Chapter 3

Naomi returned home a short while later, holding a new ring box. She cautiously handed it over to me, saying, "It was my fault for getting the wrong ring size earlier, so I went out and bought a new one for you, Julian."

She slipped the ring onto my finger as she spoke. It actually fit my finger this time.

I lowered my head and noticed the tiny letters engraved into the inside of the ring—N & B. It clearly indicated Naomi and Bryan. I stared at those initials and broke into a sarcastic laugh.

Naomi followed my gaze, her expression stiffening for a moment. "I think the sales assistant must have given us the wrong ring. You shouldn't read too much into it, Julian."

Just then, a second receipt fell out.

I looked down and noticed it was from the same shop and on the same day. Naomi had bought two men's rings that day, with the ring engraved with her and Bryan's initials costing three times as much as the other one.

I suddenly realized that the ring had never been bought for me.

Naomi hesitated and reached out to touch my shoulder, but I stepped back. She froze for a moment before she said softly, "I'll get you a new one when we register our marriage, Julian."

It was the same excuse again. I was once again told to wait for my turn. Naomi had always believed she could just make up for hurting me later.

I suddenly remembered our first trip together. I had spent two whole weeks planning it—when to watch the sunset, where to eat seafood, and which beach would be the least crowded—but when we got to the airport, I discovered that neither ticket had my name on it.

Naomi was stunned for a long time before finally saying, "I think I mixed up your ID number with Bryan's. I've already bought the tickets, and the hotel bookings couldn't be refunded, so I'll make it up to you and go with you next time, Julian."

In the end, Bryan and Naomi went on the trip without me. Bryan posted a bunch of photos of the island, including sunsets, palm trees, and Naomi standing by the water with his coat over her shoulders.

I had been upset about those photos for a long time, only for Naomi to come back with nothing but a box of chocolates from the airport, saying, "I'll take you with me next time, so don't be upset, Julian."

Later on, the band I had liked for many years came to hold a concert, which Naomi managed to snag two tickets for. The seats were side by side. I was so thrilled I stayed up all night, but at the gate, the staff looked at the names on the ticket faces and politely told us, "These tickets are registered under Ms. Henderson and Mr. Green."

Naomi awkwardly pinched the bridge of her nose. "I made another mistake."

In the end, Naomi and Bryan took the front-row floor seats. Bryan posted a photo on his social media once the concert was over, with Naomi leaning against his shoulder, holding up a light stick. "Listening to my favorite song with the person who gets me like no one else."

I confronted Naomi about it, but she only sighed and said, "You're overthinking this, Julian. Bryan is your best friend, not a stranger. I couldn't just leave him standing outside the venue all by himself, could I?"

Naomi always had her reasons, while I was always the one who had to take the high road.

I removed the new ring, put it back in its box, and turned toward the bedroom. I then started packing my belongings.

It wasn't until I started packing up that I realized how few of my own belongings were actually in this house.

Naomi bought the dark gray cashmere blanket on the couch right after Bryan complained about feeling cold when he visited in the winter. The men's slippers by the entryway were kept exclusively for Bryan, and the fridge was crammed full of his favorite sugar-free sparkling water.

Meanwhile, we had been out of the iced tea I loved for a very long time. I reminded Naomi a bunch of times, but she would always say, "I'll get it next time."

In the end, the "next time" just never came.

I found the black wallet in my desk drawer while I was packing. Naomi had given it to me for my birthday the previous year. It had cost around 42 dollars, and the box was already worn at the corners. She had said, "It's not about the price. It's the thought that counts."

Yet, for Bryan's birthday this year, Naomi had given him a custom-made watch. She had slipped the receipt into a book, which ended up falling into the gap in our couch. That watch cost 4,200 dollars—exactly 100 times the price of my wallet.

Naomi stood in the bedroom doorway, watching me pack my clothes into the suitcase. She finally spoke impatiently, asking, "How much longer are you going to keep this up? I bought you another ring and even apologized to you. What else do you want from me, Julian?"

I lowered my head and zipped my suitcase closed. "I don't need your apologies anymore, Naomi."

Naomi turned and walked away in annoyance, while I made no effort to chase after her.

In the meantime, the email confirming my long-term overseas assignment was sitting quietly in my inbox—the flight was booked for tomorrow. There was never going to be a next time for Naomi and me.