I just realized it belonged to Henry. I glanced at it and read a message that appeared on the screen.
“Mmm, the crab soup that you treated us to was so delicious and satisfying! To express my overflowing gratitude, I’ll personally cook a feast for you later!”
Glancing at the lone crab in the trash bin, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Early the next morning, I woke up early and finished my makeup. Just as I was about to leave, Henry got up.
“It’s the weekend. Where are you going?”
“Company team-building.”
I said softly, “By the way, if Inez comes to spend the night, remember to buy condoms. I threw out the expired ones at home.”
Without another glance at him, I turned and pressed the elevator button. There were so many male colleagues at the company and Henry had worried about this for a long time.
Over the past six years, he’d urged me to quit my job countless times. To give him a sense of security, I cut off all social connections outside of work.
In six years of employment, I never attended a single company team-building dinner. Even at the most important annual meeting at the end of the year, I always found excuses to skip.
Over time, I became perceived as a cold and unsociable person by my colleagues. This time, I was about to leave and I finally took part in a two-day group tour for the first time.
After I really relaxed and played games, barbecued and chatted with my colleagues, I realized that they were actually very friendly. When I mentioned my plans to travel to France, Karina put her arm around my shoulder.
“It’s time to come out and have some fun. Why are you living like a monk when you’re so young?”
Holding my drink, I felt a mix of emotions in my heart. “Yeah, I just realized I’ve missed out on so much!”
For a love that never blossomed, I missed the whole world’s scenery. Throughout the two-day team-building trip, Henry’s messages never stopped.
[Did you have fun? Who are you hanging out with?]
[Where are you staying tonight? Do you need me to come over and accompany you?]
[When are you coming back? Want me to pick you up?]
[What are you doing? Why aren’t you replying to my message?]
My phone screen lit up again and again.
In the past, when I went out for meetings, I would always take pictures and report everything in detail, out of fear of causing any misunderstandings. However, when I sought the same sense of security, Henry became very impatient.
“I am a human being, not your pet. I need my own space and freedom.”
There was a serious car accident on the way back and it took me until late at night to get home. When I dragged my suitcase through the door, Henry was still awake.
“You finally decided to come back? I thought you’d forgotten your way home!”
I was so tired that my eyelids were clenching and I was too lazy to argue with him.
“We got caught in a car accident and have been stuck here since.”
Henry stood up suddenly, with suppressed anger in his voice and said, “That’s not what I’m talking about. Why haven’t you replied to my messages these past two days?”
“Throwing a tantrum like some teenager, running off home? Can’t communicate when you’re upset? Have to resort to silent treatment?”
So he did know that giving me the cold shoulder was wrong. But he still let me wear myself out, lose sleep and eventually apologize before he would finally accept it.
“I was attending a company event and didn’t lose my temper, Henry. My schedule is too full and I don’t have time to reply to your message. You know this best. In the past, you were often too busy to reply to me.”
I ignored him and headed straight to the bathroom to wash up. When I emerged, the living room lights had been dimmed to a warm yellow. The TV was on and a glass of red wine was set out on the coffee table.
“You’ve been wanting to watch this movie for ages. Tonight, I’ll watch it with you.”
I yawned, my eyes looking heavy and sleepy. “No need. I already watched it myself on my birthday.”
Without looking at his instantly ugly expression, I walked straight into the bedroom and locked the door behind me.
