Not Yours To Give

I was stunned and my mind went blank as I stared at Vivian Langdale.

I was desperate to find a hint on that face I knew so well that she was joking, but there was none.

She was being absolutely serious.

“What do you mean by that?” I croaked, barely able to speak.

“My mom is being ridiculous and you’re following suit?”

Vivian stood where she was and looked at me.

“I’m not being ridiculous. I considered it seriously.”

“What did you consider?” I almost yelled.

“Your mom is right.”

Vivian’s gaze shifted away from my face to my younger brother, Jeff Sanders, who was sitting quietly on the couch.

“My mom prefers someone like your younger brother. He's stable, down-to-earth, and a good person to settle down with.”

I suddenly felt like a huge joke.

I had been with her for five years, from jointly renting a single room to moving to a two-bedroom apartment.

She was always busy with work, so I learned how to cook all her favorite dishes. Not only was I busy with work, but I even had to take care of her.

Yet now, she was indirectly saying that I wasn’t a good person to settle down with.

I looked at Jeff, who was seated on the couch quietly, looking obedient and harmless.

It was just like how he had always been since he was young—the one who needed protection and the one everyone was biased toward.

But I didn't expect him to demand to have my girlfriend this time.

“Jeff, say something,” I said as I looked at him. “Do you also think this is reasonable?”

Jess looked up at me, his eyes slightly red.

He said, “Josh, you’re such a good catch and you have everything.

“You have a good job and you’re handsome. I’m sure you can find a better match anytime.

“But I’m different. I’ve been useless since I was young, and I know nothing. I have very few friends in my tiny social circle. If I were to pass up on Vivian, I might never meet someone as good as her.”

Tears fell down his cheeks as he spoke and landed on his knees.

“Please just let me have Vivian. That way, Mom wouldn’t need to worry about me in the future.

“Josh, you dote on me the most, don’t you?”

Indeed.

Since we were both young, I gave him anything he wanted.

If he liked my new sneakers, I’d let him have them.

If he wanted the gaming system my dad gave me as a reward for being the top student, I’d let him have it.

I’d finish his homework, cover his duties and even be his scapegoat because of his poor health.

But we were talking about a person here.

Specifically, she was my girlfriend whom I had been dating for five years.

“Jeff, do you know what you’re asking for?”

I stared at him.

“She’s my girlfriend, and we’re about to be engaged. If you insist on being this way…”

“Enough!”

My mom slammed her wine glass on the table so hard that the red wine splashed out.

“Joshua Sanders, your brother is already begging you like this. What else do you want?”

She stood up and looked fiercely at me.

“Vivian has just agreed to it. She doesn’t have any objections to this, so what are you fussing over? You look so indignant.”

“She’s my girlfriend!”