Chapter 2

After an exhilarating game with my friends, we sat on the benches by the court, drinking water.

My friends joked, "We thought you'd forgotten about us since you got a girlfriend. We were about to stop inviting you out."

I apologized and promised, "I'm sorry, guys. It won't happen again. Count me in for any future plans."

"That's more like it! Come on, let's go to the internet cafe and play some games."

When I was with Sloane, I couldn't fit into her Instagram world, but I had slowly distanced myself from my own friends for her sake.

I revolved my life around her, prioritizing her above all else. Looking back, I realized how foolish I had been.

When I got home, it was almost midnight. I opened the bedroom door to find Sloane sitting on the bed.

She frowned and said, "Grant, why are you back so late? I had to order takeout for lunch and dinner. It was awful."

I opened the closet to get some clean clothes. "I ate at restaurants today too. The food was pretty good, not worse than home-cooked meals."

Sloane stared at me in surprise. "You used to say you'd cook for me every day and that I shouldn't eat takeout because it's unhygienic!"

"I was wrong. Living in this society, if you can't cook, you have to get used to takeout food."

A flash of anger crossed Sloane's eyes. "You say you're not angry, but you've been out all day without a single call or message, and you didn't come home to cook for me!"

I replied calmly, "I'm not angry. I was just hanging out with friends. My phone died, so I couldn't call."

Seeing my attitude, Sloane suddenly threw off the covers and got out of bed angrily. She grabbed me as I was about to leave, her voice shrill.

"Can't you be more understanding? I've told you we're just like siblings! What are you still upset about? Grant, my patience has limits!"

I shook off her hand. "I'm really not upset. I'm tired. I'll sleep in the guest room tonight."

With that, I took my clothes and went to the bathroom to shower, ignoring Sloane's calls from inside the bedroom.

That night, I slept soundly for the first time in a long while.

Sloane was a restless sleeper, kicking off the covers several times a night. When we slept together, I never got a full night's rest, having to get up multiple times to cover her.

Early the next morning, Sloane sat in the living room with her arms crossed, her face dark with anger.

I knew she was waiting for me to apologize first and make her happy.

In the past, whenever she was unhappy, I would beg for her forgiveness, even if I didn't think I had done anything wrong.

Then she would list a bunch of conditions, and only after I had fulfilled them all would she reluctantly forgive me.

This had been the pattern for years, and I was tired of it.

I ignored her, got ready, and left. I had important things to do today.