Chapter 3

I didn't want to argue with Shirley at first, but her words were getting more and more out of line. I couldn't take it anymore. I shot up from my seat and smashed the beer bottle in my hand on the floor.

"Shirley, that's enough! Don't go too far."

Glass shards scattered and hit Joshua, which only made Shirley angrier. She reached out and shoved me to the ground.

I winced as blood instantly filled my palm. I couldn't even tell how many cuts I had.

Seeing me injured, Shirley panicked a little and came over to check on me. The moment she leaned in, I caught a strong scent. It was the cologne Joshua always wore.

I could practically picture her hands wandering all over Joshua's body, with that gentle smile on her face.

As I shoved Shirley away in disgust, my gaze landed on a red spot on her neck. She noticed me staring and quickly covered it with her hand. "There are a lot of mosquitoes in my office lately. You know how sensitive my skin is."

Joshua shot me a smug look and chimed in, "Yeah. Shirley has super delicate skin."

In this relationship, Joshua got Shirley's real love. And all I got was lie after lie.

"Alright. Stop fussing about stupid little things. I'll take you to the hospital." Shirley looked at my hand with concern, but her actions didn't match her expression at all.

She grabbed my injured hand and yanked me up from the ground. Acting like a caring girlfriend, she insisted on sending me to the hospital.

I shook her hand off and said calmly, "Forget it. If you keep dragging me like that, I'll die before we even get to the hospital."

Only then did Shirley realize she'd been pulling on my injured hand. But she still snapped back, stubborn as ever. "Can't you speak nicely? Do you have to be so passive-aggressive?"

I didn't want to waste time arguing with her. I went to put on my shoes and head to the hospital myself.

But Shirley wouldn't let it go. She insisted on taking me, dragging me all the way to the car. Joshua hurried to claim the passenger seat, shooting me a provocative look. "I get carsick, so I need to sit in front. You don't mind, right, Chester?"

I ignored him and got into the back seat.

On the way to the hospital, I glanced around the car and noticed a bunch of eyesores, like a selfie photo of them on the dashboard, basketball shoes in the back, a men's jacket…

When Shirley and I first started dating, I once left a plushie in her car. The next day, she threw it in the trash. She claimed she was a neat freak and wouldn't allow other people's things in her car.

It turned out double standards didn't apply to just her principles. It even applied to her tidiness.

…

By the time the doctor finished cleaning and bandaging my hand, it was already 2:00 am.

I walked around the waiting area of the hospital but didn't see Shirley anywhere. I didn't bother calling her. I just stood outside and ordered a ride.

It was the middle of the night and raining, so I couldn't get a car even after an hour. With no choice, I called Shirley.

Joshua picked up. "Hello," he said, before Shirley snatched the phone from him.

I heard Joshua click his tongue and say, "I'm going to take a shower. Hurry up."

It sounded like Shirley walked further away a little before asking, "What is it?"

I didn't waste time. "I'm outside the hospital. I can't get a ride. Can you come pick me up?"

Shirley paused for a second, like she just remembered she was the one who brought me to the hospital in the first place. Then, she said, "Wait for me. I'll leave in five minutes."

But 15 minutes passed. Then, 25. But she still didn't show up.

I let out a bitter laugh. I knew I shouldn't have trusted her.

I tried booking a ride again. Maybe God finally felt sorry for me, because it didn't take long for me to get one this time.

Back home, just as I sat down, Shirley walked in right behind me.

The moment she stepped inside, she started interrogating me, "Why didn't you wait for me?"