03
“Is there a reason I should be?” I raised my brow.
This question has to be a set–up.
“I mean, it being your birthday and all.” Sara said with a smirk waiting for me to throw a tantrum as I would’ve before.
“I spent the night eating hot ice cream, cold food and watching dramas on repeat. What could be better than that?” I asked.
Murmurs started to float across the table.
Sara frowned, looking sad. “I’m so sorry. I was just feeling a bit down yesterday after my shot flopped. The Astute Magazine photos didn’t come out as well as I hoped and they said they were not going to renew my contract.”
“The fireworks were beautiful. I’m just upset that Jared lied to me about where he was.” I folded my hands.
Sara clasped her hands together, making her voice sound so tiny and pitiful. “Please, don’t be mad at him. It’s my fault.”
After the Fireworks Faded
“He was the one who didn’t respond to my calls. Not you.”
I had always been the kind and understanding one and where did it get me? Abandoned on my birthday.
“I have you a gift.” Jared said.
“One day late. Thanks.” I raised my hand for Sara to see.
She gasped. “Is that a Starlight chain? Oh. Nice. He got me one too.”
Sara stretched her hand for me to see too, then she turned her head and tucked her hair behind her ears. “And look at the chain and the earrings. Now we’re matching like sisters.”
“Really Jared?” I turned to him.
Not only did he get her the exact same gift he got me, he got her a matching full set. And all I got was the extra bracelet gift that comes with the set.
“Oh
my.
Is there a problem?” Sara clung to his hand. “I think Ashley’s not happy that you got me the same gift as her. I think you should explain to her.”
“There’s nothing to explain.” Jared said, looking at me straight in the eyes. “It’s a gift. I can give it to whoever I
want.”
“You’re right.” I stood pushing my chair backwards. “Thank you for hosting me, Kimberly. I hope the rest of your birthday turns out better than mine.”
As I spoke, I took off the jewelry and dropped it on the table, then walked away.
“Ashley.” I heard Jared call.
But I didn’t answer. At least, now I know I’m saying to myself.
On the bus ride home, tears streamed down my face, even though I tried to keep a strong face.
All I could think about was how Jared changed when Sara entered the picture. I used to be the only one he cared about.
He would drop everything and come to see me, but now, even if I was in the hospital and the wind just blew at Sara the wrong way, he would go to her.
I remembered it so well, the day I tripped on the staircase. Jared had been ahead of me as I was trying to get some files, so I couldn’t see where I was going.
I took a wrong step and tripped. Jared hurried down and carried me to my room. I didn’t have any pain
medication, and he promised to get me some.
He was gone for hours. I couldn’t reach him.
I was so scared that something had happened to him that I walked all the way to the pharmacist on my nearly broken leg, hoping that someone on the way could tell me what was going on.
I got to the pharmacist and was told that Jared had received a call that some woman named Sara had returned to town and she was at the airport.
He abandoned drugs without paying even though my house was closer and on the way to the airport. I got my drugs and took a taxi back home.
It was till the following day that Jared returned my call and that was to invite me to a picnic for me to meet his friend Sara. He had forgotten what happened to my leg.
Since then, it’s always been like I don’t exist when Sara does. I tried to understand it because he said she had a health condition that made her sick and that her father was friends with his father, so she was like his sister.
But I thought my birthday would be different. It wasn’t.
I turned on my phone as soon as I got home and that was when I got a barrage of questions from Jared.
Jared: What’s the meaning of this
Then: Come back right now.
After the Fireworks Faded
Then: Come back right now.
Followed by. You’ve hurt Sara’s feelings. If you don’t want me to break up with you, come back and apologize. Finally. Great. You’ve ruined the party. Why do you have to be selfish. Call me as soon as you get home.
I tossed my phone on my bed and went to take a shower to prepare for bed.
There was no winning for me with Sara involved.
After my shower, I settled into my bed and picked up my phone to watch some more dramas when I saw a notification from Sara’s Instagram page.
I clicked on it. It was a picture of Jared and Sara under a candlelit balcony in a very intimate position.
She stood in front of him with her hands around his neck and his head was buried in her neck.
She had captioned the picture: To the man who made me believe in first love a second time. Thank you.
It was clear now. I was just a placeholder for Sara until she returned to the country. Now that she was back, I was disposable.
But he couldn’t make the choice to let me go.
I would decide for him.
I quickly responded to the post: ‘You two are a match made in heaven. Pure perfection.‘
It was almost like Sara was waiting for me to comment because she responded immediately. I didn’t wait to read her comment.
I blocked her on Instagram. Then I went around and blocked her everywhere else.
The only tie I had for her was Jared.
And I was done with it.
I saw my phone ringing again. It was Jared.
I shut down my phone and went to bed.