He Gave Her Cash, I Gave Her a Ring

"That was a company dinner. Plenty of people were there."

"Mm."

"You don't believe me?"

"I believe you."

He lifted his head and looked at me.

"Then what are you angry about?"

I smiled.

"I'm not angry. I just think it's all pretty pointless."

I picked up my suitcase and headed for the door. He blocked the entryway.

"Where are you going to go?"

"Anywhere but here."

"Is this really necessary? Five hundred thousand, I'll pay you back, that's all. If it bothers you, I'll keep my distance from her."

I looked at him. Ten years, and this man still had no idea what I cared about.

"Move."

"No."

I set the suitcase down, took out my phone, and sent him fifty cents.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's how much we're worth. You and me."

His face changed, and his hand came down slowly.

I picked up my suitcase and walked out.

He called out behind me.

I didn't turn around.

As the elevator doors slid shut, I saw him still standing in the doorway, wearing those slippers I'd bought him last year.

The elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened.

He came running down barefoot.

"Wait."

I wheeled the suitcase toward the door, and he grabbed the handle.

"Over this? Ten years with me, and you'd walk out just like that, over an outsider?"

I pried his fingers loose.

"It's not that you don't want to get married. You just don't want to marry me."

He said nothing.

"You went to the movies with her last month. Don't think I don't know. Two tickets, and you paid."

He froze for a second.

"Several coworkers from the company were at that movie too."

"Really? Then why did you tag your location as the office, and she tagged hers as the theater?"

He let go of the handle.

I'd taken two steps with the suitcase when he caught up again.

"Fine, I admit it, I saw a movie with her that day. But it was just coworkers grabbing a meal and a movie. There was nothing to it."

I stopped and looked at him.

"You eat with her, see movies with her, wire her five hundred thousand, and then tell me there's nothing to it?"

He opened his mouth.

"Then let me ask you. When was the last time you took me to a movie?"

He thought about it.

"Can't remember, can you?"

He didn't answer.

"Ten years with you. My birthday, your birthday, Valentine's Day, our anniversary—when did you ever once ask me out yourself?"

"I don't like all that formality."

"You remembered her birthday clearly enough."

His face was ugly.

"Okay, I handled it badly. But walking out like this, don't you think you're overreacting?"

I gave a small laugh.

"You know, my mom called last week and asked me. She said you two have been together so long, isn't it time you thought about getting married. I told her soon."

"And the next day, I saw you wire her that five hundred thousand."

He lowered his eyes.

"I'll admit I didn't talk to you about that money. That was wrong of me. But her mother really was sick, she came to me for the loan, and I couldn't very well say no."

"She asks for a loan and you hand it over? Then why is it, when I ask you to marry me, you won't?"

He raised his head and looked at me, his lips moving a few times.

"Give me one more chance."

I turned, pulling the suitcase along.

"No need."

He shouted after me.

"Come back! Let's talk this through properly!"

I flagged down a cab and put my suitcase in.

He ran over, his hand braced against the car door.

"Don't go."

I looked at him for a few seconds.

"You never once said 'I love you' to me."