08
Jason couldn’t understand why my attitude had changed so drastically, why I no longer clung to him like before.
“Jason, what are you talking about? I’ve always been like this.”
“Why are you calling me with just my name? Don’t you hate that term the most?”
He seemed angry, his voice suddenly rising.
After we started dating, I stopped calling him with just his name because it made me feel distant. That word
constantly reminded me that he was like Yves–a brotherly figure.
“But you don’t like it when I call you by your nickname either,” I said with a smile, though my smile didn’t reach my eyes. “You told me to stop clinging to you, so I did. What are you unhappy about now?”
“Oh, right. Didn’t you say you’d introduce me to someone better than you? When are you planning to fulfill that promise?” I added nonchalantly.
“Zoey! Are you trying to drive me insane?”
Jason’s face showed thinly veiled anger as he tightly gripped my hand, gritting his teeth. “That was a joke, something I said when I was drunk. How could you take it seriously? Besides, we haven’t broken up yet. Don’t even think about being with another man!”
“I took it seriously,” I said firmly, wrenching my hand free from his grasp. “The moment you said those words, we were already over. If that wasn’t clear enough, let me make it explicit–we’re breaking up!”
“From now on, the only relationship between us is friendship.”
“Friendship? What a joke! Did you think about me when you said that?” he roared, his eyes filled with bitterness and reluctance.
I took a deep breath and calmly repeated myself. “Jason, I regret it. I regret being with you. That’s why I want to break up. Do you understand now?”
“I don’t agree! Why should we break up just because you say so?” he thundered.
Because I lived an entire past life wasted on this relationship.
3:48 PM dd
Ending My Seven Year Relationship with My Secret Boyfriend
“Jason, when you say things like that, have you thought about Shairine? You can’t let her go, and she still loves you. I’m stepping aside to give you two my blessing–what’s there to be upset about?”
“She’s already in the past. I’ll never get back together with her.”
Upon saying that, his emotions surged, and he blurted out, “If you’re bothered by her presence, I swear I’ll never contact her again. From now on, it’ll only be you by my side.”
Barely two seconds after he finished speaking, his phone rang.
Jason immediately rejected the call.
A second later, the ringtone started again.
He rejected it again.
But I saw the name on the caller ID clearly–Shai.
There was no need to guess who it was–it had to be Shairine.
When the phone rang a third time, he reached to reject it again, but I spoke calmly. “You should answer it. She
might need something urgent.”
Hearing that, hesitation flickered across his face.
Eventually, he answered the call.
The moment he did, crying came through the receiver–it sounded like she’d been in a car accident.
Jason’s face tensed immediately, worry and urgency overtaking him as he tried to comfort her.
“Don’t be afraid. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, his concern was evident, yet he still turned to me and tried to reassure me.
“Zoey, I have something very important to take care of right now. Once I’m done, I’ll come find you. As for
breaking up, I don’t agree, so don’t bring it up again.”
up!”
Without waiting for my response, he turned and left in a hurry.
I didn’t dwell on it and went to work as planned.
Later that afternoon, just before my shift ended, my mom called.
“I’ve arranged the blind date for you. I’ll send you the restaurant and details shortly. Don’t you dare stand him
“Got it! I’ll add it to my calendar right away,” I replied.
