The night I found some other woman in my pajamas, sleeping in my bed, I just stopped coming home. I stopped replying, stopped taking his calls, and moved in with my bestie instead. When I finally came back on the fourth day, Jason was standing in the living room, his face dark. “Where have you been?” The bedroom door opened behind him. Chloe walked out slowly, rubbing her shoulder. “Emma, I wasn’t feeling well. Jason insisted I stay.” Jason didn’t look back at her. He looked at me. “Can you stop being so oversensitive?” I slipped off my shoes, glanced at the two of them, and said calmly, “Don’t mind me. Carry on.” 1. When Jason left me alone in the hospital, I had a fever of 103, I didn’t kick up a fuss, I just waited for him to get off work so we could celebrate my birthday together. I waited all night, but all I got was Chloe’s Instagram post. Jason was standing next to Chloe, with a three-tiered cake between them. [Someone who truly loves you will always make time to celebrate your birthday with you, no matter how important their other commitments are.] I immediately called him and we got into it. “Don’t be ridiculous, Chloe wasn’t feeling well and needed me to keep her company because she was emotionally unstable.” “I just see her as a little sister, can you stop being so paranoid?” He hung up on me and didn’t contact me for days, saying the company had an emergency and he’d celebrate with me once he wrapped it up. I had a high fever for days that wouldn’t break, but my mind was unusually clear. I started to think about our relationship and whether it was really worth sticking around for. This wasn’t the first time we’d fought because of Chloe. Every time, Jason would use the same excuse: “I just see her as a sister. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” Every time, I’d be the one to cave first, but these past few days, I found I didn’t miss him at all. I wasn’t anxious or on edge. I slept like a baby. Maybe because I wasn’t making any moves to patch things up, Jason called me first for once. “I’ll come pick you up from the hospital this afternoon.” “No need to trouble yourself, I can grab a cab home.” This was the first time Jason had taken the initiative to make up, but I didn’t bite. I wasn’t glued to my phone, just catching up on sleep. 2. I was a good girl, packed up my things and took a cab home by myself. Jason still wasn’t back. I didn’t call to ask where he was or nag him to come home like usual. I just whipped up something to eat, had a decent meal, showered, and hit the sack. With no one on my mind to fret over, I slept like a log and had sweet dreams. Early the next morning, I heard the keypad lock beep. Jason pushed open my bedroom door. “Emma?” “Hmm? You’re back?” I didn’t jump up to greet him all happy like usual. I just rolled over and went back to sleep. He stood in the doorway. “Chloe had another episode yesterday. I was worried she might do something stupid, so I got held up. Sorry.” “Mm.” My tone was flat. Jason tried to explain, “I know you’re pissed, but Chloe really needed someone there.” I laughed and glanced at him. “Pissed? What’s there to be pissed about? A brother looking out for his sister—isn’t that normal?” Jason was quiet for a moment. “Emma, I know I’ve been slacking lately…” “Go get some sleep,” I cut him off. “I need to catch up on my rest too.” Jason felt weirdly irritated. I’d never been this ice-cold to him before. When I woke up, I saw a table full of breakfast spread. Jason had cooked it himself. I was pretty surprised. In the past, I’d always bug him to cook for me, but he’d brush me off. “Emma, do you really have to have something I cooked? You’re not a kid anymore. Can’t you just make your own food?” “I’m wiped out from work every day.” But he, who was even more wiped out, could still dash to Chloe’s place to cook her a feast with one call. So it wasn’t that he was too tired—he just didn’t want to cook for me. “Emma, I made all your favorites. Hurry up and wash up.” “Mm, thanks for going through the trouble.” After washing up, Jason personally dished out rice and soup for me—treatment I’d never gotten before. Jason put a piece of eggplant in my bowl. “Emma, this is the eggplant you love. Have more.” I smiled and put it back in his bowl. “I’ve never liked eggplant. It must be Chloe who likes it. You got us mixed up.” 3. “But you used to…” Jason stared at me, stunned. I peeled some shrimp and started eating on my own. Every time we went out to eat, Jason would always order eggplant. It wasn’t my thing—I just pretended to like it because he served it to me, and I’d polish off the whole plate. A call came in. Jason stood up anxiously. “Emma, I can’t stay for the meal. Chloe’s having another episode.” “Go ahead, it’s fine. She’s more important.” I kept my head down, focused on eating, not bothering to look at his face. Every mealtime, Chloe would pull the same stunt to get Jason over. The clever Jason was always game. After eating my fill, I packed the leftovers and stuck them in the fridge. After a few sick days, I finally went back to work under Olivia’s constant nudging. Olivia came to me with a transfer order. “Emma, are you sure you don’t want to develop your career at headquarters in Beijing? The resources there are way better.” I’d turned her down multiple times before. “Beijing is too far from home. I’d get homesick.” Actually, I was scared of leaving Jason. I often daydreamed that if I went to Beijing, he’d be heartbroken without me. But now, I realized he probably wouldn’t be. I’d waited all these years to marry him and have our own little family, but he’d never brought up marriage—always excuses. “Emma, I’m not settled enough yet. Once I’m stable, I’ll go ask your family for your hand.” “Olivia, I’ve thought it through. I want to go to Beijing.” Olivia was surprised. “What? You’re willing to leave Jason now?” I shook my head with a smile. “I’ve decided to broaden my horizons.” Sophia called and asked me out for drinks. I agreed—it had been ages since I’d hung out with friends. Sophia slung an arm around my shoulders. “That’s more like it. You need to let loose sometimes.” We drank till late, and I crashed at her place. When I woke up, I had over a dozen missed calls and texts from Jason. I called him back. His voice had an edge. “Emma, where did you go? I called you all night. You never used to stay out all night before.” I yawned, acting casual. “I went out drinking with Sophia. It got late so I crashed at her place.” “Emma, what kind of attitude is that? Do you know how worried I was all night?” Even through the phone, I could feel his anger. In the past, when he’d get wasted and stay at Chloe’s, I’d wait up all night, calling and texting. All I’d get was, “Why are you so worked up? It’s just one night I didn’t come home.” I stretched lazily. “Jason, why are you so worked up? It’s just one night I didn’t come home after drinking.” “Alright, I’m heading back now.” Jason’s tone softened. “Emma, I’ll pick you up. Let’s grab a bite together.” “Okay.” I waited outside Sophia’s building. Cabs passed by. “Miss, need a ride?” I shook my head. “No thanks, someone’s coming to get me.” It was only a 15-minute drive, but I waited over half an hour before seeing Jason’s car. Chloe was sitting shotgun. The window rolled down. Chloe poked her head out. “Emma, I’m sitting in front. You don’t mind, right?” I got straight into the back. “Of course not.” “The power went out at Chloe’s place. I figured since three people eating is the same as two, I’d invite her along,” Jason said, glancing in the rearview mirror. I shrugged. “That’s fine, the more the merrier.” Jason frowned slightly—he couldn’t read me anymore. In the past, I’d have thrown a fit. Jason peeled shrimp for Chloe. Chloe gave some to me. “Emma, don’t be mad. Jason always thinks of me first.” I smiled faintly. “Why would I be mad? You two have such a good sibling bond.” Jason awkwardly peeled some for me too, but I didn’t touch them. The waitress looked at Chloe enviously. “Wow, miss, you’re so lucky. Your boyfriend is so attentive.” Jason frowned, but Chloe seemed pleased. “Emma, you’re not upset, are you?” she prodded. I just focused on eating. “Why would I be upset? You two look pretty good together.” Chloe sighed. “It’s a pity. If I hadn’t gotten sick, maybe Jason and I would have already…” Jason cut her off. “Chloe! Watch your mouth!” He slammed down his chopsticks. Chloe turned pitiful. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come. I’ll go.” She covered her face and cried. Jason gave me a troubled look. “Go after her. Don’t let her do anything dumb,” I said proactively. He stood up. “I’ll go see. I’ll come back to take you home in a bit.” “Mm, thanks for the trouble.” I kept eating. After finishing, I took a cab home myself—I knew Jason wouldn’t be back. As soon as I got home, he called. “Emma, where did you go?” “I came home,” I said flatly. “Didn’t I say I’d pick you up?” His tone held resentment. “I figured you wouldn’t be coming back, so I grabbed a cab. I had nothing else going on anyway.” In the past, he’d always make excuses: “Why can’t you just get home by yourself? Can’t you see how swamped I am?” Silence on his end. I hung up and put on a face mask. As predicted, Jason didn’t come home all night. I slept like a rock. When I woke up, he’d made breakfast. “You’re up. Come eat.” It was rare for him to cook so often. I drank some porridge as he watched me with a complicated expression. “Emma, do you know what time I got home last night?” I shook my head. “No, why?” In the past, I’d call if it was past 10 p.m. Now, I didn’t care. Even when he smoked a whole pack at home, I’d only mildly say, “Smoking is bad for you.” Sometimes I didn’t even notice. Jason felt all out of sorts. “Emma, we’re both adults. If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Don’t be like this.” I finished eating. “What is there to say? I’m full. I need to head to work.” “I’ll drive you,” he offered for the first time. In the past, he’d say, “How can you compare yourself to Chloe? She needs me to drive her because of her health. I’m already so beat. Can’t you be more considerate?” “Okay, thanks.” “Emma, why did you suddenly become…” His expression was complicated. I’d become very polite, more reasonable—but it gave him a sense of loss. I sat in the back seat. He’d opened the front passenger door and stared in shock. “Emma, why are you sitting in the back?” I smiled. “What’s the difference?” In the past, I’d argue: “Why can Chloe sit there when I’m your girlfriend!” He’d respond wearily, “Do you really have to fight over this with Chloe, who’s sick? Can’t you be more understanding?” At the office, Jason called out, “Emma, there’s a company dinner tomorrow. Plus-ones are welcome.” “Oh? That’s nice.” I stretched indifferently. “Plus-ones are welcome, Emma. You can come with me.” In the past, I’d never miss such chances—eager for everyone to know I was his girlfriend. He rarely brought me before. “Okay.” I nodded and went in. Olivia handed me the transfer notice. “Are you really sure?” “I’m sure. I want to go to Beijing.” I signed without hesitation. I hadn’t told Jason, but there was no need anymore. 4. I got into Jason’s car and saw Chloe. “Emma, you don’t mind, do you? I begged Jason to bring me along. I’ve never been to these things before.” She linked arms with him, and he didn’t shake her off—as if I was the third wheel. “It’s fine. Why don’t you two go then? I’ve got paperwork to wrap up,” I said faintly. Jason frowned. “Emma, you already agreed. Now you’re not going…” “Isn’t Chloe going with you? That’s fine. She’s your sister, so she counts as your plus-one too.” I checked the time. “Just drop me off at the entrance.” He drove irritably to the office. I went in without looking back. “Jason, is Emma upset?” Chloe leaned on his shoulder. “Whatever,” he snapped. I leaned back on the sofa. My phone buzzed—a notification from my close friends list. Chloe had posted on Instagram: a photo of her leaning on Jason’s shoulder. [Caring is always being willing to bring me along, no matter when.] She loved posting; I’d followed her to keep tabs. Now, I casually unfollowed. She’d posted for me to see, but no one liked it. Everyone waited for my reaction. I didn’t care—soon it wouldn’t matter. “Emma, Jason got drunk and passed out at my place,” Chloe called using his phone. “Mm, then I’ll leave it to you to look after him.” She was just rubbing it in. Chloe and Jason were childhood sweethearts—his first love. She got sick, and his mom wouldn’t allow them together. She became the one that got away. I wondered if he’d been with me just to placate his mom. I showered, watched movies, and slept. In the middle of the night, Jason called. “Emma, I’m wasted.” “I know. Chloe will take good care of you.” Hearing no response, I hung up and slept. In the past, I’d immediately pick him up, no matter how late, and tell him off for drinking. He’d complain to friends, “She’s so annoying, tries to control everything. Not like Chloe—she’ll party with me and never holds me back.” 5. To get ready for Beijing, I had to finish all my work and hand it off. For days, I was slammed at the office. Sophia dragged me out for drinks. “Take a break, will you? You’ll work yourself to the bone.”
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