From You to Another

Gabriel Black and I had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, and when we reached adulthood, our families arranged our engagement.

From the day the engagement was announced, I started counting down the days. However, Gabriel thought the whole thing was unfair.

“Other people get to fall in love a few times in their lives. Why should I be stuck with just you my whole life? You should date a few people, too. Don’t shortchange yourself.”

And he meant it.

In the year after our engagement, Gabriel went through seven girlfriends. Every time he changed partners, I would simply smile and say it didn’t matter. After all, I thought he would always come back to me.

That was until the eighth girlfriend came along. He brought her to the Black family’s annual banquet. She clung to his arm and called him Gabe.

I quietly set down my utensils. Right there in front of both families, I took out the engagement agreement and slid it to the center of the table.

“Gabriel,” I said calmly, “you were right. Staying loyal to just one person really is a loss.”

Later, I stood before him again, this time with my hand linked with the only son of the Graham family. Gabriel smashed his glass on the spot. For the first time, his eyes turned red.

“Erin, what do you mean by this?”

I smiled and said, “Didn’t you tell me to try dating, too? Well, I did, and it suits me just fine.”

I had been to the Black family’s annual banquet many times. Tonight, though, was the first time I walked through those doors without the title of “Gabriel’s fiancée.”

“Is that Erin? Why is she–”

“Who’s she holding hands with? Isn’t that the Graham family’s son?”

“Then who’s the girl next to Gabriel? What’s going on here?”

Gabriel Black shot to his feet. The movement was so sudden that the chair scraped harshly against the floor.

His eyes were red as he pointed straight at Felix Graham.

“Do you have any idea she’s my fiancée?”

Felix lowered his gaze and looked at me, as if silently asking whether I wanted him to speak. I gave a small shake of my head.

Susan Black, Gabriel’s mother, forced a smile and tried to smooth things over. “Erin, there must be some misunderstanding. Gabriel is just young and likes to have fun. In his heart, you’re still the one who matters…”

I looked at her and smiled as well. “Mrs. Black, he’s been having fun for a whole year with seven girlfriends, and I’ve never said a word. Tonight, though, he’s brought the eighth one to the family banquet. If I keep quiet again, should I start making room for the ninth next time?”

Gabriel’s father, Richard Black, turned ashen. He shot Gabriel a furious glare.

Gabriel opened his mouth to speak, but I raised my hand and cut him off.

“Gabriel, you were right,” I said. “Staying loyal to one person really is