chapter 3
456 Words
I unlocked my phone to find a message from Lean.
"Alice, I'll be working late tonight. Turn in early—don't wait up for me." So he was working overtime again.
I video-called him, but he hung up promptly and called back with a voice message.
"Alice, I'll be working late tonight. Make sure you eat properly, alright?" Lean's gentle voice came through.
"Lean, I'm in hospital," I cut him off.
"Alice, don't take your health lightly. I've always looked after you—I know perfectly well you're perfectly fine."
Just as I was about to say I'd been in a car accident—
An urgent female voice piped up: "Lean, Jack's suddenly vomiting! We need to take him to the vet now!"
"Right then, Alice. Be a good girl. I'll be with you once I've finished these few days." With that, he hurriedly hung up.
Lean's transformation these past days had caught me completely off guard. I hadn't imagined he could change so swiftly.
Anna sent me another message—a photo of Lean holding the dog, looking deeply concerned.
"To Lean, even my Jack is more important than you."
Jack was Anna's pet dog.
I liked dogs too, but Lean claimed he was allergic to dog hair.
Seemed he didn't want a second dog after all. Anna's was the only one.
Once I'd recovered a bit, I was discharged from hospital. Lean never came to visit, didn't even know I'd been in an accident.
Back home, there was no lamp waiting to light my way like before.
I rang Lean. It rang for ages before he answered.
"Lean, where are you?" I said coldly.
"Alice, I'm working late at the office. I'll be back later."
He hung up straight after. Now his excuses are this half-hearted. Working late every single day.
But I asked his colleagues at the office. They said he's been leaving early lately.
Then Anna messaged again, saying she and Lean were having a candlelit dinner.
"Romantic things should be shared with romantic people. You two've never had a candlelit dinner date, have you?"
She was right. Never. Though Lean doted on me, he found candlelit dinners rather tacky.
Anna's messages kept coming.
"Your wedding anniversary is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"Guess what that day marks?"
I stared at the messages without replying. Anna showed no sign of awkwardness or presumption, simply sharing her thoughts.
"That day was when I first confessed to him. It's also the date we promised to marry."
"I reckon he'll give you a necklace engraved with 'LA' and take you to Lanting Restaurant for dinner."
Anna seemed to know everything about Lean and me, yet deep down, I hoped it wouldn't unfold as she predicted.
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