ManyWriters

My boyfriend meticulously prepared gifts for six visits to my family, yet not once did he actually make it there.
The first time, his childhood sweetheart fainted at home due to low blood sugar.
In the dead of winter, he left me alone at an unfamiliar toll booth, disappearing without a trace.
The second time, his childhood sweetheart attempted suicide at home over a man, slitting her wrists.
He had already reached my doorstep, but thrust the gifts into my hands and turned away.
I've argued with him, thrown tantrums, but to no avail.
"Can't you stop being unreasonable? We can visit your parents anytime, but can human life wait?"
Today marks his sixth time at my doorstep, and the sixth time he's abandoned me after receiving a call.
My parents' reactions have evolved from initial anger and confusion to resignation and exhaustion.
"Do you still want to go through with this marriage?"
Looking at my parents, their hair half-grayed from worrying about my marriage, I threw out all the gifts my boyfriend had brought.
"Of course I'm getting married, and it'll be a grand affair. But I have someone else in mind for the groom."

Boyfriend Fired By Me

Aria, Melody's distress call came through to my cell phone. Do you really expect me to stand by and do nothing? Besides, Melody's father works at a public company, and he's already agreed to refer me internally. What's wrong with me looking out for his daughter a little more?"


"Stand by and do nothing? Damien, put your hand on your heart and tell me, has Melody ever truly attempted suicide? Hasn't she always used the guise of heartbreak to get you to come over and keep her company?"


"Damien, are you avoiding my house because you're genuinely worried something might happen to Melody, or is it because deep down you don't want to marry me, so you're bailing at the last minute?"


"Damien, if you'd just come out and say you haven't had your fill of fun yet, that you want to break up, I might even respect you for it. But this behavior of yours, trampling all over my feelings and those of my parents, it's truly disgusting."


Melody may not understand boundaries, but Damien is even more despicable.


If he had known how to keep his distance from Melody, known his limits, how could Melody have been a thorn in my side for so long?


I look at him, the face I've gazed upon for seven years now twisted into something akin to a demon from mythology, inexplicably repulsive.


"Aria!The deafening sound in my ear was quickly followed by Damien's accusations.


"I've had enough of you acting like this. Can't you stop blowing every little thing out of proportion? I've told you, these are all coincidences, accidents! Do you really have to latch onto these minor issues and argue with me endlessly? In your eyes, is it that you can't see anyone else's contributions except your own efforts?"


"Yes, I haven't visited your parents' house, but are the gifts I carefully prepared fake? Are all my years of dedication fake? I think you're just like Melody said, your vision is too narrow!"


"If you like Melody so much, why don't you go find her then!"


I stood up, slamming my hands on the table, my chest heaving rapidly with anger:


"Damien, if you truly cared about me, if you really respected me, you wouldn't have stood up my parents six times when we were supposed to formally visit them, making me lose face. And not just once, but six times!"


"Damien, I can accept that our relationship has become mundane, I can even accept that you've gradually neglected me because of work, but I cannot accept you disrespecting my parents."


"Damien, this time, I'm determined to break up!"


"No, I don't agree!Damien was about to say something more, but his phone suddenly rang with an urgent tone.


He frowned as he silenced the screen, but the caller seemed determined not to give up, persistently redialing over and over.


He rubbed his throbbing temples, barely containing his anger as he finally answered the call.


Chapter 3