Chapter 3
719 Words
After Vivienne left, Carter knocked on the bedroom door. "Sienna, are you mad at me?"
I opened the door. "No."
Carter stepped inside and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I know you're upset."
He paused for a moment before adding, "The lingerie yesterday was my fault."
I looked at him quietly. "You remember that Vivienne loves durian," I said. "You remember that she likes her boba tea only 30% sweet. You remember that she hates cilantro. But what do you remember about me?"
Carter froze. He did not answer.
"Do you remember that I'm allergic to durian? Do you remember that I'm lactose intolerant and can't drink boba tea? Do you remember that I get cold easily, but you always keep the AC blasting in your car?"
Carter opened his mouth, but no words came out.
I gave a faint smile. "You don't remember."
His expression stiffened.
"Because you never cared enough to."
Carter stood up and reached for my hand, but I pulled away before he could touch me.
"Sienna, I admit I've been neglecting you," he said. "But you can't blow this out of proportion over a few small things."
I looked at him. "Small things?" My voice was very calm. "That's what these are to you?"
Carter frowned. "I'm saying it's not that serious."
Impatience had crept into his voice. "I work myself to the bone every day. Forgetting a few details now and then is normal."
I nodded. "You're right."
Carter let out a breath. "I knew you'd understand."
I turned around, opened the closet, and pulled out a suitcase.
His expression shifted at once. "What are you doing?"
I did not answer. I set the suitcase on the floor and started packing.
Carter walked over and grabbed my hand. "Stop making a scene."
I shook him off. "I'm not making a scene."
Then I folded my clothes and placed them into the suitcase one by one. "I just think that if you remember everything about Vivienne and nothing about me, then she matters more to you than I do."
Carter snapped, "That's ridiculous. She's your roommate and your best friend. Of course I'm nice to her."
I stopped packing and looked up at him. "Nice to her?"
His jaw tightened.
"Carter, do you know the gifts you buy her cost more than anything you've ever bought me?"
He said nothing.
"Do you know that you spend more time shopping with her than you do with me?"
His face hardened.
"Do you know that you look at her in a way you haven't looked at me in years?"
Carter's expression darkened.
I kept going. "I'm not stupid. I just didn't want to say it out loud."
My voice stayed calm, and every word came out cold and clear. "But you've gone too far. You gave me lingerie in her size, Carter. Do you really think I'm blind?"
His voice rose. "Enough!"
Carter glared at me, his face flushed with anger. "What is wrong with you? Vivienne is your roommate. She's your best friend. How could you even think that way about her?"
I looked at his furious face and let out a quiet laugh. "You're angry."
He froze.
"The moment I said something bad about Vivienne, you got angry."
Carter opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
I zipped up the suitcase and lifted it from the floor. "I'm going to my parents' place for a few days."
Carter immediately stepped in front of the doorway. "You're not leaving today."
I looked at him. "Move."
He did not move.
I pulled out my phone. "Move, or I'll call the police and tell them you're keeping me here against my will."
Carter froze.
I shoved past him and dragged my suitcase out of the bedroom.
He followed me into the living room. "Sienna, don't go. Let's talk this through."
I did not look back. When I reached the front door, I stopped and turned around.
Carter stood in the middle of the living room. Anger, panic, and confusion were written all over his face.
"Carter, remember this day." His eyes turned red. "You're the one who pushed me out of this home."
Then I opened the door, stepped outside, and entered the elevator. The moment the elevator doors closed, my tears fell.
- Writer
