Seven Years, I Finally Stopped Waiting

Three days earlier, I had received an offer from a Fortune 500 design firm in London.

But accepting it meant leaving Felix and moving across the ocean.

The night before Christmas Eve, I stood outside the private karaoke room, torn over what to do.

"Felix, aren't you bringing your girlfriend with you tomorrow?"

I smoothed my clothes with shaky hands, forced myself to smile, and reached for the door.

Then a soft voice stopped me cold.

"We already have reservations at that seafood place that's almost impossible to get into. We'll hang out with everyone another time."

My breath caught. I froze.

Felix didn't correct her.

Laughter spilled from the room as a Christmas song drifted through the door.

I hesitated, unsure whether I should go in. Before I could decide, the server opened the door.

The room fell silent.

"Eunice, over here." Felix waved me over with a smile.

I sat down without a word.

Soon, the conversation picked up again, with Gracie still at the center of it all.

Her long, golden waves gleamed under the lights.

"Not happy?"

Felix finally noticed how quiet I was and gave me a puzzled look.

"No."

"Then stop acting like everyone's wronged you. Can't you just try to get along with people for once? Why can't you be more like Gracie?"

His irritation was obvious.

I said nothing and stared at the half-eaten food in front of me.

"Have some more, Gracie. We ordered the shrimp just for you!" one of his friends said.

The crowd burst into cheers and laughter.

The man beside Gracie threw his arms wide and started singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You" to her.

Gracie ducked her head with a shy laugh.

Felix was carefully peeling shrimp and placing them on her plate.

The room was warm, but a chill ran through me.

Felix was a severe germaphobe.

Once, I had forgotten to sanitize my hands before helping him with his tie.

He had slapped my hand away, glared at me, and thrown the tie away.

Yet now, none of that seemed to bother him.

Without looking at me, he dropped a shrimp onto my plate.

"Lix, Eunice is allergic to seafood. You forgot again?" Gracie gasped dramatically.

His hands paused for barely a second.

Then he went right back to peeling Gracie's shrimp, carefully removing every vein.

When he finished, he switched plates with her.

"I checked the beef for you. No cilantro.

"And stay away from the mango juice.

"If any of you give Gracie either of those again, I'll personally kick you out of this city."

The table exploded with laughter again, and someone started singing the same line: all I want for Christmas is you.

Gracie met his eyes shyly, then shot him a playful glare.

"It's only a mild allergy. You're overreacting. They didn't know, so don't blame them."

She propped her chin on one hand, the matching ring on her middle finger catching the light.

"Felix and Gracie are crazy about each other! He even remembers all his girlfriend's little likes and dislikes."

I gripped the rosary bracelet around my wrist and glanced at the man beside me, careful not to show any emotion.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

Gracie quickly laughed and corrected him.

"You've got it wrong. I'm not his girlfriend! Eunice is. Eunice, don't mind him!"

The man's face stiffened with embarrassment.

"Sorry. The way you two were acting, I just thought..."

Felix said nothing. Apparently, he saw nothing wrong with the misunderstanding.

I gave them a bitter smile.

"It's fine. They do look good together."

Felix frowned.

"What are you upset about this time? Gracie already cleared things up. What more do you want?"

"I don't want to fight. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve," I reminded him, done with the conversation.

He hesitated before answering awkwardly.

"I have work tomorrow. I won't be home."

I knew I should leave it there, but I couldn't.

"Is it really work or do you have something more important to do than spend Christmas Eve with me?"

The table fell silent.

Every pair of eyes turned toward the three of us.