- 9.
For Jerry’s birthday, I specially picked out a gift for him.
I chose a men’s ring that matched the one on Ivy’s hand.
I figured he would especially like this gift.
Let this be the last birthday gift I give him before I leave.
After all, it’s his birthday. No need to be so cruel. I’ll tell him I’m leaving after his birthday is over.
Jerry drove to pick me up. He had bought a lot of groceries. “Let’s go home and cook. We’ll have a nice meal together.”
Seeing me about to sit in the back again, he stopped me. “Sit in the front.”
I didn’t refuse and got in directly.
Since it was his birthday, there was no reason for him to cook. He was in charge of washing vegetables while I did the cooking.
In my free time, lordered a cake.
We sat facing each other at the dining table. I took out the ring I had just bought. “Jerry, happy birthday.”
Jerry’s eyes lit up, but when I opened the velvet box, he froze.
I blinked. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? I saw you had saved it in your phone, so I bought it.”
Because Ivy wanted to wear matching rings with him, he had saved it.
3:44 PM
<
Plus I was about to leave anyway.
I thought I’d be considerate one last time and help them out.
Why sneak around behind my back? Isn’t it better to be open about it?
Jerry shook his head. “Don’t you know this matches the one on Ivy’s hand?”
I put a shrimp in my mouth. “I know. But you like it, don’t you?”
“But I want to wear matching rings with you. Susie, you’re my girlfriend.”
Jerry reached out to touch my hand, but I avoided it.
I put down my chopsticks and looked at him. “Jerry, we’re all adults. There’s no need to spell everything out.”
“We all know what’s going on in our hearts.”
Jerry was about to say something when a phone call came in. “Jerry, the power’s out at home. I’m so scared.”
Jerry frowned, responding impatiently, “Can’t you light some candles? Don’t you have any friends?”
“It’s my birthday today. I just want to spend it quietly with Susie. Stop making a fuss.”
“Jerry, I’m sorry. But I’m really scared. Can you come find me? My chest hurts so much.”
Ivy’s voice was choked with sobs. Jerry said flatly, “I’ll call you an ambulance. If you’re sick, go see a doctor. I’m not a doctor. I can’t treat
illnesses.”
T
I looked at Jerry. So he had always known Ivy was acting, but he was still willing to believe her.
“Susie…”
I cut him off. “Alright, let’s not talk about unpleasant things. It’s your birthday today.”
Jerry felt a lump in his throat. Even when cutting the cake, he was distracted. The cream melted in his mouth, tasting somewhat bitter.
