Cheryl and I were about to get engaged, but she chose to spend Lawrence's birthday with him. She might have forgotten that today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she was supposed to have dinner with my parents. Our family waited in the restaurant, but she easily missed the date. When I called her to question her, she replied coldly: "It's just a Mid-Autumn Festival dinner. I can spend every year with you after marriage, but today is Lawrence's birthday and the tenth anniversary of our acquaintance. I must be with him!"
"If it's so important, then go live with him!" I have never been so angry.
After hanging up the phone, I felt embarrassed facing my parents and relatives, so I had to make up an excuse: "Well... let's eat first. Cheryl said the company asked us to work overtime and we can't refuse."
My mother had just finished the operation and her body had not recovered yet, so I didn't dare to tell her the truth. But my mother seemed to have noticed something, and she said sadly: "It doesn't matter, young people have to work, since she is not coming, we will eat..."
The family dinner lost its former liveliness and became dull and awkward. Relatives seemed to have noticed it and always carefully avoided the topic of Cheryl and me when talking. After returning home, I argued with her again about this matter. She accused me of being too controlling and complained that I was too stingy and didn't know how to be considerate of her.
We went back to our rooms. In the past, even if it was a two-day cold war, I would not be able to help but apologize first. But this time, the cold war lasted for a week. On Wednesday night, although we lived under the same roof, we ignored each other like strangers and went back to our rooms.
Until midnight, she sent me a message: "Leo, tomorrow is your birthday, I have booked your favorite restaurant."
In the past, I was always the first to bow my head after an argument, and it was rare for her to take the initiative to send a signal of easing the situation. I knew that tonight, she must be like me, waiting for the other party's response in front of her phone.
But this time, I put my phone aside and fell asleep peacefully.
The next morning, we each opened the door and stood facing each other. I said, "I will get off work early tonight."
"Yeah, I'll wait for you." Cheryl had some dark circles under her eyes, as if she had stayed up late.
She didn't say much, and we remained silent. We turned around and left to wash and go to work. On the way to work on my electric bike, I saw her Audi passing by me. We bought that car together, and now she often uses it to pick up Lawrence.
The electric car passed by the familiar neighborhood, and the red Audi was still parked there waiting. I could only pretend not to see it and quickly blend into the crowd of people rushing to work. Sometimes I wondered if she saw me passing by in the car, but maybe she couldn't see it, or she chose to turn a blind eye.
