Chapter Three: Divorced: The unexpected call

Xurion's POV

“Let's get a divorce,” I repeated slowly.

The word tasted like sour candy in my mouth.

She stared in shock. Surprised. Or excited maybe.

Her phone dinged.

“Whatever!” She said, returning to her phone.

My breath stalled mid-chest.

Was she going to..?

“Where are you, Dray?” She picked the pen, uncapped it and just like that…signed the divorce papers. “I can't wait to see you too. Yeah, no, no, I'm gonna get changed and I will be right out, okay?”

The same reaction always.

I talk and you tune out. Even when my speech was harmless.

And even when I'm asking for a divorce.

You didn't even hesitate and threw five years of our life away.

Was she anticipating it before now?

Excitedly, she stands up and leaves.

“Circe, do you even have the idea what you just signed?” I asked, perplexed and still trying to understand what just happened.

She suddenly furrowed, her blue eyes practically glinting under the bright white light. “Yeah, some form about my medical treatment,” she answered, innocently.

The innocence on her face made me want to cuss out.

“God, Xurion, I don't know why you bother me with such unimportant things,” she complained, returning to her phone again and apparently texting Drayton.

Then her eyes finally found my face again, “You know, you should be more like Drayton,” Her expression grew bold and voice stern, “ He actually knows how to treat me better and he's done more for me than you ever could.”

“Wait, Drayton has done more for you than me?” I asked, my body tensing up.

“Yeah, you know.” Her expression softened as she remembered something in her head, “ When my mom died, I was a wreck. But before she died, she told me she was going to come back as a star to look after me.”

“Okay??”

Now she smiled. “ So, Drayton stayed up for months, stargazing, trying to find an asteroid to name it after her,” her smile brightened and lingered.

Her cheeks flushed as she pushed her phone to my face, showing me the star deed. “ Drayton helped me heal, Xurion. What have you done for me?” She asked, and returned to frowning.

“What I have done for you?”

I shook my head, my breath tight in anger, “Wait, you think Drayton was the one who found that asteroid for you?”

She shrugged, half smiling, “ Yeah, I mean, who else could have been that thoughtful?”

It was me.

Circe, I spent nights after nights looking for that asteroid for you.

I hoped one day you'd realize the effort I put into finding that asteroid.

But you didn't even wait to give the accolade to your ex-boyfriend.

Even my colleagues asked if you were worth the stress I went through but I was certain you were.

I was bold about us and told them you were worth more.

But I guess I was wrong.

“Circe, I..i was,”

“Hey! no I'm just..” She suddenly got to her phone again, and walked away till she disappeared up the stairs.

You never really listen.

Not to my words. Not to my heart.

I always knew Drayton was her first love. I knew you married me just to make him jealous for dumping you.

Five years, I tried hard to make you love me.

I gave up my career, my dreams, for you.

But all I got was the cold shoulder.

All I got was you constantly comparing me to your ex-boyfriend that wasn't even present when you almost lost your mind over him.

The same person that ruined you emotionally and made you insecure.

He cheated on you and pushed you aside even when you loved him.

Suddenly, it's him you want.

Turns out love can't be fabricated.

A call dinged my phone, stripping me out of my mind.

My pulse went haywire.

It been five years since I spoke with this number. And it was the last contact I expected my phone to connect with.

“Hello boss!”

“Xurion, congratulations to you,” Mr Landon's husky voice seeped into my ear and my heart raced, “Everyone here at NASR is blown away by your proposal.”

My eyes widened and I pressed the phone against my cheeks well enough to get every word, “Really, sir?”

“Yeah! Now if the data holds up, we believe your research has the potential to change the world. And at that we would like to have you back in the team.”

My chest stalled breaths.

I felt so proud of myself.

Not that I didn't trust my potential.

But that the head administrator of NASR had just asked me himself to come back to work.

“Are you there, Xurion?”

“Yeah, yes sir!” I answered quickly, my voice bubbling with excitement.

My heart bolted.

“Xurion Marksman, I would feel much more confident if you could lead the mission.” The way he said my name, made me burst out in pride. Maybe confidence.

“How do you feel about going to Mars, Xurion?”