreadable.

Ethan walked out of the bathroom, hair still dripping, and glanced at the screen. His movement hitched.

“You’re still reading her messages? She deleted you, man.’