Proposal No. 101

I paused for a moment before instinctively saying we didn't have the gear.

I had asked Drew to go hiking with me several times in the past. Each time, he claimed he was too busy, too old, or just didn't have the energy.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and sent me his exact location.

"Tammy's feeling down. Hiking helps clear her head. Hurry up and bring the gear over. We're going to watch the sunrise."

As I grabbed the two matching couple outfits from the closet, it felt like my heart was being torn in two.

Being a software developer, Drew was constantly swamped. I hardly ever saw him.

Even when I was sick for three days with a viral infection and a high fever, he showed no concern. He told me he had too much going on to bring me to the hospital.

Yet he somehow managed to find time to go night hiking with another woman now.

Had Drew already forgotten about the important meeting waiting for him the next day?

The call was still connected. Tammy's soft, sweet voice floated through the speaker. "Hey, Drew. Is Bridget getting jealous? Why don't we bring her along?"

"No way. Why would I drag that deadweight around? Right now, making you happy is all that matters."

I could hear their breaths mingling. Flustered, I quickly ended the call. I decided to hand the gear off to a delivery worker instead.

Usually, I was the one running errands for Tammy. I would fetch her files, wait in line for the trendiest products, and even drag myself out of bed in the middle of the night to pick her up when she was too drunk to get home.

Drew always insisted it was my responsibility to take care of her.

But why should I listen to him? After all this time, he still hadn't officially proposed.

At 4:00 am, I received a photo showing Drew with Tammy wrapped in his arms.

"Hey, Bridget. Don't read too much into it. Drew was just keeping me warm so I wouldn't catch a cold. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."

Drew, of course, found Tammy's passive-aggressive behavior nothing short of delightful.

"I hope you both have a good time," I replied.

Later that night, Drew returned carrying a trembling Tammy. "Tammy's caught a cold. I need you to take care of her for a few days."

Tammy usually strutted through the house like she owned the place. But this time, she stumbled, nearly tripping over the clutter that littered the living room floor.

"Damn it, Bridget! Why is the house such a mess? Are you trying to hurt Tammy on purpose?"

As Drew reached out to steady her, he suddenly shoved me into the sharp corner of the coffee table. A searing pain tore through my side, and my skin turned ghostly pale.

Even so, he didn't spare me a second of his attention.

Tammy clung to him tightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Bridget must still be mad I ruined your proposal—"

But before Drew could respond, I cut in sharply. "Drew, there's something important I need to say, but it has to be between just us two."

As my words landed, he instinctively pulled away from Tammy.

"Drew, I'm really hungry…" Tammy whined.

Without missing a beat, Drew turned to her. "Hold on. I'll make you something to eat."

And just like that, my words slipped from his mind.

Tammy stuck her tongue out at me and quickly skipped after him.

I shook my head helplessly. There was no use saying anything anymore.

By the time I finished tidying the bedroom, Drew and Tammy were already at the dining table, lost in their own little world.

Drew carefully blew on a spoonful of soup. His gaze was warm and affectionate as he offered it to Tammy.

Tammy pulled back shyly. "Hey… I don't really feel like having soup right now."

"Be good, okay? You're sick. Some warm soup will help you get better soon."

Drew gently cupped the back of her head, holding her like a rare and priceless treasure.

The delicious smell of the dishes lingered in the air.

As a self-proclaimed tech guy, Drew always insisted he had no idea how to cook. So even when he was home resting, I was the one left to prepare dinner after working overtime.

One evening, I was utterly drained after traveling between multiple work sites. I tried to convince Drew to make some mac and cheese.

Instead, he snapped impatiently, "Isn't cooking your job? You're too old to act like a child. Have some dignity, will you?"

At that moment, I felt completely unworthy. I shoved those tangled thoughts aside and poured myself a glass of water.

Suddenly, Drew spoke up. "Do you want to join us for dinner?"

I shook my head. Tammy was a clean freak, after all. She was always careful to avoid eating anything that might have come into contact with others.

The last time Drew brewed chamomile tea, I drank some casually. He ended up throwing away the rest of the pot before angrily lashing out at me.