1 On my way home from work, I FaceTimed Hector as usual. Before even a minute had passed, he muttered, “Actually, I need to jump in the shower. I’ll call you back.” I could only sit on the sofa, clutching my phone, and wait. It took him four hours to return the call. When the screen lit up, his face was bright with a wide, easy smile, more animated than I had seen him in months. “My assistant messed up again today,” he said, laughing. “She actually got the numbers on the slide deck completely wrong.” “Katie, if only she had half your brains.” A moment later, he chuckled again. “Then again, not every woman can be a powerhouse like you. I guess she is just built to be cute.” In that instant, the words I wanted to say died in my throat. We had been long-distance for three years. In the beginning, he would call me the second he stepped out of the shower. He would eagerly ask what I ate for dinner, if my commute was smooth, or what color flowers I bought for the kitchen table. When did all that warmth and energy start going to someone else? When did his responses to me dwindle down to a dismissive shrug and a sigh? Watching him smile at something off-screen, a heavy, quiet exhaustion settled deep in my chest. I realized then that when you finally reach the point of total disappointment, you do not even have the strength to be sad. … The call ended. I watched the clock on my phone tick away. One minute. Ten minutes. Sixty-seven minutes. Hector never called back. A tight knot formed in my throat. It was always like this lately. He would say whatever he wanted to say, and then he would hang up. His voice only carried excitement when the conversation revolved around Sienna. “Sienna got lost in the office building again today, wandered around for thirty minutes.” “She literally spilled coffee all over the contracts. She is so clumsy it is almost funny.” I had tried to steer the conversation away, mentioning that I missed the Southern barbecue back home in Savannah. He had blurted out without thinking, “Sienna can’t do greasy food like that. She is always begging for cupcakes.” Then, realizing his slip, he quickly added, “Next time you visit Boston, I’ll take you out for some.” Suddenly, my screen flashed with a social media notification. Hector had posted photos from an office get-together. The last two slides were photos of just him and Sienna. They stood together under a canopy of fairy lights, their posture relaxed and intimately familiar. I stared at the image for a long time. I typed out: Are you two spending a lot of time together lately? Then I deleted it. I scrolled through our chat history. Starting from last year, our conversations had been reduced to a dry stream of single-word replies: Yes. Okay. Got it. It had not always been this way. He used to text me photos of every stray cat he walked past on the street. But once, when I texted him about how my manager had unfairly chewed me out, he had simply replied: Don’t you have your own work to focus on? I suppose that was the exact moment the scales began to tip. I took a deep breath and typed: Hector, my manager gave me some time off. I booked a flight to Boston tomorrow to come see you. Exciting, right? I waited until my phone battery dropped to three percent. At 1:17 AM, his reply finally came, written in a tone that felt entirely foreign: Katie, why didn’t you tell me sooner about something this big? Why do you always make these spontaneous decisions? Is my life supposed to be completely tied to yours? My eyes blurred, the glowing words smearing into a hazy mess on the screen. Fine, whatever. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Whatever. He used to say those words so often now. When we tried to plan a holiday, when I asked him to call me daily, even when we FaceTimed, everything ended with a dismissive whatever. The next morning, I got up early and put on the dress he had praised the previous summer. At the airport, I sent him a flurry of updates: Going through security. Takeoff in thirty minutes. I’ll send you my location when I land. None of them received a reply. When the plane landed in Boston, I dragged my suitcase through the gate, fully prepared to wait. The last time he promised to pick me up, he made me wait in the terminal for an hour because Sienna had made a mistake on a proposal. But this time, I spotted him immediately. He was standing near the exit, holding two iced lattes. I began to wave, but my smile froze before it could fully form. Sienna stepped out from behind him, casually wrapping her arm through his. Hector looked at me, his brow furrowing. “What took you so long? Sienna hates the heat, she almost got heatstroke waiting out here.” Sienna laughed softly, nudging him. “Your girl hasn’t been to Boston in forever, Hector, don’t be so mean to her.” Yet, she did not let go of his arm. When we got to his car, an unfamiliar sweet perfume drifted from the interior. The seat covers had been replaced with bright pink ones. In the console, there was a small vanity mirror, a tube of lip gloss, and a few hair ties. A plush toy hung from the rearview mirror. Sienna naturally claimed the passenger seat. Hector unwrapped a straw and slid it into one of the lattes, handing it to her. She took a sip, turning to him. “The client today was so ridiculous. He actually asked me to turn the PDF back into a slide deck. Like, so annoying.” “So what did you do?” he asked, a soft chuckle in his voice. “I just sent him the PDF. If he doesn’t know how to convert it, that is on him.” Hector laughed, his eyes crinkling in a way I had not seen in years. He talked so much during that forty-minute drive, sharing more stories than he had during our entire week of phone calls. I turned my face toward the window. The towering glass buildings of Boston blurred together, the bright light making my eyes sting. When the car stopped at his apartment building, I followed them upstairs. But the moment Hector pushed the door open, I froze on the threshold. The apartment was unrecognizable. The sleek, minimalist space he used to insist on keeping spotless was now overflowing with pink. Pink rugs, fuzzy throw pillows, and sheets of face masks and half-eaten snacks cluttered the coffee table. A lace bralette hung carelessly over the back of the sofa, and the balcony flower stands were packed with small succulents. Once, I had tried to place a single green ivy plant on his windowsill, and he had complained for days that it got in the way. Now, everything was different. Sienna kicked off her shoes, giving me a shy, apologetic smile. “Oh, Katie, please don’t be mad. I’ve been looking for an apartment but haven’t found the right place yet, so Hector let me crash here for a bit. You aren’t angry, are you?” Hector’s voice softened defensively. “Sienna had no other options. She is young, just starting out, and it is hard to survive alone in a city like this. You went through the exact same phase, so you should understand. She is quiet and doesn’t bother me. We actually get along really well.” I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it, his expression hardening into disappointment. “Katie, when did you become so cold? You used to cry over stray dogs on the street and insist on bringing them home. Sienna is a human being, and you are seriously holding a grudge against her?” I stood there, feeling stripped bare under his gaze. When we first started dating, if a girl tried to flirt with him, he would reject her flatly, eager to show the world he was taken. Now, he stood by another woman’s side, demanding to know why I lacked compassion. Sienna purred softly, “Well, it is natural for his girl to feel a little uneasy, Hector. Let’s go watch TV and let her process things on her own.” She turned and headed toward the living room, grabbing a bag of potato chips and calling Hector over as if she owned the place. I watched them from the hallway. A reality show played on the screen, and Sienna laughed, leaning her shoulder into his. He reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture so fluid and natural he did not even seem to realize he was doing it. I walked into the bedroom, shutting the door to drown out the noise. I sat on the edge of the bed for what felt like hours. When the television finally turned off, I could hear Sienna padding down the hall. “Hector, where is the hair dryer?” “Second drawer on the left under the bathroom sink.” “Got it, thanks! Goodnight!” “Goodnight, sleep well.” Moments later, the bedroom door opened. Hector stepped in, pausing when he saw me still sitting there in the dim light. “Why aren’t you asleep? You’ve been traveling all day, get some rest.” “How much longer is she staying here?” I asked. “I have a friend who owns a studio apartment in the city, and it is a ten-minute walk from your office. The rent is cheap. I can call him and arrange for her to move…” “Katie.” Hector turned around, his tone shifting. “I am not an object you can manage.” He spoke slowly, every word heavy with irritation. “Stop trying to control everything in my life. Sienna is my colleague. Am I supposed to throw her out on the street just to please you? Why are you being so heartless?” I pulled my hands back into my lap. “Fine. I won’t mention her again.” I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “I got promoted recently. My manager gave me the transfer paperwork, so I can request a permanent move to the Boston branch. If the process goes smoothly, it won’t take long…” He cut me off before I could finish. “Why would you move to Boston out of nowhere?” Perhaps seeing the look on my face, his voice softened slightly. “Katie, we are adults now, not kids.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Can’t we just focus on our own careers for now? I’ll make my way back to Savannah eventually.” Eventually. He had said that when he landed his first big project, when he got promoted, and when the fiscal year ended. From spring to autumn, from winter to summer, his “eventually” was a horizon that kept drifting further away. “What about our wedding?” I heard myself ask, my voice barely a whisper. “Shouldn’t we start setting a date?” This time, the frustration in his voice was undeniable. “Katie, I can’t reason with you. Are you really that desperate to get married? I told you I will marry you eventually, so what is the rush?” He looked at me as if I were a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. “I really don’t understand you sometimes. Just think about it.” The bedroom fell silent. I sat on the edge of the mattress until the sky began to turn pale. Suddenly, the bedroom door was swung open. I winced at the sudden intrusion. Sienna stood in the doorway, sorting through my suitcase and tossing my clothes onto the bed one by one, grumbling under her breath. “Katie, your clothes are so plain. I need to take some nice photos today, and your style is just… so mature.” I sat up, cold anger rising in my chest. “Sienna, did anyone teach you to knock?” She spun around, her expression instantly morphing from arrogance to tearful innocence. “Hector told me you brought some dresses, so I just thought… why are you being so mean to me?” Right on cue, Hector’s tired voice echoed from the hallway. “Katie, can you please stop being so hostile? She didn’t mean any harm.” For the first time in three years, I did not turn away from his gaze. Hector let out a heavy sigh. “Alright, she is just a kid. Why are you taking everything so seriously?” His tone softened into a placating murmur. “You finally have a vacation. Let’s not ruin it. How about I take you to Disney today?” My mind flashed back to my last birthday, when I had told him over FaceTime how much I wanted to visit the theme park. He had snapped at me then: Aren’t you a bit old for that? It’s childish. Yet here he was, offering to take me. I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, forcing myself to find an excuse for him. Let it go, I told myself. You didn’t travel all this way just to argue. I gave a quiet nod. He smiled, looking immensely relieved. Disney was packed with tourists. Hector went to purchase the tickets, and Sienna stood right beside him, pointing excitedly at a stuffed toy display. “Look, Hector, it’s so cute!” Hector glanced at it, murmuring something that made her laugh. From the moment we passed the ticket gates, she kept her hand firmly wrapped around his arm. She wanted photos everywhere—in front of the castle, on the carousel, and by every colorful balloon stand. She treated him like her personal photographer, and he complied without a single complaint. I remembered asking him to take a photo of me with a character mascot once. He had held the phone with an irritated sigh, snapped two quick pictures, and both turned out completely blurry. Now, he was crouching down to find the perfect angle for Sienna, leaning close to her afterward so they could review the shots together, their heads nearly touching. Even under the warm sun, a cold chill settled deep in my bones. After they rode a couple of roller coasters, I sat on a bench to wait. Nearby, a young couple was laughing, sharing a single ice cream cone. I felt a sudden, sharp pang of envy. By the time they finished, the sky had grown overcast. Sienna tugged at Hector’s sleeve, insisting they go to the haunted house next. Hector didn’t hesitate. “Sure, the line looks to be about thirty minutes.” I stood up, but my vision suddenly went black for a second, and I had to steady myself against the bench. “Hector, I want to go back to the apartment.” His patience snapped instantly. “Katie, what is your problem today?” “Nothing, I just—” “We have been walking on eggshells around you all morning,” he said, his voice rising. “Do you really have to ruin everyone’s day?” I stared at him, my mouth dry. I wanted to tell him that I had thrown up twice since we arrived, that my legs were trembling from exhaustion. But the words remained locked in my throat. Sienna looked at me, her eyes filled with a cold, mocking disdain. “Honestly, Katie, enough. You’ve been giving me dirty looks this entire trip, and I’ve kept my mouth shut. Hector and I had other plans today, but we canceled them because you showed up. What more do you want?” Then, her face shifted back into a sweet, innocent smile. “Whatever, Hector, let’s not let it ruin our day. She is always such a buzzkill anyway. I don’t know how you put up with her.” She glanced back at me. “Hey, why don’t we go look at wedding dresses instead? Didn’t you say you wanted to try some on when you were on FaceTime the other day? Since we are already out, we might as well go look.” I stood frozen in the crowd. So she had been right there, listening, during our private calls. I felt a sudden, hysterical urge to laugh. But perhaps this was for the best. I was going to call off the wedding anyway. “Fine,” I said quietly. “Let’s do that.” The moment we walked into the bridal boutique, the receptionist’s face lit up upon seeing Sienna. “Oh, Miss Sienna! Back with your boyfriend to try on more dresses? That mermaid gown looked absolutely stunning on you last week. We actually just received some new arrivals…” The receptionist’s voice trailed off as her eyes landed on me. “And this is…?” Sienna smiled brightly. “Oh, this is Hector’s fiancée. We are just accompanying her today.” Hector remained silent. He had already been here with her. I recalled showing him a few wedding dress styles on my phone last month, asking for his opinion. He had kept his eyes glued to his work laptop, muttering, “Whatever you like is fine.” When I asked when we could go try some on, he had said we would find time later. His “later” was reserved for someone else. Sienna nudged my arm. “What are you staring at, Katie? Today is all about you. I can’t wait to toast to you and Hector.” She turned to the stylist. “Could you bring out some simple options for her? Just something basic.” The stylist glanced at me, then casually pulled a plain, unadorned gown from the rack. “This standard style is quite popular. Why don’t you try it on?” Sienna shoved the heavy fabric into my arms and pushed me toward the fitting room. The dress was a poor fit. The fabric pinched in the wrong places, the waistline was much too high, and the cut was completely unflattering. When I stepped out of the curtain, someone in the shop let out a muffled snicker. “She looks like a stuffed sack…” “Honestly, kind of.” “Is that really his fiancée? You’ve got to be kidding.” “She doesn’t hold a candle to Sienna.” I looked over at Sienna. Her lips were curved into a small, smug smile, enjoying my humiliation. Just then, a manager stepped out from the back office. Spotting Hector and Sienna, he hurried over with an eager grin. “Oh, Hector! I was just wondering when you and Sienna would come back. Since the lighting is perfect today, why don’t we do a mock proposal? We need some promotional material for our social media. If you two stand right in front of that floral wall…” A few onlookers in the shop began to cheer. “Do it! Do it!” Sienna looked at Hector, a playful, teasing glint in her eyes. “Hector, since everyone is asking, why don’t you? It’s just for fun anyway.” Hector stood before her, a handsome smile spreading across his face. Swept up in the atmosphere, he dropped to one knee. Sienna laughed, extending her hand toward him. The boutique erupted into applause and cheers as camera shutters clicked. I turned back into the fitting room, pulled the curtain shut, and changed back into my own clothes. By the time I stepped out, the excitement had died down. Hector saw me, his brow furrowing instantly. “Katie, can you not…” “Hector,” I interrupted, my voice flat. “Let’s break up.” A heavy silence fell over the room. His expression shifted rapidly from confusion to sheer outrage. “Katie, you are completely out of line!” he hissed, grabbing my arm. “Do you think a relationship is some game? Do you need the entire world to revolve around you to be happy?” I looked at him, searching his eyes for any trace of the boy who used to call me at three in the morning just to say he missed me. Now, his eyes were filled with everything but me. “Whatever,” I said softly, pulling my arm back. “I’m leaving.” I walked over to the front desk. “Hi, I’d like to cancel the wedding reservation for September twentieth.” The receptionist blinked, startled. “And the name on the booking?” “Katie. September twentieth, at the Savannah Grand Hall.” She typed quickly on her keyboard, her eyes widening. “Are you sure? The deposit has already been paid, and it is non-refundable…” “I’m sure.” I pushed open the glass doors and walked out into the cool evening air. By the time I got back to his apartment, the sun had set. I packed my belongings into my suitcase as quickly as I could, booked a ticket, and boarded the late-night flight back to Savannah. Later that night, Hector and Sienna returned to the apartment. A sudden, strange emptiness in the living room caught his attention. He walked into the bedroom, realizing all of Katie’s things were gone. Did she really leave? His thumb hovered over her name on his screen, but before he could type a message, an incoming call flashed across his screen. “Hello, Mr. Hector. We received a cancellation notice from Katie today regarding the wedding booking for September twentieth. Are we officially calling off the event?”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “536943”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel
Leave a Reply