The Misplaced Love of Childhood Sweethearts

I had a crush on my childhood friend's friend while he was smitten with my best friend.

We made a pact to help each other out, but lo and behold, my best friend ended up with his buddy!

So there we were, drowning our sorrows in borrowed booze, and before we knew it, we had ended up in bed together.

And just like that, our parents blew up, furious at what had happened, and the next thing I knew, they were forcing us into an engagement ceremony!

——

Owen Augustine was my childhood friend and rival, living just across the street from me.

We grew up together, yet somehow, we always seemed to clash.

He was lively and athletic, and while his grades hovered around average, he managed to get recruited early as a pilot before the SATs.

Talk about a twist of fate!

While I worked hard to get into a prestigious university, he somehow stole the spotlight yet again.

His parents would rave about my academic achievements, telling him to study harder, which only fueled his annoyance towards me.

Meanwhile, My parents constantly praised his physical prowess, urging me to exercise more, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him.

So, naturally, every time we met, it was like a battleground of insults and snarky comments, with neither of us willing to give an inch.