No matter how loud I raised my voice, it didn’t react at all. When I suggested we replace it, Eric grew impatient: “Just make do with it. What’s the point of going through all that trouble?” Today, it malfunctioned again. I was locked in the room, and the AC remote was nowhere to be found. The sweltering heat left me dehydrated, and I couldn’t get through to Eric’s phone all afternoon. It wasn’t until evening that I heard his voice outside the door, along with my best friend, Chloe’s. As soon as they walked in, Chloe frowned at the heat: “Alexa, turn on the AC and set it to cool.” The Alexa that had ignored me all afternoon instantly responded: “Okay, adjusting to your usual 75 degrees.” Eric said, “This thing is always like this. It works when it wants to.” “Are you really going to be jealous of your friend over a voice assistant?” I didn’t say a word. I just contacted customer service for a repair. But the technician told me: “Miss, this voice assistant requires voiceprint registration to work.” “It can only store two profiles. You’ll have to delete one of them to register yours.” It turned out that in this house, my voice was the only one that went unheard. Looking at Chloe and Eric, who were bickering playfully, I canceled the repair request. They didn’t know that because I couldn’t submit my application materials this afternoon, the quota for staying at the local branch had filled up. In seven days, I would be transferred away from here. …… “Miss, which one do you want to delete?” Before I could even speak, Eric cut in: “No need to delete anything. You can go.” “But…” The technician glanced at me. Eric added: “Sorry you had to see that. My fiancée is throwing a tantrum.” “Taking it out on the door lock when she actually just forgot her keys.” “I apologize on her behalf.” The technician gave me a side-eye and took the cigarette Eric offered him. “Wow, your wife has quite the temper. Making me come all the way out here in the middle of summer.” “You shouldn’t spoil women like that. She messed with me this time; is she going to call the cops next time she throws a fit?” He muttered curses as he stepped into the elevator. Eric yanked me into the apartment. “Are you done making a scene? Let’s go.” I shook off his hand, that familiar suffocating feeling returning: “You think I’m making a scene over nothing?” “For three years, you two watched me talk to Alexa, and neither of you reminded me once.” “Is it fun watching me make a fool of myself?” Eric clicked his tongue impatiently: “Well, now you know, don’t you?” “When you were out of town for work, Chloe helped me run around to get the renovations done.” “She happened to be here when we were setting it up, so her voice got registered. By the time you got back, I completely forgot about it.” I shot back: “Then why didn’t you let him delete hers just now and register mine?” He lit a cigarette. He usually did this when he was annoyed. “Chloe is your best friend. If we delete hers, how is she supposed to feel?” “Besides, we agreed to leave the guest room for her in case she works late and needs a place to crash. She needs to use it.” I laughed out of sheer disbelief. “And I don’t?” Eric blew out a puff of smoke, giving me a sidelong glance. His tone was mocking: “Would you even know how to use it? You didn’t even know what a voiceprint was.” “You used to live in a basement. Why are you acting so high maintenance now?” I froze in place. My parents divorced when I was very young and started their own families. As the spare part in both households, I was forced to live in the storage basement of their houses. That was a nightmare that shadowed my entire adolescence. When Eric and I first got together, his eyes were full of nothing but heartache when I told him about it. He promised me that one day, he would buy me a big, beautiful penthouse where sunlight would reach every single corner. But now, the house was bought, yet there was still no place for me. As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed his lips together and irritatedly stubbed out the cigarette. “I didn’t mean it like that…” “I…” “Let’s break up.” Eric’s head snapped up in shock. “Over a voice assistant?!” I looked at him dead in the eye, enunciating every word: “Yes. Over a voice assistant.” The atmosphere instantly froze. Chloe’s eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry, Eric. It’s all my fault. Just delete my voice profile and put Mia’s in.” “Mia, you and Eric have been together for seven years. Don’t fight over this. I promise I’ll never show up in front of you guys again.” Eric didn’t look at me. He just comforted her in a low voice: “What are you talking about? As long as I’m here, there will always be a place for you in this house.” Chloe was my friend of ten years. In the beginning, she and Eric couldn’t stand each other. I was the one who mediated between them until they finally accepted one another. But I don’t know when their relationship started getting closer. I suppressed the bitter ache in my heart and went into the bedroom to pack my things. After living here for three years, everything I owned could fit into a single suitcase. Just like a temporary guest. Chloe seemed more like the owner of this house. By the time I finished packing, the living room was empty. “Mia, Eric is still fuming, I’ll help you talk him down.” “You know how hot-headed he gets. Don’t sink to his level. I had no idea about the voice assistant thing. I always thought everyone could…” Looking at the texts from Chloe on my phone, I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Then I blocked her. How could she not know? I had complained to her about the voice assistant no less than three times, but every time, she changed the subject. She told me I was being too sensitive, that I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Looking back, they were just playing me for a fool. I found a hotel near my office. I had seven days before my transfer, and I needed to wrap up my projects before then. I didn’t have time to get tangled up in their drama. But to my surprise, Eric called me that night. I hesitated for a moment, but eventually answered. After all, we dated for seven years. Even if we broke up, I felt we deserved a somewhat dignified ending. The moment the call connected, Eric’s furious voice blasted through the speaker. “Mia, it’s fine if you want to pick a fight with me, but what the hell do you mean by blocking Chloe?” “Do you know she cried all afternoon and didn’t even eat dinner?” “In your eyes, is a ten-year friendship something you can just casually throw away and hurt people over?” I fell silent. So he knew Chloe and I had been friends for ten years. Which meant all their teasing, belittling, and lying to me could be easily brushed aside. But the moment I fought back, I was the one hurting them. I was the one who didn’t care about a decade-long friendship. Before I could even speak, Chloe’s sobbing voice came through the line. “Mia, please don’t block me. If you don’t like me, I just won’t come over anymore.” I hung up immediately and added Eric’s number to my blocked list. I didn’t want the friendship or the relationship anymore. The next morning, I arrived at work early, only to see Eric and Chloe standing by the entrance from afar. I ignored them and tried to walk inside, but Eric grabbed my hand: “Mia, we need to talk.” Chloe stood awkwardly by the door. “Eric, should I…?” She said that, but didn’t move an inch. It wasn’t until Eric said, “You head up first,” that she reluctantly left. I asked my colleague, who was standing in front of me, to go ahead. For a moment, we stood in silence. After a long while, Eric finally spoke: “Where are you staying since you moved out?” “A hotel.” “Which hotel? Give me the address and take me off your blocked list.” “Call me anytime if you need anything.” I didn’t say a word. He stared at me intensely, reaching out to gently touch the dark circles under my eyes: “Come home. Stop fighting. It’s not the same out here as it is at home, look how exhausted you look.” “I already replaced the voice assistant with a new one. It holds up to five profiles. Once you’re back, we’ll register your voice.” My breath hitched. It was always like this. Choosing a table for two at a restaurant, then asking the waiter to squeeze in a third chair for me. Every time we watched a movie, they would huddle together chatting through all the gore on screen while I sat alone, trembling with my eyes covered. Even for our planned couples’ trip, he booked the romantic suite under his and Chloe’s names. I had to buy a separate ticket and sit by myself in the corner. In this world of three, I was always the spare part. But this time, I didn’t want to compromise anymore. “There’s no need.” I tried to turn and leave, but Eric still refused to let me go: “Mia, what is your problem?” “I already had someone come install a new one, and I promised to register your voice. And you’re still not satisfied.” “What exactly do you want?” I froze, feeling a sudden wave of confusion myself. At first, I just wanted to replace a faulty voice assistant. Later, I wanted Eric and Chloe to keep their distance. Now I understood. From the very beginning, all I ever wanted was a partner’s exclusive, undivided devotion. Not the constantly crowded three-person life I was living. Eric was still pressing the issue. I lost my patience: “I’ll go home on one condition. Delete Chloe’s fingerprints and voiceprint.” “Not only that, but Chloe is never allowed in our house again.” Eric’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “That’s impossible.” I laughed. The last tiny sliver of hope in my heart completely shattered. “It’s fine if my voice isn’t in the system, but hers absolutely has to be?” Eric tried to defend himself, but I cut him off immediately: “Enough. I get it. There’s nothing left to say.” I walked straight past him into the elevator. He told me to come home, but that place had long ceased to be my home. Maybe it never was. Eric followed me inside, wanting to speak but holding back because of the other people in the elevator. He followed me all the way into my office. “Anything else?”
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