“So, this is payback?” he spat, his face hardening.
“No. This is reality. I’ve realized that you don’t care about me. Now, I don’t give a damn about you either.”
“Why?” he demanded, confusion creeping into his voice.
“I used to care a lot, didn’t I? But you once said that irritated you.”
He hissed in frustration, but I kept going, the memories flooding out like poison. “I remember when you were sick, Skyler. I watched over you. That’s something you’ve never done for me. Do you remember? You had a fever the other night, and I went out to get you medicine. It was late, and I was nearly harassed by some perverts, and I managed to call you for help but you kept ending my calls. Then I made it back and found out you left. And what did you say? ‘I can’t come, Raya. Tia just returned, and I’m with her.’ You didn’t even hesitate.”
His eyes stayed fixed on mine, but there was no remorse. “Come on, Raya. I had a fever—”
“But you went to Tia’s place that same night, didn’t you? Spent the night there, didn't you?” My voice was cold, cutting through his excuses.
He faltered, waving his hand dismissively. “For goodness' sake, she wasn’t feeling well. I had to stay overnight to watch over her.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, I get it. Just like you said when I was sick. ‘I can't come, Skyler. Tia just returned, and I’m with her.’ Sound familiar?”
“Raya…”
“You two are perfect for each other,” I said, jerking my arm free from his grip. Without sparing him another glance, I walked away, my chest burning with anger but also a strange sense of freedom.
I returned to my office and threw myself into work, ignoring the buzzing phone and Skyler’s increasingly desperate messages. Flowers arrived later in the day—lavish bouquets, gifts—but I didn’t bat an eye as I instructed my assistant to reject them all.
By noon, I was numb, his desperate attempts nothing but background noise to the clattering keyboard and shuffling papers.
In the days that followed, I felt alive again. When my friends invited me to go shopping and watch a movie, I didn’t hesitate. I did whatever I wanted, finally feeling free. For so long, I had spent less time with them or myself, always glued to Skyler, doing what he said. Now, I felt joy in doing what made me happy. Without Skyler and Tia, most of my troubles evaporated, leaving only the sweet solitude of being alone.