My Reserved Seat is No Longer Yours

I have a habit.

Whenever I eat, watch a movie, or take a cab, I always leave an empty seat next to me.

I used to believe that Austin would suddenly show up in my city and give me a surprise.

But during our three years of long-distance relationship, he never came. Not once.

So, I ended up doing everything alonetrying on wedding dresses, booking the venue, running myself ragged until my body finally broke down.

With trembling hands, I sent him a Snapchat message.

[I have a fever. It's 102F, and I don't have any medicine at home.]

He didn't reply until half an hour later.

[And?]

[What do you want me to do, grow wings and fly over to drop off some Tylenol?]

[I'm still reviewing a project proposal. Just order something on UberEats.]

My fever was so high that I couldn't even lift my fingers. I drifted into unconsciousness.

When I woke up, my best friend, Chloe, was sitting by my bed with red eyes, holding a glass of warm water and medicine.

"He's only taking advantage of how understanding you are," she said softly. "If it were me, I would have thrown a tantrum long ago."

Two weeks later, Chloe also came down with a high fever.

I wanted to rush over to take care of her.

But then, she posted a photo on Ins. It was a close-up of a man's hand holding a spoon.

[Sick during the season change. Thank God my knight in shining armor flew across three time zones overnight just to make me dinner.]

I couldn't have mistaken that hand.

On Austin's wrist was the luxury watch I had saved up half a year's salary to buy him.

At that moment, it hit me.

The empty seat beside me wasn't vacant because he couldn't make it.

It was because he simply didn't want to.

Since that was the case, keeping that seat open for him would just be foolish.

Holding a bag of medicine, I stood outside the door of Chloe's apartment.

The door wasn't fully closed. Inside, Chloe's nasal, congested laughter drifted out.

"You flew back overnight? What about the NYC project? Are you really planning to stay in L.A. for good?"

Austin replied without a second of hesitation.

"I don't care about the project anymore."

"I couldn't focus knowing you were here having a fever alone. I've already applied for a transfer back to the L.A. branch. No more long-distance for us."

Chloe's tone was playful. "If Elena finds out, won't she be thrilled to death?"

"I only care about your happiness."

My fingernails dug into the plastic handles of the bag, leaving bloodless white marks on my skin.

Three years ago, holding my mother's critical illness notice, I had grabbed his sleeve and begged him to stay. I asked him if we could not do long-distance.

He had packed his suitcase and walked out without looking back.

"Elena, you know how crucial this promotion is for my career. I'm doing this for our future. Be mature."

The night he chased his bright future, my mother passed away. I shook and cried alone in an empty house.

Over the past three years, I had suggested ending the long distance countless times.

I was even willing to compromise, to give up my career in L.A. just to move to NYC for him.

But he rejected me every single time.

"The cost of living in New York is too high. If you move here, you'll only drag down my progress."

"Stop trying to hold back my career with your emotional insecurity."

But his precious career and future suddenly became worthless when Chloe got a common cold.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Austin was sitting by the bed, holding a bowl of warm soup.

The moment he saw me, his brows knitted together.

"What are you doing here?"

I placed the bag of medicine on the nightstand.

"I came to see Chloe. And, of course, to see the knight who flew across three time zones."

Chloe quickly waved her hands in panic.

"Elena, please don't blame Austin. My fever was just so high last night, and I complained to him on Snapchat."

"I didn't expect him to leave his work and fly back. If it bothers you, I can tell him to leave right now."

Austin's face darkened. "You're this sick. Why should I leave?"

He set the bowl down, his expression completely unapologetic.

"Elena, stop being so passive-aggressive."

"Chloe is your best friend. She had a 102-degree fever. Did you expect me to just let her rot in this apartment alone?"

I looked at the seafood chowder in the bowl.

It was a recipe I had spent half a month perfecting, writing down every single step on a sticky note to teach him.

He had complained that takeout chowder never tasted right.

And now, he was using the recipe I taught him to nurture another woman.

"I also had a 102-degree fever two weeks ago," I said quietly. "You told me to use UberEats."

Austin's eyes flickered with a brief moment of guilt.

"But you got through it fine on your own, didn't you?"

"Chloe is different from you. She isn't as independent as you are. Are you seriously getting jealous of your own best friend?"

Suddenly, I found my past selfthe girl who had desperately messaged him for helputterly pathetic. A self-mocking smile crept onto my lips.

Seeing me smile, his expression relaxed, looking relieved. "Good, now that you've smiled, let's put this behind us. Don't bring it up again."

"I've already applied to transfer back to L.A., so we won't be apart anymore. You got what you wanted. Chloe just said she wanted some macarons from the boutique bakery downtown. Go grab some for her."

I turned and walked out.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

[Hi Ms. Elena, the wedding dress you fell in love with has arrived in our boutique. When would you like to come in for a fitting?]

[No need. Please cancel the order and process a refund.]

I used to think long-distance relationship was just a long queue. As long as I kept the seat next to me empty and waited patiently, he would eventually sit down.

Now I realized that a flight from NYC to L.A. only took six hours. It wasn't that he couldn't come back. He had just changed his destination long ago.

There was no point in waiting anymore.

I didn't go buy the macarons. Instead, I went straight back to my apartment and started packing.

I threw the toothbrush, the dark grey towel, and the rinsing cup on the vanity straight into the trash can.

No matter which apartment I moved to, I always kept a double set of daily essentials.

I had always hoped he would suddenly show up in L.A. and surprise me.

So I stubbornly left half of my space empty for him.

Now he was back, but the surprise wasn't for me.

Austin didn't come home that night. Chloe posted another update on Ins.

[The best perk of being sick is having someone watch a 2 A.M. movie with you.]

The picture showed a projector screen, with the side profile of a man looking focused and gentle.

The movie was the one I had wanted to watch for a long time. I had mentioned it to Austin a thousand times, but he always dismissed it as boring.

I gave her post a "like."

Three minutes later, a message from Austin popped up.

[Get ready and come downstairs. Today is Grandma's 80th birthday gala. I'll pick you up on the way to the estate.]

According to our original plan, today was also the day we were supposed to officially announce our engagement to his family.

When I walked down, Chloe was already sitting in the passenger seat.

She was holding a steaming latte, while her other hand played with a spare key to Austin's apartment.

On the keychain was a lucky charm I had personally woven for him. It was now stained with coffee.

She turned to me with a sweet smile. "Hey El, you don't mind me hitching a ride, do you?"

Austin played a French song Chloe liked on the car stereo.

"Chloe just got over her fever, and I didn't feel safe leaving her alone. I figured taking her to the family estate would help her get some fresh air."

"Besides, she's still weak from being sick."

"You sit in the back."

Half an hour later, we arrived at the estate.

Chloe couldn't wait to unbuckle her seatbelt. "Oh my god, I can already smell the delicious food!"

She naturally walked up to Austin's side, and they walked in shoulder to shoulder.

I walked behind them like an irrelevant assistant.

In the living room, the matriarch of the family was sitting on the sofa.

"Austin, bring your girl over to let Grandma have a look."

Chloe walked up gracefully. "Happy birthday, Grandma."

The old lady smiled and patted her hand. "This must be the sweet girl Austin brought home last Christmas, right?"

"So beautiful. No wonder Austin loves you so much."

Several relatives who actually knew me looked at each other, their eyes turning toward me in unison.

I picked up my teacup and took a sip of warm water.

Last Christmas, I was alone in L.A., staring at a table of cold Christmas dinner.

Austin had told me over FaceTime that there was a massive issue with his project, and the entire team had to pull an all-nighter at the office.

It turned out his "all-nighter" was bringing Chloe back to meet his family.

The old lady slipped a stunning sapphire bracelet off her wrist and put it directly onto Chloe's.

"This is a gift from Grandma."

"Grandma... I couldn't possibly accept this. You've mistaken me for someone else," Chloe said, but her hand didn't make any move to take the bracelet off.

Austin leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Elena, let Chloe wear the bracelet for now. I'll ask her to give it back to you after the party."

"Be mature. Don't throw a fit today."

I shook my head. "No need to return it."

Austin froze, a flash of approval in his eyes.

"I'm glad you see it that way. It actually looks quite nice on Chloe. I'll buy you a new one some other day."

I put down my teacup.

The tea was Earl Grey, Chloe's favorite. Even Austin's grandmother remembered her preference.

While this was my first time entering the family estate, Chloe had already been here countless times.

"Since you've given her the bracelet, let her keep it."

I looked at him calmly. "Austin, let's break up."

The smile on Austin's face vanished instantly. "Just because of a bracelet? Elena, when did you become so incredibly petty?"

"Yes, just because of a bracelet."

Chloe immediately started frantically trying to pull the bracelet off.

"Elena, please don't be mad. I'm taking it off right now. You two have been together for nine years, you can't let it ruin your relationship because of me."

She pulled so hard that her wrist turned bright red, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Austin grabbed her hand to stop her. "Why are you taking it off? You did nothing wrong."

"Chloe is still recovering. Do you have to humiliate her in front of everyone, Elena?"

I couldn't stand being there for another second. I turned and walked out.

Behind me, whispers echoed through the hall.

"She has such a terrible temper."

"Exactly. Men sometimes play around, she should just turn a blind eye."

Chloe spoke in a worried voice, "Austin, go after her. Elena is acting out of anger, what if something happens to her?"

Austin sneered. "We've been together for nine years. She's a thirty-year-old woman. Who else is going to take her in if not me?"

He raised his voice so I could hear him. "If some people want to play hard to get, then our wedding date will just have to be pushed back even further."

The wedding boutique manager sent me a photo of the dress to confirm.

[Ms. Elena, the deposit is non-refundable. You came in so many times for this. Are you sure you don't want it anymore?]

I stared at the screen for a long time.

I had tried on seventeen wedding dresses in that shop all by myself.

Every single photo I sent to Austin was met with a cold, automated reply: [Busy. You decide.]

It turned out that one person's expectation could never carry a future meant for two.

[Cancel it,] I replied.

The next morning, I went to work. A transfer notice was sitting on my desk.

[Given Elena's recent poor performance, she is being transferred to the administrative support team.]

Right after, an announcement was posted in the company group chat: Chloe had been promoted to Senior Account Manager.

Along with that, the project proposal I had spent seven sleepless nights and fifteen drafts perfecting now bore Chloe's name as the lead.

At the very bottom of the document, the approver's signature was Austin's.

I called Austin immediately.

"Saw the notice? I was just about to call you," he said.

"Austin, why is Chloe's name on my proposal?"

He chuckled softly. "You embarrassed Chloe at Grandma's birthday party yesterday. She cried all night because of you."

"Giving her this project is to comfort her, and also to give you a little lesson."

Chloe's congested voice came through the speaker. "Elena, if you're unhappy about this, I can give the promotion back to you."

Austin cut her off. "Why would you give it back? She brought this on herself."

"Elena, as long as you behave and apologize to Chloe, the wedding is still on."

"I'll make sure you get the next promotion slot."

I found it incredibly absurd.

He was using my hard work to please another woman.

I simply said, "Okay."

After hanging up, I submitted my resignation and clicked "accept" on an international job offer in Paris.