Enjoy, my dear readers~
Xiumin was an average person, just a modest barista at a small café, but a sweet and dedicated person. He worked diligently for eight hours a day with a smile, and loved Jiao Lyn with all his heart, a beautiful girl he met on the streets who had lost the purse Xiumin found. Mind you, reader, his love was not unrequited; Jiao loved Xiumin too, and they were cutest girlfriend and boyfriend, always caring and looking out for each other.
'Jiao, I'm home.' Xiumin hung his coat up and neatly lined his shoes up against the wall.
'Xiu!' she greeted enthusiastically, jumping into his arms with a huge hug. 'How are you, today?'
'Tired.' he said, smiling softly.
'Aww, you poor thing.' Jiao sympathised, poking his nose affectionately. 'Go have a fresh wash, okay? I made some pasta.'
'You're wonderful, honey,' Xiumin replied gratefully, heading upstairs to their room. But before he went into the bathroom, he went into their room and logged onto his laptop to check a website. After being reassured, Xiumin set off and had his shower, mentally counting off the days it would take until he could finally buy that beautiful diamond ring.
'How are you feeling now, Xiu?'
'Much better,' Xiumin admitted, hugging his girlfriend by the waist, 'and how are you, today?'
'Great. I was allowed to go home early today. And so I got time to make you some pasta.'
'With the delicious sauce?'
'You bet.' Jiao winked and Xiumin pressed a soft kiss against her cheek. 'Thank you so much.'
A plate of mouth-watering pasta covered in tasty Italian sauce was set in front of him. Xiumin picked up a forkful and offered it to his girlfriend. 'Here. Say ahh.'
'Ahh. Mm thanks, Xiu.'
'Come on, let's share the rest.'
The whole plate was eaten in no time, and the two sat there in fulfilled silence, smiling with tomato sauce covered lips and satisfied stomachs. 'Mm.'
~
There was only a portion of money left to save now. And by the day, Xiumin felt more and more excited.
'Hello, my most favourite person in the world.' Xiumin said with a grin, and he swooped Jiao off her feet and spun her around. 'How was work?'
'Boring. Though there was a new guy at work today.'
'Yeah? What's his name?'
'Hmm... Like... Byun Baekhyun... I think?'
'Handsome?' Xiumin asked teasingly.
'Yeah. Very.' He wasn't a particularly jealous soul, so it was no problem.
'Rich?'
'I don't know. Yeah maybe?'
'What should we have for dinner today?'
'You.'
'Xiu!' Jiao squealed and swatted at him with both hands. 'I'm being serious here!'
'All right, I know. Can we have... cookies?'
'Xiu...'
'Fine. What can you make? Actually, you know what, I'll cook for once.'
'Really? What can you cook?'
'Uhm... Does kimchi spaghetti sound good to you?'
'You can cook that?'
'Hey...' Xiumin feigned offence. 'Well I'll get cooking, hey?'
Jiao nodded and settled herself on the couch, phone in hand.
Xiumin turned away and began preparing ingredients. A few more weeks, and I'm buying it.
~
He had finally gotten the ring. It was lovely diamond one, with a band of white gold, and it was settled in a black velvet box, waiting.
Xiumin drove to Jiao's office. He saw her in the hallway. 'Jiao!'
'Xiumin? Why are you here?'
Xiumin? She always called me Xiu, he thought, eyebrows furrowed.
'I wanted to surprise you.'
'Oh...? But I wanted to-'
'Yes?' Xiumin asked patiently.
'-I wanted to break up with you.'
'Excuse me?'
'I w-wanted to break up with you.' Jiao stuttered.
'Why?' His voice was surprisingly even.
'B-Because... I fell in love with someone else.'
'Did you?'
'Well, you see, Xiumin, he's better off-'
'So he's richer, and more handsome?'
Jiao looked at him in embarrassment. 'Don't say it like that.'
'So you admit it.' Now his voice was steely. He stared right at her, eyes hard.
'Xiumin, you have to understand-'
'What is there to understand?'
'That he's-'
'Better. I can tell, or you would've stayed with me right? We could've lived together, forever, in our little eternity of happiness, right?' Xiumin pulled out the ring box and flipped the lid open.
Jiao gasped. 'No way.'
He didn't say a thing, but looked at her sadly.
'I was so convinced-'
'About what? That I was poor, Jiao?'
'No.' Jiao denied hastily.
'Then...?'
She sighed. 'I'm so sorry, it's just that, he uhm...' Jiao fidgeted, twisting her hands this way and that.
A twinkle caught his eye. A large, heavy-set diamond glimmered tauntingly on her fourth finger. What?
'He proposed to you with a larger diamond, earlier. Well I guess I'm sorry, Jiao.' How long had those two been dating? Three weeks? How long had they been dating? Three years?
Jiao's eyes widened. 'Why? Why are y-you s-sorry?'
'I'm sorry that I didn't have enough money to make you happy. And that even time, dedication and love wasn't good enough to please you.'
'No, it's not like that-'
'I hope you're happy with this richer guy. Goodbye.'
He turned.
And left the building.
Xiumin wished that he hadn't picked up Jiao's purse so many years ago. He wished he was perhaps a bit better off. He wished that everything didn't have to be so centred around money.
Because this money, this wealth, had spent too much of him that couldn't be returned, and changed too much of him that couldn't be reverted.
I'm spent, he thought as he entered his silent apartment. So tired, so tired.
The End.
Hope that was alright! Vote and comment! Thanks! ~Kieva
