My Boyfriend Chose Her Birthday Over Our Year Chapter 05

My Boyfriend Chose Her Birthday Over Our Year Chapter 05

Derek stared at me in disbelief. “How can you think she’s so evil? She’s always telling me to pay more attention to you. She remembers our anniversary better than I do. She reminded me to get flowers and cake. She looks out for you all the time, and you treat her like the enemy.”

I shrugged. “Guess I’m just petty.”

Another knock. This time, the delivery driver with my medicine.

I took the fever reducer. Derek finally noticed I was sick. He reached for my forehead, but I shoved him out the door before he could touch me.

“You didn’t even know your girlfriend had a fever. Some boyfriend you are.”

The delivery driver snorted and walked off.

Derek must’ve felt humiliated. He knocked a few more times, but when I didn’t respond, he lost patience.

“Take your medicine. And don’t forget—tomorrow, Lauren’s birthday.”

Then silence.

I threw the cake and flowers straight in the trash.

The next morning, a reminder from Derek: [Downtown Hotel, Room 203. Don’t forget.]

I almost laughed. It was the room right next to the one I’d booked.

I showed up early with gifts. Everyone knew I was leaving. When they saw I came alone, no one asked.

My phone kept buzzing with messages from Derek. I ignored all of them.

A classmate noticed the extra gift box beside me. “Didn’t you already hand out all the gifts? What’s that one for?”

I called a server. “Take this to the party in Room 203. Just say I dropped it off.”

The server nodded and left.

Marcus nudged me. “Fight with Derek?”

“We broke up.”

From next door, faint strains of “Happy Birthday” and Lauren’s delighted squeal.

That party never needed me there anyway.

After our party ended, my classmates walked past Room 203 and stopped. “Isn’t that Derek and Lauren?”

A few of them glanced inside. “I thought you and Lauren used to be best friends. I figured she was busy today, but…”

They didn’t finish. Didn’t need to.

“It’s all in the past.”

Derek. Lauren. Both in the past.

I went straight home, grabbed my suitcase, and headed to the airport.

After security, I texted Derek: [We’re done.]

Then I pulled out my SIM card—and the only necklace he’d ever given me—and threw them both in the trash.