"Mia? Long time no see! You look so much thinner. How have you been?" It was Christopher, one of Daniel's important clients and someone I had worked with when I first started my career.
I forced a wry smile. No wonder Daniel had invited me; I thought I'd be the focus, but clearly, I wasn't.
We chatted briefly, and Christopher expressed his disappointment about my resignation. Meanwhile, Daniel had already ordered a feast of spicy dishes.
"You don't usually eat spicy food, right? Should I help you pick something else?" Christopher glanced my way.
Daniel looked surprised.
I chuckled lightly. "I'm just trying to shed some pounds."
I'd known Daniel for ten years—through high school, our first love, and now marriage. I had gone from being his shining star to just his everyday meal.
I remembered everything about him, but he seemed oblivious to my presence. It wasn't entirely his fault; after we got married, I'd been living according to his expectations, like a shadow.
The mood became awkward, and just when it felt like it couldn't get any worse, a striking figure appeared. "Daniel! Is that really you? What a surprise!"
Daniel's eyes flashed with surprise as he pulled Ada aside and spoke quietly. "Didn't we already hang out yesterday?"
Ada dismissed him with a wave and confidently sat down across from him. "This is fate! Look, you ordered all my favorite dishes. You don't mind if I join, do you?"
Yesterday, Daniel had skipped out on coming home because he was out with Ada enjoying the snow. Today, he was missing our shopping plans. I was the unchanging grain of rice, while Ada, a new hire and his former classmate, sparkled like a vibrant red rose.
Daniel's gaze flickered to me, clearly worried I might blow up as I had before. But instead, I simply raised my hand to call the waiter for another set of utensils.
