C01
I spent six months of my salary buying my fiancé, Derick Montgomery, the latest Apple gift set for his birthday. But when it arrived, I noticed the engraving had his initials correct, but mine were wrong. I wanted to complain the store about the mistake, but Derick stopped me. He said that it wasn’t easy for the owner to run a store and told me to let it slide, scolding me for being dramatic.
Then, on our wedding day, while making a toast, he accidentally said her name instead of mine. Every eye turned to me, waiting for my outburst.
But I didn’t explode. Instead, I calmly took off the ring, walked over to the woman, and handed it to her. “This ring was always a bit loose. Guess it was never really meant for me.” I said calmly, forcing a smile. I’m giving it back to its rightful owner.” I forced a smile and added, “You two really are a perfect match. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”
“Don’t be mad at Derick,” my father said as he prepared to leave, his voice thick with concern. “A man being busy shows he has the ability to provide. You’re about to marry him, so it’s time to learn about compromise and forgiveness.”
He rambled on, giving me advice that felt empty. “Take care of yourself, and don’t forget to eat on time. If you’re in struggle or need money, remember that we’re only one call away…”
My mother stood by, quietly wiping her tears, her back turned to me as she struggled to say goodbye. I begged them to stay longer, but they insisted on returning home. It wasn’t until the bus shrank into a tiny dot on the horizon that I let the tears fall.
Just days before, I had discovered my father’s diagnosis on pancreatic cancer. I understood now why they had traveled so far, twisting through the winding mountain roads just to meet my fiancé before it was too late. They feared they wouldn’t see me married or even at the engagement ceremony.
But for weeks, Derick had hardly made time for me. When I got home that night, he was engrossed in his video game, laughing with his gaming partner, completely oblivious to my presence.
- in.
“Derick, you let me lose all day! I sent you the link for the lingerie. We had a deal–loser pays!” his friend chimed
He switched to a shopping app, magnifying the image. “This lingerie looks nice. I wonder how it would look on you. Kinda want to…” He didn’t finish the thought, abruptly shutting off his phone and looking at me with annoyance. “Geez, can you not sneak around? You scared the life out of me!”
I turned away, retreating to my room. After a long shower, I emerged, steam swirling around me. To my surprise, Derick was sitting on the edge of the bed with a hairdryer in hand.
“Did your parents leave?” Derick asked, his voice slow. “I rushed home as soon as I finished work. Can’t believe I still missed them,” he said, attempting to sound apologetic, but I didn’t buy a word.
I had told him my parents‘ bus left at two, hoping he would come to see them off. He claimed he was busy, but his gaming account had been online since noon. He had left me hanging for weeks, only showing up after my parents were gone. When I didn’t respond, his frustration mounted.
“Penny, I’ve been busy!” He yelled. “I have piles of work waiting for me every day. I play games to unwind! Can’t I do that?” He shot me a glare. “Besides, it’s just seeing your parents off. It’s not like your life depends on it. Stop making such a big deal out of everything!” His words cut deep, sharp and unyielding, piercing through the heart of my resolve. I had meant to tell him about my father’s illness, but now the thought seemed too heavy to lift.
I turned my head slightly, feigning ignorance. “Huh? What was that? I can’t hear with the noise.”
Derick’s frustration faded into a palpable sense of defeat, as if he was the one who had been hit. Just then, his
nhana hursand an the sanite lightina un uúth a marina of manne
D
3:00 PM d
The gift I gave was engraved with my boyfriend Lover’s name
phone buzzed on the vanity, lighting up with a series of messages.
I caught a glimpse of the name: Becky.
