Chapter 3

The next day, I had a proper send-off with my colleagues at the farewell party.

After all the formalities and goodbyes, it was finally time for me to leave.

While I was settling the bill at the counter, I spotted Alex walking in, his arm draped casually over Wanda's shoulders.

There was a thick curtain hanging at the entrance, and Alex lifted it for her without a second thought, doing it so naturally and considerately.

Wanda smiled and looked down, softly saying, "Thanks."

The people nearby immediately began to tease them. "Alex, look at you, so thoughtful. No one else could be a better boyfriend."

Alex didn't say anything and just shared a look with Wanda.

Then, as he turned, his eyes met mine.

He looked like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have, instinctively stepping aside to put a bit of space between himself and Wanda.

My expression stayed neutral as my gaze swept over their group. I finished paying and headed back to the private room.

"Regina!" Alex called out, catching up to me. He tried to sound casual, but there was this smug vibe, like he thought he was doing me a huge favor.

"I'm just having dinner with my buddies. Don't read too much into it.

"We haven't talked in forever, and you're still pissed? Let me swing by your place tonight and give you a proper apology, alright?

"Make sure you leave the door open for me."

When I didn't respond, Alex leaned in a little closer and dropped his voice, "Seriously, don't go too far. I've already apologized. You've been ignoring me for days. Can't you cut me some slack today?"

I looked up at him.

Urgency, annoyance, and embarrassment were written all over his face, but not a hint of real apology in his eyes for me.

"I told you already. We're done," I said.

Alex's expression suddenly contorted, his voice rising sharply.

All he could think was that I'd made him lose face in front of his buddies, especially Wanda.

"Alright, so you really mean it? Fine. Break up, huh? I'll confess my feelings to Wanda right away," he snapped.

He figured I'd freak out and beg him not to leave, just like I used to.

But I just repeated calmly, "I told you, we're over. Who you end up with is your business."

Without another look at Alex's pale face or Wanda's obvious happiness, I turned and headed back to the private room.

*****

Back at my place, Cheryl, my landlady, looked genuinely upset when she heard I was moving out.

She said, "Regina, are you really leaving? It's so rare to have a tenant as easygoing as you. What a shame to see you go."

I zipped up my suitcase, my voice steady and resolute. "Cheryl, I've made up my mind. Thank you for everything these past few years."

Seeing that, she didn't try to stop me anymore and asked, "So, when are you leaving?"

"Three days from now," I replied.

"What three days?" I'd just seen Cheryl out when Alex slipped into the room.

His expression was gloomy. I didn't know how long he'd been lurking outside.

Alex's voice was hard to read, but that familiar annoyance was there. "Regina, what were you talking about with your landlady? What are you trying to pull now?"

I ignored him and kept my head down, focusing on packing my things.

Out of nowhere, Alex lost it and kicked over the suitcase I'd just finished packing. "I'm talking to you! It's been so many days. What the hell do you want?

"How much longer are you going to drag this out? Haven't you had enough?

"Wanda never did anything to you. Why can't you just leave her alone?"

I stayed silent.

Just as I was about to tell Alex to leave, Wanda walked in.

She paused, taking in the chaos on the floor, and her face shifted from surprise to a kind of resigned understanding.

"Regina, you're not splitting up with Alex because of me, are you?" she said.

She reached out and pressed her hand on my suitcase. Her tone was soft, like she was trying to smooth things over. "Alex and I grew up together, and I get that it makes you feel weird.

"But you can't just take advantage of the fact that he cares about you and act out like this.

"We're honestly just friends. There's really nothing going on between us.

"Honestly, I don't even see him as a guy, really."

Seeing Wanda put on that innocent act, I got angry at once.

I snapped, "You don't see Alex as a guy? Then why do you always show up in mini-skirts and that fake no-makeup look whenever you hang out with him?

"And whenever I say something, you go complain to him that I'm controlling what you wear.

"Wasn't it you who kept pestering him for a gift on Valentine's Day? And wasn't it you who dragged him out in the middle of the night to climb a mountain just to watch the sunrise?

"Wanda, if you really think guys and girls are all the same, then how come you never do any of this with your other guy friends?"

Wanda's face went ghostly pale when I exposed her. She opened her mouth, but couldn't get a single word out.

She dropped her gaze and stayed silent for a while. When she finally looked up at Alex, her eyes were filled with both determination and grievance.

She said, "I can't even defend myself anymore. Alex, your girlfriend is always picking on me. I guess she thinks I'm messing things up between you two.

"I don't want to put you in a tough spot. Just focus on each other from now on and forget about me."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Wanda!" Alex shouted after her, panic in his voice. He glared at me, pissed off and full of resentment.

Seeing Wanda actually about to leave, he rounded on me, his anger spilling over. "Are you happy now, Regina? Is this what you wanted?

"How many times do I have to say it? There's nothing between me and Wanda. If there was, you wouldn't even matter!

"You're a loner who has no friends, so you can't stand me having friends in my life, huh?

"Let me make this crystal clear. If you really want us to get back together, you'd better apologize to Wanda. Otherwise, forget about us ever being a thing again!"

After shouting, he ran out of the room, not even glancing back.

I stood there, watching him storm off. The keys bit into my palm.

Any lingering feelings I had for Alex completely vanished.