Goodbye Dear Exes, I have moved on

“You are right. After you said this, I also think this bracelet doesn't look very good on your wrist. I think It will look good on Emily's wrist. What do you think, Mike?” Darek said while looking carefully at the bracelets. Mike eyes' shined brightly as he said in an excited voice, “You are right. It was one of the latest collections and very expensive. Emily would surely love it.”

Darek then turned to me before saying, “ Janette, you didn't give any gift to Emily on her birthday yesterday. I think it can be the best present you can offer to your cousin.”

“ Darek is correct.” Mike added.

They didn't go to the depth of my words and promised me to buy a new one for me that would suit me better.

“Alright,” I said flatly before turning to my wardrobe to close it. Only now did they notice my wardrobe that was all vacant.

Darek narrowed his eyes as he asked, “Janette, why is your wardrobe empty? Where are your belongings?”

“What is going with you, Janette? Is everything alright?” Mike asked in a concerned voice.

After my father’s death, his home was a heartache to me. It has always been difficult to live here without him. However, Darek and Mike were my biggest support. With them, I never felt alone. However, after Emily's arrival, their feelings for me had been shifting slowly. Most of the time, I stayed at home crying day and night, missing my father. Meanwhile they were busy making Emily feel comfortable in a new place. Seeing them moving around Emily day and night who was the cause of my father's death, my heartache. I couldn't tolerate it anymore. So, I decided to move out from this place.

I remained silent. I didn't want to tell them all this. Seeing me like this, they were worried. Darek asked in a more concerned voice, “Janette, are you having any trouble? Or you are going out on a trip? You can tell us. We will help you.”

Before I could say anything, Mike's phone rang. It was again Emily's call. He picked up the call and her pitiful voice sounded from the other end,

“Mike, where are You and Darek? I’m at the hospital alone. I’m feeling really bad. Can you please hurry up? I want to move out immediately.”

“Don't be scared, Emily. We are coming soon.” Mike comforted her before hanging up as if she was a kid who was scared in the hospital.

Both of them left immediately to bring Emily home, completely ignoring me.

I sighed and shut the door. At that moment, my phone rang. I picked up the call. It was my Mom.

“Janette,” she called me in a soft voice, “It was the death anniversary of your father yesterday. How are you now? I wanted to call you but I thought you had your friends to accompany you. I know they will never let you cry.”

My mother’s words brought tears to my eyes, but I suppressed them. She then continued, “Janette, I met with an accident yesterday and got hospitalized. I want to see you. Can you please come over and visit me when you have time?”

“Mom,” I called her anxiously, “ Why didn't you tell me earlier? How did this happen? How are you now?”

“I’m okay, dear. Don't be so worried. I didn't call you yesterday because I didn't want you to be so worried about me. It was already a hard day for you. It's just that I’m getting old. I don't know how many days I have left. I want to spend some more time with you.”

“Mom, please don't say that. You will live long and don't worry, I’ll immediately book a flight to come see you.” I replied.

“Janette, there is one more thing I want to tell you.” She paused for a while then continued, “ You see your father is no more and I’m getting old. It's time that you should also settle down and find a suitable husband for you so that your mother can rest in peace.”

“Mom, please don't worry about me so much.” I tried to stop her but she cut me off and continued,“Janette, hear me out please. I have fixed a date for you with Sebastian Moore. He is the Alpha of Knighthood pack, one of the most powerful packs among the kingdom. Earlier I didn't interfere in your personal affairs because I always thought you would pick one of your childhood friends as your husband. But, after knowing Sebastian, I think he will be the best choice for you.”

“ Janette, your father's pack was not strong enough and after his death, it's so hard on you to handle pack duties alone. Besides, many people in the pack oppose you because you are a girl. After you get married to Sebastian, your position in the pack will never be challenged and he will even help you in handling pack duties.” She added.

I remembered how my parents used to celebrate my birthday together every year, even after their divorce. They will joke how close I was with Darek and Mike that made them think I would surely marry one of them after growing up. On this, Darek and Mike would fight. They both used to take their names and say that I will choose them. Now, my father was gone and my two childhood friends had shifted their feelings.

“Janette, why are you not saying anything? Please, don't get anxious about what I said. If you already had someone in your heart, I would surely not force you. After all, both Darek and Mike are nice kids. I just wanted you to consider Sebastian as well. But, if you don't want…”

“I will consider it.” I replied in a stern voice and hung up.