Our Anniversary Ends with an End

I was utterly exhausted; every bit of my energy drained from my body. I didn't have it in me to keep arguing with Yohann, so I pretended not to hear a word and headed toward my room. Even though Yohann and I had lived together for three years, we each had separate rooms and usually stayed out of each other's way. What was supposed to be cohabitation that brought us closer, as a couple somehow turned into something more like two roommates sharing the same rented apartment.

As I reached for my door handle, Yohann suddenly grabbed my wrist. His expression shifted, and there was a strange awkwardness as he said, "Your room hasn't been cleaned in days. Why don't you stay in my room tonight?"

Confused, I froze for a second. Yohann had always been strict about keeping our spaces separate. No matter what happened between us in the past, he firmly believed that even couples should

maintain personal privacy. So, what's with the sudden change? His suggestion felt off like there was something he wasn't telling me.

Suspicious, I pulled my wrist away and insisted on opening my door. As soon as I did, what I saw made my heart sink. Standing in my room and wearing my nightgown, a woman was rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Yohann, what's with all the noise in the living room? What's going on?" she asked.

The voice was unmistakable—it was Zandria, Yohann's childhood friend.

She stopped mid-sentence when she saw me standing there. She seemed caught off guard for a brief moment, but then, as if nothing were wrong, she put on a friendly face and said, "Ysha, you're back from the hospital! How's your recovery going?"

I just stood there, speechless, staring at her in my nightgown. Had she been here the whole time I was away?

Yohann's face briefly showed a flicker of discomfort before he stiffly said, "Zandria, go change your clothes first. We'll talk later."

He pulled me into the living room, his voice edged with anxiety as he tried to explain, "Last night, after dinner, we drank too much. I didn't want her driving home alone—I was worried something might happen on the way. So, I let her stay the night here. She slept in your room, but nothing happened between us. Please, don't misunderstand."

Oddly enough, I felt calm. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. There had been other nights when they went out, and he stayed over at her place. Back then, I confronted him, and we had a huge argument about it.

He must've remembered that fight, which probably explained why he was so eager to clarify everything this time. But now that we were breaking up, did any of it even matter?

I nodded, my expression neutral. "It's fine. I understand."

At my response, Yohann's anxious expression softened, though he still frowned as if trying to figure out why I wasn't upset. He studied me closely, clearly puzzled by my calmness.

I let him observe me without resistance.

A little while later, Zandria came out of my room, now dressed in different clothes. But instead of her own, she was wearing one of my dresses.

"My clothes got dirty yesterday, so I put them in the wash," she explained with a casual tone. Yet, as she spoke, she kept glancing at Yohann, her eyes filled with a subtle affection that didn't escape my notice.

Yohann, looking uncomfortable, quickly averted his gaze, pretending not to see her.

However, Zandria didn't seem bothered at all. She smiled sweetly and asked, "Ysha, you don't mind me borrowing your clothes, do you?"

There was an unmistakable edge to her words, a subtle hint of provocation.

I stayed calm, met her gaze without flinching, and replied evenly, "I don't mind. Yohann bought those clothes anyway, so feel free to wear them."

After all, I didn't intend to keep them.

For a moment, both of their faces froze. Yohann looked particularly displeased with my response, but since Zandria was still standing there, he said nothing.

Zandria, though she tried to maintain her smile. She couldn't quite hide the tension creeping into her expression.