Coffee Mess

Gift Giving

Sandra's P.O.V.

For the next week, things were completely different with Ian. He suddenly became really sweet, he took me out every night to eat, he was driving me to and from the university every day, and he started getting me one gift per day. One day, as he has driven me from the university to work and we're at the back before I start my shift, he gives me a new phone.

"What's that?" I ask surprised

"A new phone" he says proudly

"Yeah, I can see that, but why? I have a phone..."

"Well, I remember you saying that your phone is starting to act up, so I went and got you a new one"

"The distance between starting to act up and actually needing to be replaced is about a year. I wasn't in an urgent need to get a new phone... "

"Oh, come on, I saw you searching for its price all over the internet, you obviously wanted this phone"

"First, I was searching it so I can estimate how much it will cost next year, so I could start shaving up from now and second, how do you know I was searching it?"

"The other day when I came in and you were at the bathroom, you had left your browser on and I saw it"

"Huh, ok. Anyway, I can't accept it" I say, giving it back to him, but he pushes it towards me again

"Please, it's a gift"

"So were the bracelet, the watch, the earings, the shoes, the handbag and the clothes...what's next? A car?"

"Why? You need a new car?" He asks with wide eyes, as if he would just run to get me one if I said yes

"No! I'm just asking. What happened? Why are you acting like that for the past week?"

"Like how?"

"Like you did something wrong and you feel so guilty about it, so you try to make yourself feel better by getting me gifts"

"It's not like that. I just wanted you to have nice things..."

"I have nice things. Is this your way of telling me that you don't like my style or something?" I ask kinda playfully

"No no, not at all!"

"Then what? I can't believe that one day you're this emotionally distant guy who doesn't even call and the next you're like that. Spill it, what has happened?"

"Nothing" he insists, but I tilt my head on the side, looking at him really not convinced

"Ugh, fine! I went to talk to Logan the other day..."

"What? When?" I ask, starting getting mad

"The day after I came back..." he replies guiltily

"Damn you, Ian! Why? What made you think this was the right thing to do?"

"What made him think that talking to you about our relationship was the right thing to do?"

"Fair..." I calms down a little "Ok, what did you tell him?"

"That he had no right coming and telling you all the things he did"

"I didn't tell you what he told me, though..." I say, looking at him suspiciously

"Oh, come on, I'm not stupid nor deaf. From what you told me, I understood he told you how wrong I'm treating you and that you should dump me. And, also, you told me that there are other people who wouldn't stand not hearing my voice not even for half a day, and that can't be something you thought about- he told you that"

"He did, yeah...Ok, so you talked to Logan, what does that have to do with you changing like that?"

"Well, at the end of our conversation, we tried to hurt each other's feelings, so he told me that you didn't choose me, but I just happened to be around when you decided to be in a relationship. I told him that he has his facts wrong and how we ended up being a couple. I proceeded by telling him that, apparently, you just realized how compatible we are and that's why you decided to be in a relationship with me and that maybe he's right about me just being around, and topped it with thanking him for letting you go. But then he was the one topping it, by telling me that he doesn't want my gratitude and to shove it up my ass and that the only thing he wants, is for you to be happy, so if I really want to thank him, I should make sure to make you happy. And that's what I've been trying to do..."

"So, let me get it straight: you got mad that a random guy I used to fuck, cared for me when you wouldn't even pick up the phone, and when you went to talk to him, he told you to make me happy and that's why u've been trying so hard to do that. So, here's a question: Are you trying to make me happy just to show him that you can?" I ask kinda pissed again

"No! Not at all! It was just at that moment that I realized he was right and that I should do whatever I can to make you happy. I definitely don't need to prove anything to him"

"And you think that buying me all kinds of stuff will cut it? Gifts are great, don't get me wrong, I love them as much as the next girl. But the joy they bring is temporary..."

"I know, but I love how your face lights up when you see what I got you"

"Everyone's face lights up with gifts, Ian"

"I don't care about other faces, I care about yours. And yours barely lights up when we're together"

"Again, the joy gifts bring is temporary. You can't make someone really happy by bringing them gifts. At least not me. I'm not a material girl, you know that"

"I know, but I don't know what else to do"

"Sometimes, it's not us that aren't enough. We're just not the right person for someone"

"Is that our case?"

"Maybe...Truth is I haven't thought about it"

"Think about it now, then..."

"I don't want to..."

"Why?"

"Because I think I know the answer and I don't want to admit it..."