Chapter 4
By the time Sylvia got home, it was already dark.
Edwin was about to head out.
He was wearing cologne, his hair perfectly styled, and he had on the custom suit he'd gotten just last week. In his hand was an elegant cake box tied with a silver ribbon.
Sylvia immediately got it. It was Josie's birthday. She remembered, because Edwin always vanished on this day every year.
The first year, he said he had a class reunion. The second year, he claimed something came up with the crew. The third year, he said he had a promotional event.
It wasn't until Sylvia saw the birthday group photo on Josie's Twitter that she realized he was lying to her again.
Edwin had his back to Sylvia as he was on the phone. His voice, light and gentle, was one Sylvia hadn't heard in a long time.
He said on the phone, "Alright, stop guessing. If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it? Just wait for me; I'll be there in ten minutes."
Whatever the person on the other end said made him laugh, revealing that dimple Sylvia had kissed a thousand times.
That smile was as bright as the sun, a sight she had found increasingly rare over the past five years.
But the moment Edwin saw Sylvia, his smile instantly vanished.
It was like a slow-motion scene in a movie. The warmth drained from his lips, then his eyes, until his whole face settled into an icy mask.
He'd bend over backwards for Josie, but couldn't even bring himself to give Sylvia a smile.
Even on her birthday, he had stayed up late shooting scenes and only managed to say a tired Happy Birthday over a video call. The gift was bought by his assistant and arrived without even being unwrapped.
When Edwin saw Sylvia's blank, unmoved expression, his face turned cold. He didn't say a word, just looked away in disgust, like she was something he couldn't stand to look at.
He quickly swapped his shoes, opened the door, and slammed it shut.
The bang sent a jolt through Sylvia's chest, leaving her stunned.
She knew it. Edwin was about to give her the silent treatment again.
They'd had these silent treatments before, and every single time, it was because of Josie.
The longest one lasted half a month. They didn't say a word to each other.
In the end, Sylvia waited for him in the rain on set for two hours, catching a high fever. Only then did Edwin reluctantly mutter, "I don't like this. Don't do it again."
Every single time, Sylvia would go into full panic mode, trying every trick she could think of to calm him down.
She'd write apology letters, cook his favorite dishes, and even ask his friends to talk to him on her behalf.
Even if he didn't reply to her messages or pick up her calls, she still persisted, acting in a very self-deprecating manner.
But now, Sylvia walked into the kitchen with a calm, almost indifferent air, opened the fridge, and took out the ingredients.
Then she fired up her iPad and started searching for classic recipes.
[Creamy mushroom soup, tomato pasta, soufflé.] Sylvia carefully noted down the steps for each dish.
She was about to learning how to make this food.
Edwin never liked these dishes.
So for the past five years, Sylvia had dedicated herself to mastering classic styles for Edwin.
But now, she figured it was finally time to cook something she actually liked for a change.
*****
Scrolling Twitter in bed, Sylvia saw a fresh post from Josie show up in her feed. [The luckiest thing is that, after all this time, you're still by my side.]
The post was a nine-photo grid. The first was a throwback from ten years ago, both of them in school uniforms, looking shy and young. The middle shots were scattered moments over the years.
The last one was from the birthday party. Edwin stood behind Josie. His hands rested on her shoulders. They smiled straight at the camera.
In the comments section, Edwin's buddies and friends from the industry were dropping likes and leaving comments.
Kairo Zavala: [I'm literally tearing up. Seeing Edwin so happy just makes my day. So, when's the wedding?]
Fans jumped in too: [You two are perfect together.]
Josie replied to Kairo: [We'll let fate decide, no rush. Everything's just as it should be.]
Edwin left a smiley emoji in response.
Sylvia watched the trending post with a blank expression.
Edwin's friends had always looked down on Sylvia, thinking she wasn't good enough for him.
They always said Edwin deserved someone better. That only a childhood sweetheart like Josie was a real match for him, and a small-time actress like Sylvia would just drag him down.
But this time, Sylvia didn't make a scene like they expected. She didn't call anyone out in the comments or throw shade with a cryptic tweet.
She just quietly logged out of Twitter, opened a short video app, and watched a bunch of cat and dog videos. Then she set her alarm and turned off the lights to go to sleep.
By the time Edwin got home, Sylvia was already sound asleep.
He shook Sylvia awake, his grip so forceful it made her shoulder throb. He said, "Sylvia, wake up."
Sylvia blinked herself awake, groggy, and saw Edwin standing by the bed, his face dark with anger.
He snapped, "Sylvia, I'm out late and don't come home, and you don't even call once? Kairo's girlfriend blew up his phone eight times tonight, asking when he'd be back.
"But you? You're just passed out, sleeping like a log. Do you even still see me as your boyfriend, or am I just nothing to you?"