Burn Them All

As I lay on my bed, I kept going through the memories of my relationship. When I first dated Sophie, she was… clingy. She even said the air tasted sweet whenever I was around.

Whenever I called her, she would drop everything she was doing just to come to me. And she was a jealous woman. If she noticed any girl lingering around me, she'd throw a tantrum. Her jealousy went so far, she insisted on personally vetting my guy friends.

She took care of everything in my life. It was a smothering love for most people, but I loved it.

Still, she was no longer the old her. She'd changed. I was no longer the same man who only cared for her.

And then my phone buzzed. I checked who it was—Fabian Focker, Sophie's assistant.

"Best birthday ever, Sophie. Thank goodness you're around. You made me a happy man. Oh, and I have a surprise for you on my Instagram. Check it out."

I was in a daze, but before I could say anything, the message was deleted. "Sorry, Mr. Terraton. I didn't mean to send that to you."

I snickered and shook my head, then I tossed the phone aside. Didn't mean to send it to me? As if.

I first met Fabian when he was just a fresh graduate. He knew nothing about his job, and everyone ostracized him. He eventually made a big blunder that risked his job.

His boss wanted to fire him, so he came to me, crying his heart out. Then he told me about his life. It was a sob story. I decided to give him a chance and teach him how to do his job.

Thanks to that, he got Sophie's attention. When she asked for him to be her assistant, I was happy for the guy.

I did not think someone who looked like an honest man could be so conniving. The one I taught myself ended up as the one who cut through my relationship the most.

…

The next day, I bought a ticket for a trip back home, then I went to the company and handed in my resignation letter.

Sophie was surprised to see that letter. "Are you for real?"

"Obviously." I smiled.

She fell silent. A long while later, she replied, "Stay. The company needs you."

"You don't get to call all the shots here." I turned around.

Before I could leave, Sophie came after me and held my arm. "Two days!"

I looked at her.

For once, a hint of panic flickered on her face as she continued, "Two days. After I'm done with my work, we'll get that marriage license. Just trust me one more time, alright?"

I looked at her, calm and quiet.

"Just give me another chance." Sophie seemed worried. It almost felt like she was waiting for my answer.

I was seized by an urge to tell her that I was going to get married to a woman who was not her. That woman was her sister, the very one she grew up fighting against. I wondered how she would feel.

In the end, I said nothing and left the place. I got back home and scanned the study. The whole house, really. There were photos everywhere, and they reminded me of the past.

Was I moved? No. Frustrated and restless? Absolutely. I tore off all the photos and threw them into an open brazier.

Halfway through the burning, Sophie came back. She was supposed to be at work.

Late-night Call

"What are you doing?" she screamed. Sophie lunged at the brazier, worry etched on her face. She tried to salvage the photos, but they were all burned to a crisp, and the flames roared higher.

She couldn't even get close. "Why did you do that?" Sophie glared at me, and her eyes were red with rage. I could hear the tremble in her voice. Perhaps it was not an act. Perhaps she really did feel that way. Perhaps.

Even so, the only urge I had was to laugh. She cherished the pictures so much, yet she couldn't care less about my feelings. Ironic.

Impassively, I grabbed the photos she was holding and tossed them into the flames. "Keeping the photos of the one you fell out of love with is a bit weird, don't you think?"

Sophie froze. "You're still mad about what happened that day?"

Before I could say anything, she screamed, "What do you want? I've explained myself, and I promised we'll get that license in a couple of days! What more do you want from me?"

Compared to her rage, I was calm. I smirked. "Then, these photos have no reason to stay. We can go on a trip after we get married. We can get a lot of wedding photos by then."

My sudden change came out of nowhere. It stunned Sophie for a moment, and she repeated what I said. "Trip…"

Then, something struck her, and she nodded. "Fine. Fabian wanted to go on a trip anyway. We can do it together."

My heart was already dead enough. What she just said added another wound to it. All she could think of was Fabian, no matter what the conversation. Even though it was supposed to be a trip for the two of us, she wanted him to tag along.

'Typical Sophie,' I thought, and I cursed my stupidity. I couldn't believe I expected more from her when I knew her true colors.

It was late at night, and Sylvie called me. "I'm going to bid for our wedding rings, and when I get them, I want you to wear them around my finger."

She sounded cheeky and a little less like her usually sophisticated self. I said yes immediately.

Then, silence. Moments later, Sylvie grumbled, "Do you have anything you want to tell me?"

I mused over the matter and heaved a sigh. "I do, but it can wait until you're back."

"Fine by me." Another pause later, Sylvie asked, "You do know what marriage means, don't you?"

Loyalty. I knew what she was worried about. After all, her sister used to be my whole world, and Sylvie was worried I might betray her. "I do."

I added, "But I chose to marry you. I will not pay any attention to any other woman."

"Good. I can't wait for the day we meet."

That cheered Sylvie up, and she hung up.

After coming out of the shower, I noticed an email in my inbox. It was an invitation to a music conference.

For once, I got excited. Music was my dream, but I gave it up to help Sophie's career and joined her team instead. Now that I had another chance, I refused to let it slip away.

Shameless Guy

My excitement kept me up that night.

Then, morning came. Someone rang the doorbell, and I opened the door. The first thing to desecrate my eyes was Fabian's disgusting face. He was smiling.

"Congratulations, Christopher. I wasn't expecting an internationally famous musical organization to set its eyes on you. I wish I were you. You're a lucky man."

He chalked this up to luck? I didn't care. I was not going to argue with him, so I extended my hand. "Give me the invitation."

He did not give me the invitation. Instead, he shook his head. "Why should you get this opportunity? I'm a music academy graduate as well. You're not better than me. How about this? You give me the invitation, and I'll put in a good word with Ms. Riverson for you."

I almost laughed, yet I was also taken over by a deep bitterness. How sad. Sophie was supposed to be my wife, yet I needed someone else to put in a good word with her so she wouldn't be mad at me.

"Do you have any idea how stupid that suggestion is?" I looked at him coldly. "If you didn't get the invitation, that means you're not good enough. That fact will never change, and you think you can just take another person's spot just by talking it out? Untalented and stupid."

I grabbed the invitation, but Fabian refused to let it go. Instead, he put on a look of discontent and defiance. "We're colleagues. You didn't have to go that far, Christopher. Besides, it's just one invitation. Surely you can find it in yourself to give it away. If you're that talented, you can be successful even without this invitation."

How could someone say something so… audacious? Did he have no shame?

That's it. I lost my patience and stepped forward. "I'm not wasting my time making small talk with you. Give. It. To. Me!"

And then I saw Sophie's car stopping at the entrance. At the same time, Fabian screamed and stumbled backward, then he crumpled to the ground.

"Fabian!" Sophie shouted and rushed over to us. Worried, she picked Fabian up. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Sophie." Fabian was still on the ground, looking hurt. "I was going to give Mr. Terraton this invitation, and I was wondering if he would give this spot to me. I can understand why he got mad."

Ah, the good old tactic of muddying the story so I would look like the villain. Given that little show he put on earlier, anyone who didn't know the whole story would think I was the assailant.

I was impressed with Fabian's scheming side, still, I remained calm and pointed at the torn invitation. Coolly, I said, "The invitation is mine to begin with. You had the gall to try and take it from me, and you ruined it just because you couldn't. As if that's not enough, you're accusing me as the villain instead?"

I thought I made it clear enough who the bad guy here was, but naive little Sophie looked dark.

"You beat him because of that? Unbelievable! I'm severely disappointed, Christopher! It's just a stupid invitation! Do you have any idea how sick Fabian is? Apologize, now!"

I looked at her quietly. Color me not surprised. "Why?"

"Why? Because you hit him! An apology is the least you could do!"

And that was her answer. I snickered and turned back into the house. Sophie wanted to say something, but Fabian pulled her back.

"It's alright, Sophie. He is in the wrong here, but I'm not mad at him."

Fabian's supposed understanding cooled Sophie down. She snarled at me before taking Fabian away.

I saw that through the peephole, and the scene kept me quiet for a while.

I had one tiny sliver of hope left for Sophie before she showed up, hoping she would take my side.

That hope was gone. Now I was sure the right move was to leave.

Hours after they were gone, Sophie texted me, "Don't take it to heart, Christopher. I'm not mad at you, but Fabian donated his blood to me. Can you just take a step back and see things from his side? Be the bigger man, will you?"

I snickered. If I had a screwdriver and her explanation in my hands, my value would only be increased by the screwdriver's value.

And then a strong sense of exhaustion took over me. No, I didn't feel any discontent or fury. I was just… tired.

Maybe it was time to drop some weight.