- Don’t You Want to Be with Me Anymore?
- Dont You Want to Be with Me Anymore?
Ryan
“Can you explain what the hell you’re talking about?”
I smirk at her confusion. She has no idea what I’m saying. Apparently, that i***t never had the courage to confess his
interest to her.
“It’s nothing. I was just talking for the sake of talking.”
Her expression changes, becoming serious. I know she’s upset.
“If you’re not going to tell me, it’s better if we hang up. You and I have nothing to talk about. Say goodbye to Candace for
Without waiting for a response, she hangs up. The screen goes dark, leaving me with the feeling that the emptiness in my
chest is growing deeper.
I know I’m selfish, but I don’t want her to find out about that damn i***t’s interest. Now they’re close. They work together, see each other every day… and just thinking about it makes my stomach churn. I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t help it.
“She’s still my wife and, if I wanted, I could stop everything. Not let her go free, not at the mercy of the person I hate most
in life.”
The day of the party at her house, I found out by chance. I was off in a corner, observing, as always.
Flashback
“Are you sure there won’t be a problem?”
My best friend from college had been invited to the opening of Dylan Morrison’s house and,
since he didn’t want to join me for a drink at a bar, I ended up accepting his invitation to the party. Apparently, the girl he liked would be there, and he didn’t want to miss the chance to see her.
“At these kinds of parties, no one notices who comes or goes,” he replies with a shrug, downplaying my concern.
His excuse doesn’t fully convince me, but I need a drink, and this is a perfect opportunity. And much better if it’s at that
guy’s expense.
From the moment we arrived, bitterness settled in me. Everyone seemed to be having fun, while I just wanted to drown my
thoughts in alcohol. I stepped aside, grabbed a bottle, and isolated myself in a corner.
That’s when I saw her.
Michelle arrived accompanied by her friend, that guy who’s always by her side. And when I noticed how Dylan looked at her, it all became clear to me.
The sky opened up for me.
Dylan was in love with her, and I wanted to make him suffer. What better way to get revenge than by making him watch
me kiss her?
Was it immature? Yes. But I didn’t care. Revenge is best when it’s cold, and I wanted to enjoy it.
I watched her. I waited for the perfect moment. When she was alone on the balcony, I knew it was my chance.
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< 29 Don’t You Want to Be with Me Anymore?
“What are you doing here?” she asks, curiously.
I’m about to tell her that fate brought me to her, but I opted for something more practical.
“I had nothing better to do. I don’t have a girlfriend now.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dylan approaching, holding two glasses. Then, without thinking twice, I pressed her against the railing and kissed her. With all the passion I could muster.
At first, I thought it was Blake’s lips against mine, but little by little Michelle’s softness and sweetness made me aware of reality, and the rhythm changed to one of greater intimacy and connection. It wasn’t Blake. It was Michelle. The shy girl who used to look at me in a strange way. Like Dylan looked at her.
That’s when I realized she loved me.
“Sorry… I shouldn’t have,” I murmur after we separate.
But she doesn’t seem upset. Her eyes shine under the streetlight, and her cheeks are flushed.
“I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect first kiss. Thank you, Ryan.”
I watch her walk away as I stand there, not knowing what to do.
Then, a noise makes me turn my head, and before I can react, a punch hits my face.
“If you want to take it out on me for what I did with your girlfriend, come after me. But don’t involve Michez in this.”
I wiped the blood from my mouth and looked at him mockingly.
“Michez? What a stupid nickname! As stupid as you and your brother. And you can’t tell me what to do. If I want to make her my girl, I will. And I’m going to enjoy it like you have no idea.”
I see him clench his fists, but I walk away before he can hit me again.
What I had to do… has already been done.
End of flashback
I don’t notice her presence until Candace is standing in front of me.
“Did mommy hang up, daddy?”
My daughter had gone to the bathroom, and I had taken that moment to talk to Michelle.
“Yes, my love. She had some things to do. Are you unsure about anything? We can call her back.”
She shakes her head immediately.
“No, with what she explained, everything is clear. Mommy is the best at doing homework, don’t you think?”
I can see that now that Michelle is not always around, Candace has begun to see her in a different way, with an
appreciation she didn’t show before.
“Yes, I think she is.”
An uncomfortable silence falls between us. Candace looks up, and her little eyes begin to well up with tears.
“I was unkind to her, daddy. I made her cry sometimes. Am I going to be punished for being like that to her?”
I don’t know what to tell her. If that were the case, I would deserve an even worse punishment. I’m an aware adult, and I’ve hurt her much more.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. I don’t know.”
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< 29 Don’t You Want to Be with Me Anymore?
I wrapped her in my arms, offering each other support. At this moment, we both feel lost.
“Tell me, do you still want Blake and me to be together?”
Candace thinks about it carefully. She doesn’t respond immediately.
“If you love her… After all, mom left the way clear for you.”
* Points >
My daughter has seen and understood everything. There’s nothing more to hide. Now I need to focus on the woman who was supposed to be my love all these years.
It’s time to do what we supposedly wanted so much just a few days ago, something that seemed unattainable, but is now possible, thanks to Michelle. Always Michelle.
And as if Blake sensed we were talking about her, the phone rings and her name appears on the caller ID.
“Ryan? I’m waiting for you… What time are you coming?”
I look at the time on my watch. I was supposed to pick her up at seven, and now it’s almost nine.
“I had some things to do with Candace, but we’re done now. I think we should postpone our outing until tomorrow.”
The silence on the line tells me she’s unhappy.
“I don’t understand you. First, we couldn’t see each other because you had to go back to your family. And now that you’ll soon be free, you say you don’t have time. It seems like one excuse after another. Tell me, Ryan… do you not want to be with me anymore?”
“What are you talking about, Blake? We’re together now, but be patient. Understand that I have commitments with my
daughter.”
“Alright. Then we’ll see each other tomorrow,” she replies with a yawn, resigned. “I’ll wait for you for training, and then we’ll go to your house. After all, I’ll soon be living there.”
I don’t argue any further and say goodbye too.
I put my daughter to bed and went to my room. I still haven’t gotten rid of my wedding photo. While lying in bed, I looked at it. A very young Michelle was next to me, looking happy in a simple white dress on our wedding day, contrasting with my dark suit. She’s smiling, while I remain with a serious expression.
My mother used to ask me when I would give Michelle the wedding she deserved, but I never had an answer.
“She gave you a beautiful daughter and a happy marriage, she deserves it.”
She was right… Michelle deserved it. But I always put it off, and she never demanded it. While Blake wants something
grand.
“Does she deserve it? What has she given me?”
I closed my eyes to stop questioning myself.
The next morning, I woke up feeling strange. It’s as if my mind is trying to grasp something it’s been avoiding for a long time. I spend a few moments staring at the ceiling, trying to sort out my thoughts. When I finally look at the clock, I realize it’s late. Candace must be awake by now.
I go down to the kitchen and find her eating breakfast quietly. She gives me a weak smile, but her thoughts seem to be elsewhere. There’s something in her expression, in the way she plays with her food, that tells me she’s pondering something important.
“Daddy, I want to stay with mom on weekends,” she says suddenly, straightforwardly. Her voice is calm yet firm. “I had a
great time and I like her house.”
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<79 Don’t You Want to Be with Me Anymore?
** Points
Her request took me by surprise, but it doesn’t bother me. It’s logical that she wants to spend more time with Michelle. I try not to show the slight ache in my chest.
“That sounds good. I suppose you miss her a lot,” I reply, though there’s a note in my voice. A strange tone. Perhaps a bit
of bitterness
Candace puts the spoon down on the plate and looks at me intently. Her eyes are full of curiosity, but also with a childish
concern she shouldn’t have.
“Daddy… When you marry Aunt Blake… Will you have more children? Will you love them more than me? And if mom gets. married and has more children? Will they be her favorites too?”
Her words hit me like a punch I couldn’t see. Something inside me refuses to imagine that scenario. Michelle with another
family. Me with another family. Candace feeling displaced. The mere idea churns my stomach.
I approached her and place a hand on her cheek, gently guiding her to look at me.
“Candace… I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I want you to understand something very clearly: you will
always be our favorite. No matter what.”
She looks at me for a moment, then gives a weak smile. She leans forward and hugs me, clinging to me as if finding
comfort in my words. I wrap my arms around her, trying to provide the security she needs, even though I myself feel lost.
Because, deep down, there’s something I can’t ignore.
I can’t imagine a future where Michelle has a new family, either.
