July 14th. It's official.I purposely set an alarm on my phone for midnight so I can wish Jason a happy anniversary. We're celebrating our second year together. We haven't had the chance to discuss what we'll be doing today, but I'm excited to spend some time with him. Jason has been so busy with work, and we've barely spoken this week.
I call his phone.
"Hey, babe," I say softly.
"What time is it? Why are you calling? Is everything okay?" His voice is drowsy. Okay, maybe it was a bad idea to call him this late.
"Yeah, everything's fine. I was calling to wish you a happy anniversary. It's official—we've been together for two years," I say happily.
"Oh shit—fuck! Li, I'm sorry. I completely forgot," he sighs."I've already made plans with the boys, and I can't cancel. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
"You forgot?" My voice comes out small.
"I've got a lot on my mind, and Mike wanted to go out so I said yeah. Honestly, it slipped my mind."
"Can't you go out with them another time?" I ask.
"I really can't cancel. We planned this a week ago, and I really want to go and relax, you know? I've been drowning in work lately. I need my downtime."
"Yeah, that's fine. Don't worry about it. I'll let you sleep," I say, annoyed.
"I promise, babe, I'll make it up to you. Goodnight. Love you."
"Night."
I hang up.
I was upset and hurt that our anniversary meant so little to him—that he forgot and would rather chill with his friends than spend time with me. Or maybe I'm just expecting too much? He has been doing a lot of overtime lately, working nonstop. I'm sure he'll make it up to me.
Our relationship was far from perfect. At the start, Jason was so loving, but after a year it started to fizzle out. I guess we just need to revive our spark.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead," Charlotte says as she throws open my blackout curtains.
"Argh, Char—too early. Close the blinds," I moan, covering my face with my pillow.
"Up. Now. We've got to turn you into a princess for tonight," she says excitedly. We were planning on getting facials, mani-pedis, and having our hair done today—purely because I thought I'd be having a special day with Jason.
"There's no tonight," I say, sitting up.
"What do you mean?" she frowns.
"I called Jason last night to wish him a happy anniversary and… well, it completely slipped his mind. He's got plans with the boys and can't cancel, so we're not doing anything today."
She stares at me, mouth slightly open.
"He said he'll make it up to me. I'm sure he will." She looks at me in disbelief.
"Li, that's not fair. He's your boyfriend, and today is a special day," she says sadly.
"I know, I know—but he can't cancel." Deep down, I know he could've made more of an effort, but accepting that truth would hurt even more. That Jason didn't really care about me—or us—that much. At the beginning, our relationship was amazing. He was loving and affectionate, and we spent loads of time together. Lately, though, we've been distant.
"And what do you mean, with the boys? Christian isn't going out with them tonight. We're going to see a movie," she says, looking at me intently.
Jason and Christian are part of the same friendship group—that's actually how I met Jason. A few months after Charlotte and Christian started dating, she threw a huge birthday party for Christian. Jason and I ended up talking all night, and the rest is history.
It's odd that Christian isn't going. The boys always hang out together. I brush it off."I don't know, Char. I'm not bothered. It is what it is," I say, walking to the bathroom. She follows me.
"Well, it sucks. You deserve better than that. I know Christian would cancel for me," she says, pressing her lips into a hard line.
I shrug."Why don't you come with us? It'll be fun. We can still get our mani-pedis, get our hair done, then go for food and a movie," she smiles.
"Third-wheeling? No, thank you," I shake my head.
"Come on, it'll be fun."
"I know, but I'm not feeling up to anything today. I'm a bit upset about the whole situation and just want to stay in."
As much as I try to make excuses for Jason, Charlotte is right—he didn't make any effort at all. I didn't even get a text from him this morning.
"Okay, hun. You know you're always welcome if you change your mind."
I nod and continue brushing my teeth.
I take a warm shower and get dressed. I can't help constantly checking my phone, hoping for a text from Jason—but nothing. Not that it would magically make me feel better, but at least I'd know he cared.
I walk into the kitchen to find Charlotte dancing around while making pancakes. Charlotte and I have been living together for just over two years now. We met at my current job—we were work besties. She quit after a year to pursue a career in fashion. We're pretty much each other's sisters we never had.
Charlotte comes from a wealthy family. Her mother used to be a surgeon, and her dad owns several wineries in France. She has an adopted brother I've never met—he's in the army and, from what I can recall, has been away for quite some time.
Me, on the other hand, I barely have anyone. My mother died when I was very young, and my father left me in my grandmother's care. I haven't seen him in years—I doubt he even knows what I look like now. The last I heard, he got married and has twins.
"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Charlotte asks, pushing a plate of pancakes in front of me.
"Yeah. I feel crappy today," I say, tapping my fork against them.
She sits beside me.
"Li, can I be honest?" Her eyes are soft as she strokes my arm. I nod.
"You are an amazing girl—by far the kindest and sweetest person I know. You're beautiful, gentle, intelligent, and so, so strong. Jason… he doesn't deserve you. He constantly drops the ball and barely pays attention to you. You deserve someone who will give you the world."
I lower my gaze.
"I wanted to say something sooner, but I didn't want to overstep. But forgetting your anniversary? That's not okay. I know deep down you know you deserve better, and when the time comes, you'll do what's right for you," she says softly.
"I know you're right. I just keep thinking he'll change. Every time I confront him, he promises to be better, and I end up thinking I ask for too much."
"You don't, honey. Trust me—I'm hard work. I ask for way too much, but Christian treats me like a princess every single day. I just wish Jason would wake up and realise what he has."
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too," she says, kissing my cheek.
After breakfast, Charlotte leaves to get her nails and hair done. I lounge in bed with a spicy novel when my phone rings. Jason.
I'm not in the mood to talk to him, but maybe he's calling because he cancelled his plans.
"Hey, babe!"
"Hey, Jason. You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good. You?"
"I'm fine. Just reading."
"Good. Hey, have you seen my black hoodie? My favourite one? I might've left it at yours."
So that's why he's calling.
"No, I haven't," I say bluntly.
"What's wrong? Why've you got an attitude?" he snaps.
"I don't know, Jason. Maybe because it's our anniversary, we're not spending it together, you forgot completely, and you haven't even wished me—" I stop. What's the point?
"You're right. I'm being insensitive. I'm sorry. But I said I'd make it up to you, didn't I?"
"Yes, I know, but you could've sent a nice text. Anything." My voice is small. I feel like I'm begging for scraps of affection.
"I'm sorry, Li. I don't know what to say. You know I love you. Tomorrow we'll go out, okay? Leave it to me—I'll plan everything."
"Yeah. Fine."
"I'll let you get back to your book, babe. Love you."
"See you later."
I hang up.