Asshole's Anonymous
JENNIE
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I hurriedly press the buzzer for Chaeng's apartment, holding it down longer than I should. My stomach roils, there's a lump in my throat I can't swallow, and anger burns through my veins like acid through flesh. After what seems like an eternity, Chaeng's voice crackles through the intercom. "Hello?"
"It's Jennie," I say tightly, and I'm sure I sound like a lunatic, but I have to find out the truth.
"Oh, hey." There's an awkward beat of silence. "What are you doing here?"
"Can I come up? I need to talk to you."
"Er . . . sure, I'll buzz you in."
The door clicks open with a loud buzz and I push into the foyer and climb the stairs to her apartment. Hushed voices come from inside. Great. It seems Chan is here too. Well, at least I'll get the truth out of one of them. Fueled by this new thought, I pound my fist on the door.
Chaeng opens it with a plastered-on smile. Behind her, Chan stands adjusting his shirt. I push past her into the apartment.
"Hey, Jennie," Chan says. He runs a hand through his dark hair and gives me that enigmatic grin that's gotten him everything he ever wanted—the one I'd always fallen for hook, line, and sinker. This time, it turns my stomach. I glance past them to the dining table set with candles and what looks like the remnants of a romantic meal. "Can I get you a drink?"
"I'm not staying."
Chaeng frowns. "This isn't about my dress, is it?"
"No, it's not about that."
"Then what are you doing here?" Chaeng says with a pointed tone. Chan rests his hands on his bride-to-be's shoulders, as if soothing the savage beast.
"How long?"
"How long what?" Chaeng snaps.
I turn my glare on Chan. "How long were you sleeping with my best friend while we were engaged?"
I didn't come here to accuse him. I didn't know for sure that he'd cheated. Until now. The indifferent expression on his face and the wide-eyed look of complete horror on Chaeng's confirms it. "Jenkins, please," Chan says, as if I'm being a difficult toddler.
"Don't fucking 'Jenkins' me. How long, Chan?"
"Jennie," Chaeng says. "We weren't—"
"You know, all this time I wondered if Chan had fallen out of love with me because of something I did, because I didn't try hard enough, I didn't give him enough. I should have realized another woman was already giving him everything he needed."
"We didn't mean to. It was an accident." Chaeng sobs.
Chan's voice is steely as he says, "We were over for a long time before that, Jennie, and you know it."
"Because you fucked someone else. You fell in love with someone else, with my best friend," I shout, and God, does it feel good to finally let it out. I wipe the tears from my cheeks and swallow hard. "So, I guess congratulations are in order. I hope the three of you are very happy together. God knows you two certainly deserve one another."
"Jennie," Chaeng begs. Fat tears roll down her cheeks and drip off her chin. "Jennie please, I need you. The wedding is only a few days away."
I turn and glare at her—the person who's been beside me, who's had my back since kindergarten, my best friend—and it occurs to me that I don't even know her anymore. I shake my head, and with tears streaming down my face unchecked, I walk out.
I head outside into the rainy winter night, and I just walk. Several blocks later, I find myself on Lisa's doorstep. I stare up at the brownstone. Her lights are on. I have no idea if she's ... entertaining, but I have nowhere else—no one else—to go to.
A man exits the building, and I catch the front door before it closes. Sopping wet, I slip inside and trudge up the stairs to her apartment, because even though I despise this woman, there's not another place in this city I want to be. Funny that my enemy should wind up the only person who can console me.
What is that they say about the ones you love hurting you the most?
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