Our Anniversary Ends with an End

Chapter 7

Handling the paperwork was easy enough, but the long lines ate up most of my afternoon. By the time I was done, the sun was already dipping low, and my stomach wouldn't stop growling.

My brother picked me up, and the moment I slid into the car, he glanced over and said, "Let's grab some dinner before heading home."

I stifled a yawn but nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."

Even though it was just a Thursday, the restaurants were packed. We had to circle around for a while before we finally found a small place tucked in a corner with an open table. As we stepped inside, my eyes immediately landed on two familiar faces.

Yohann and Zandria.

They were seated at a small table near the entrance. Zandria, true to form, was snapping photo after photo of their food, and even reached over to capture Yohann's plate. He looked mildly annoyed but still pushed his dish toward her without complaint, the way someone would when they're used to this kind of thing.

He was always so much more patient with her. More willing. More everything.

And seeing that contrast, between how he was with her and how he'd been with me, hit harder than I expected.

I guess I must've been staring too long because my brother followed my gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"You know them?"

I snapped my head away and shook it quickly.

"Nope. Don't think so."

A waiter led us to a table just behind theirs, separated only by a thin wooden screen. We couldn't see them anymore, but unfortunately, their voices carried through loud and clear.

"Yohann, why's Ysha been so dramatic lately?" Zandria's voice was light, almost amused, but there was an edge underneath.

"She ran away from home over something so small. What are you gonna do when she pulls this stunt after you're married?"

Yohann let out a slow sigh. "She just has a short temper. She cools off quickly. All I have to do is coax her a little, she'll come around."

I stared at the untouched menu in front of me, my appetite slipping away by the second.

Then Zandria's voice dropped to something a little more teasing.

"If I'd known things would end up like this, maybe I should've said yes back when you confessed to me. Would've saved you the trouble."

Silence followed. He didn't reply, but he didn't deny it either. And that told me everything I needed to know.

That's why he was always so patient with her. So eager to please her. She was the one he had wanted all along. I was just... filling a space.

Suddenly, the food in front of me looked like nothing more than clutter. The illusion I'd been holding onto for so long had finally shattered.

Then Zandria's voice cut through again, this time a little softer.

"So... if you and Ysha get back together, does that mean no more bungee jumping or rock climbing? You went out of your way to learn that stuff and even got over your fear of heights for me..."

The urge to laugh bubbled up in my chest, except there wasn't a trace of humor in it. He had pushed himself for her. Stepped out of his comfort zone, overcome fears, and made sacrifices.

And with me? He made excuses. Told me I needed to change. Told me I was the problem.

I guess I was never really in the story. I was just a placeholder in theirs.

Then Yohann spoke again, confident as ever.

"I actually like that stuff now. We'll still go."

Across the table, my brother was watching me, his brow furrowed. He didn't miss a thing.

"That 'Ysha' they're talking about... that wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"

I didn't even try to deny it. I just gave a quiet "mm."

He let out a dry laugh, part disbelief, part annoyance.

"Wow. I really thought you had better taste. You fell for that guy?"

I gave him a small, bitter smile.

"Sometimes, you don't really see what someone's like until it's too late."

He leaned forward and tapped my forehead like he used to when we were kids.

"If you even think about getting back with him, I swear I'll disown you."

That made me smile, just a little. His protectiveness warmed me more than anything else had that day. But going back to Yohann? That was a line I'd never cross.

I'm not the type to look back. And he was never worth it in the first place.