The One Before Everyone Else

The next day, a colleague handed me two movie tickets. I was told that a new movie was released recently and that it was worth watching.

“You and Camelia should go. It’s a sweet romance, perfect for you two!”

The colleague winked at me, then turned back to their work.

I thanked them and hesitated for a moment before deciding to call Camelia. The phone rang for a long time before the call was connected.

“Waylon, what’s the matter?” Camelia’s gentle voice came through.

I glanced at the movie tickets in my hand. The couple in the movie poster was all wrapped up in each other. “There’s a new movie out. Do you want to watch it together sometime?”

“Things are busy at the office right now. I can’t get away,” Camelia refused. Her voice was calm but distant.

I was about to respond when a man’s voice cut through the line.

“Camelia, I…”

Before I could hear more, the call abruptly ended.

I was a little confused. Why was Grayson with Camelia?

The next moment, my breath caught, and a sudden surge of pain made me stop breathing. It was intense…

My cancer symptoms were growing stronger.

After a long while, I finally regained control. Cold sweat ran down my cheeks from my forehead. I redialled her number as my body shook. “Camelia, will you be back early tonight?”

I tried to keep my voice steady, not letting strain show.

There was a faint rustle on the other end, and after a pause, Camelia’s indifferent voice replied, “We’ll talk tonight. I have to get back to work first.”

The busy tone that followed drained the color from my face even more.

The late summer air was heavy and stifling. Dragging my weary body through it left me drenched in sweat.

By the time I returned home, it was already 8:00 pm.

I went to the hospital that afternoon for more tests. The doctor had told me I needed treatment immediately, or I might not have much time left.

I let out a bitter laugh. Whether I lived a day more or a day less, what difference did it make?

I pushed open the apartment door. As expected, no one was home.

This apartment belonged to Camelia. She asked me to move in since we were about to get engaged. Usually, she would have dinner ready by this hour. However, ever since Grayson returned, I had not seen her home before 10:00 pm.

I glanced at my phone and realized it was my mother’s death anniversary tomorrow.

…

Camelia finally came back around 10:30 pm.

She walked in, exhausted, and hugged me. The scent of wood lingered on her. That was not her perfume. It was another man’s cologne.

I froze for a moment, and the words slipped out before I could stop them.

“Who were you with today?” I was referring to the phone call earlier in the day.

The look on Camelia’s face stiffened when she heard that. Then, she answered in a soft voice, “A colleague. Who else would it be?”

Her tone was casual, almost careless, and she touched her nose. She was lying.

My heart let out a quiet scream. Whenever Camelia felt guilty, she had this habit of touching her nose.

After a moment of silence, my eyes stung. “It was Grayson, wasn’t it? He was at your office? Why? Do you think it’s appropriate to be working in the same office as your ex?”

I realized how hollow my own voice sounded, but Camelia seemed completely unaware.

She simply rubbed her forehead with a weary look and spoke to me in a coaxing, almost childlike tone, “Stop sulking. He applied to my company the day he returned. I made him a department head since he’s capable enough.”

I froze in place.

I was at a loss for words for a moment.

Should I ask why she did not tell me, or why she lied about him being a colleague?

Then, I realized, the word 'colleague' was not wrong. He was a department head at her company now.

Hence, I stayed silent.

The plan I had to tell Camelia about my cancer was quietly shelved somewhere deep inside me. I did not know why I chose not to speak.

I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The pain inside me made my vision blur.

Camelia was asleep beside me. My hospital reports rested on her bedside table.

I pondered and slowly came to understand…. Perhaps it was because I had finally begun to see that Camelia did not love me as much as I had believed.