For two years working together at the same company, I secretly harbored feelings for a male colleague who was four years older than me. Then, one weekend evening, my older sister brought her boyfriend home to meet the family, and I was stunned to find out that her boyfriend was him.

He’s four years older than me, calm, meticulous at work, and has a very balanced way of showing concern—not overly intimate to the point of being perceived as flirting, nor so cold that it makes the other person feel distant. Perhaps it was this moderation that made me like him without even realizing it.

We worked together for two years, talking every day, just about work, but I always felt it was interesting and warm. He valued me, showing just the right amount of care and attention. As for me, I missed him terribly if I didn’t see him every day, but I didn’t dare let him know.

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I don’t know how to face him at work, and I don’t know how to face my sister either (illustrative image: AI)

In my mind, if I like someone, I can give them a green light, I can show more interest, but I don’t have the courage to take the initiative and confess my feelings. 

For two years, I couldn’t love anyone else, even though several people pursued me. My only unrequited love was for him, and I still held onto the hope that one day we would become a couple.

One weekend evening, my older sister announced she was bringing her boyfriend home to meet the family. I was excited to see who could possibly win her heart. When the door opened, I was stunned; the person standing before me was him.

At that moment, I heard greetings and laughter, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. I only felt my heart pounding and my hands and feet turning ice cold. 

My two years of unrequited love crumbled, shattering all my hopes, not only because he had a girlfriend, but also because, ironically, that girlfriend was my older sister.

He looked at me, nodded in greeting, his gaze as calm as it was at the office, showing no surprise, as if I were just an ordinary colleague. But I couldn’t possibly be ordinary. 

I sat and ate with everyone, trying to smile and answer when asked questions, but in my head, hundreds of chaotic questions were swirling: how did they know each other? How did he feel about me? Or was I just imagining things…?

I don’t know how to face him at work, or how to face my sister, when I can’t get him out of my thoughts every day, every hour. I’m so confused; why do I have to live in such a cruel situation?