“What do you mean?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it.
She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “He just never changed.”
The peel fell in one long strip as she spoke.
“Last year, I mentioned once that I liked this limited edition watch,” she said casually. “I didn’t even remember saying it. But a week later, he flew overseas just to get it for me. It wasn’t even available locally.”
My fingers slowly curled.
“He showed up at my place in the middle of the night,” she added, smiling faintly. “But I was still mad at him back then, so I didn’t even let him in. I told him to leave and threw the box back at him.”
Her tone was light. Like it was nothing. Like his effort was something she could just throw away.
My mind went blank for a second.
Because I remembered. That same time. He told me he had a business trip abroad. Three days. When he came back, he handed me a watch. Just like that. No explanation. No emotion.
“Take it,” he said. “Saw it. Thought it suited you.”
I’d been so happy. I didn’t even wear it. I kept it safe, tucked away like something precious I didn’t deserve to ruin.