I sit there.
Bench cold. Mood colder.
Thirty minutes turn into forty-five.
Just when I'm about to mentally plan a breakup, a murder, and dinner—all in that order—
I see him.
Jiang comes jogging toward me.
Hair messy. Breath uneven.
Behind him…
Yep.
Her.
Walking calmly.
Not jogging.
Not apologizing with her lungs.
Amazing.
He stops right in front of me, bends down fast, head low like he's facing divine judgment.
"I'm sorry."
Oh.
He says it soft.
My hand twitches.
Like—
really twitches.
I want to slap him.
Hard.
Across that stupid handsome face.
For lying.
For making me wait.
For hanging up my damn video call.
For showing up late with a girl trailing behind him like a sequel.
I inhale.
Exhale.
Swallow all of it.
I stand up.
He's still bowed.
Like a guilty golden retriever.
The girl finally reaches us.
I look at her.
Then at Jiang.
Smile.
Sweet.
Deadly.
"Jiang," I say calmly, "let's go."
Pause.
"I'm hungry."
That's it.
No yelling.
No drama.
