Chapter 4
Although I decided not to love Jessica anymore, the sight of the photos still left my heart throbbing in pain.
The amazing memories we had woven together in the past did exist, but the fact that she preferred Benedict's company over mine still stood.
It was said that human brains were capable of saving good memories and deleting the painful ones.
Jessica had completely forgotten about the pain Benedict had caused her five years ago. Who was to say that I didn't go through the same process?
Ever since Benedict got back to the country three months ago, all that was left between me and Jessica were deceit and fights. But for so long, I relied on the amazing memories we had crafted over the past five years in order to numb my heart to the heartbreaking pain.
Only now did I finally realize the truth.
I stared at the photos on the wall. Among them were Jessica's bright smile and the hug we had shared beneath the fireworks. There were so many more photos depicting our happiness on the wall.
Slowly, I took down the photos one by one. After piling them up in the backyard, I set them on fire with my lighter. Flames licked the glossy paper instantly. Slowly but surely, the photos were reduced to ashes.
Memories were like a slow-acting poison—all they did was torture me. In that case, I might as well burn everything with fire. That way, I'd be able to clear up a lot of space in my mind.
My phone chimed at that moment. I tapped on the screen, only to find out that Benedict had updated his Instagram feed. The photo on the latest post showed Jessica leaning on his shoulder. The caption read, "Thank you for remembering our promise."
I just dropped a like on the photo before sending a comment of my own. "I hope you two can live happily ever after."
The next thing I knew, Jessica sent me a text immediately.
"What's with the act? You're the one who ruined the wedding! Do you have any idea that Benedict was so distracted by your comment that he tripped and fell? He even got hurt from the fall!"
Five years ago, Jessica was the one who hugged me while bawling like a baby. She was the one who told me she wanted to be with me, and that she'd spend the rest of her life making it up to me.
But five years later, she was also the one who trampled all over my pride and ego at the wedding. Not to mention, she had ditched me at the altar for another man.
I didn't respond to Jessica's text. Soon, I received a video from Benedict.
The video showed Jessica carefully disinfecting Benedict's scrape with some disinfectant. She blew on the injury from time to time, asking him if it hurt.
I recalled the time when I had suffered from a calf fracture after falling down the stairs a month ago. At that time, my leg had to be put up in a cast, which meant I had to be hospitalized.
I had called Jessica, hoping to ask her to take care of me at the hospital. She told me impatiently that she wasn't a doctor, so I wouldn't heal any faster even if she were there with me. So, her company at the hospital would be pointless.
Some time after that, I found out that it was Benedict's birthday on the day I got hurt. It turned out that my phone call had delayed the birthday celebration she had planned for Benedict. That was why she wanted nothing more than to end the call immediately.
A self-deprecating smile made its way to my lips as I drafted a text for Jessica.
"Let's get a divorce."
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