Undercurrent
Chapter 1
My birthday dinner was a solo affair.
Instead of celebrating with me, Austin sent a
.20 digital gift card with the message: “|
love you.”
Then, his apprentice, Yuki, posted on social
media.
It was a screenshot of a ,000 transfer
from Austin, accompanied by the message: “I
love you forever.”
I didn’t make a scene. I just left town.
The first day I was gone, I heard Austin
brushed it off, saying, “She’ll be back in a few
days.”
A month later, he called, pleading, “I’ll send
you 0,000, just come back!”
But what I wanted was never money.
1.
Verdila neat was flended with
ment
Yuki’s post was flooded with comments.
They were from Austin’s friends; I knew them.
too.
“Wow, Austin’s so generous! Just throwing
money around.”
“I just saw Mia’s post. Austin only sent her
.20. Looks like Yuki’s still the apple of his
eye!”
My face went blank for a few seconds.
It was my birthday, and Austin had texted
early that morning, saying he was too busy to
make it.
He sent the .20 gift card.
“I love you.”
Suddenly, seven years of our relationship felt
like a cruel joke.
To him, I was worth .20, while Yuki was
worth ,000.
Yuki updated her post with a video.
It was in a karaoke bar; Austin was singing a
<
love song, staring deeply into the camera.
People were cheering, “Austin, you’re so in
love with Yuki!”
“Dump Mia and go public with Yuki already!”
The video cut off there.
My grip tightened on my phone. I felt a
suffocating pressure in my chest.
I glanced at the table. It was laden with a
dinner I’d spent two hours preparing.
There was also a cake I’d baked myself.
I’d envisioned a perfect birthday with Austin.
But he’d ditched me again, using work as an
excuse to be with Yuki.
He’d done this countless times over the past
seven years.
I was used to it.
I closed my phone, sliced a piece of cake,
and took a picture.
I posted it to social media.
I had a tradition of documenting every
birthday.
This year would be no different; I wouldn’t let
anyone ruin my routine.
After posting, I ate a bite. The frosting was
sweet, but it tasted bitter.
Our love, I realized, was like that frosting.
Except the frosting had a turd in the middle.
After the sweetness, only the stench
remained.