AS IT WAS「 RHEA RIPLEY 」

2

ii. Why don't we leave it at that?

Things weren't tense per se between you two, they were... just weird.

But how much time does it take to things go fuck up completely? For you, it was a time span of three hours.

Three hours since you woke up until your girlfriend announced her new schedule to you. Because she was leaving again anytime soon.

"So then I'm leaving for the UK for a few days and then another week here and then leaving again..." Rhea rambled, not looking away from the TV.

You snapped your head up from your sketchbook, frowning as you looked at her "Huh? Really?".

"Yeah...?" Rhea turned to stare at you from the couch.

"You just got here like two seconds ago and you're leaving already?" A humorless laugh escaped your lips and you shook your head "Wo-ah".

Rhea took a deep breath as she raised her eyebrows, an annoyed grin on her face before saying, "Y/N. It's my job, you know".

"I know. I always know" you stared at her and Rhea stared back, giving into a silent battle, until finally Rhea broke eye contact and sighed.

Your eyes softened slightly—because it was her— and you put your pencil down as you brushed your fingers through your hair. It was a dangerous zone you were stepping into, but damn, you didn't want to shut your mouth.

"You don't even seem to care anyway" your girlfriend frowned, crossing her arms against her chest without turning to look at you "The only thing you have done since I came here was working".

Frustration was starting to throb inside you, and you bit the inside of your lip to stop yourself from interrupting her because, really?

More than once your mind drifted to the unpleasant thought that Rhea had the idea that when she wasn't there, you would go home and sit and wait for her as if you were a lonely housewife or something. As if your only worry was to be a good girl and wait for your girlfriend to come back, and this pretty much confirmed it.

"Wait you're leaving, on the... 14th, right?" You suddenly asked as you did the math mentally "Oh, c'mon...".

"Yeah, what about it Y/N...?" Rhea mumbled "Why are you being so weird...".

"November 15, our anniversary!".

You whined quietly, trying not to sound too desperate. But this again—as if last year wasn't enough, how bad your luck could be that she was going to lose it for a single day?

Rhea's face lit up with realization, and she bit her lip as she rubbed a hand down her face with a low moan.

"Oh, babe. I didn't realize, I swear it just slipped my mind" she mumbled as she turned to look directly at you "You're right, I'm sorry. But I can't reschedule".

You groaned, letting out another heavy sigh as you dropped your head onto your hands "Yeah, most things have been slipping your mind lately".

She looked offended at first, then just disappointed "Please, don't be like that" she pleaded "I'll make it up to you".

Her tone was pleading, but her words sounded more like a command, an order to just drop it already. You scoffed quietly, raising an eyebrow as you looked back at her "I bet".

"Y/N".

"It's just...you have been missing important dates for like the past three years, c'mon mate" you sighed "Birthdays, anniversaries, everything! And I don't want to complain but it's getting old and it's getting... annoying".