Cicada Song
Rose, the girl I grew up with, rejected me for the 99th time. And she did it in public, with a brutal declaration:
“Even if every other man on Earth dropped dead, I wouldn't give him a second look.”
But just a minute before that, I'd seen her beat the crap out of a few girls who were into me, warning them, “He's mine, and only mine.”
I also knew she had over a thousand secret photos of me and had even tattooed my name on her inner thigh.
But in her daily life, she still treated me with disdain, ignoring my advances and trampling all over my pride again and again.
I'd spent the last ten years loving her, and it had taken almost everything I had.
I made her three meals a day and was always the first one there whenever she needed anything.
In our endless fights, I'd always be the one to back down before she could even count to a hundred.
That all changed on her birthday. I was standing outside our private room when I heard her best friend ask her a question.
“Rose, you treat Owen like trash. Aren't you afraid he'll actually leave?”
Rose just laughed, her voice dripping with confidence. “He's head over heels in love with me. Why would he ever leave?”
“I mean, yeah, I've liked him for a long time. But I have more fun with him chasing me than I would if we were actually together.”
“You have no idea. When he tore up his Ivy League admission letter for me, I was so happy I couldn't sleep all night.”
I took a deep breath, turned around, and made a call. “Mom, about moving abroad… I'm in.”
“And that arranged marriage you mentioned? I'll do it.”
001
My mom's excited voice came through the phone. “Great! I'll get everything ready! A private jet will be there to pick you up in three days.”
But in the middle of her excitement, she paused, confused. “Wait a second. Aren't you crazy about that Rose girl? You raised hell to stay in the country for her. Why the sudden change of heart about moving abroad and getting married?”
Rose's words were still ringing in my ears. A bitter smile touched my lips.
“I just figured things out.”
“No matter how hard I chase her, she's not interested. It just means she doesn't love me that much.”
“And if that's the case, why waste my life hung up on her?”
After hanging up, I took another deep breath, about to head back into the private room for Rose's birthday party.
But then I heard her friends' mocking voices from inside.
“So, what do you guys think Owen got Rose for her birthday this time?”
“I bet it's that designer bag Rose was eyeing the other day. We all know that if Rose wants something, even if she doesn't say it, Owen will move heaven and earth to put it in her hands!”
“No, no, that simp would never pass up a chance like this.”
“This is the perfect opportunity for his hundredth proposal to Rose. It's definitely a custom-made ring!”
Her friend turned to Rose, wiggling her eyebrows. “Rose, if Owen really does propose this time, are you gonna say yes?”
On Rose's slender, pale wrist was the diamond bracelet I'd custom-designed for her, a symbol of my promise to protect her for all eternity.
On her finger was the emerald ring that marked the matriarch of my family, the Brooks family.
But she just swirled the red wine in her glass disdainfully, a careless smirk on her face. “Depends on my mood, I guess!”
“Honestly, it's pretty awesome to be worshipped by someone who's in love with you.”
“Everyone's having so much fun. If I actually say yes, we won't get to watch this monkey show anymore!”
Hearing that felt like a thousand tiny needles piercing my heart.
I choked back the grief and rage boiling inside me and muttered something under my breath.
Too bad. There won't be a next time.
I pushed the door open and walked right in. For a split second, everyone panicked.
But they quickly composed themselves, forcing a laugh and awkwardly changing the subject.
This time, I didn't shamelessly squeeze in next to Rose like I always did. Instead, I found a seat in a corner and sat down.
The group was chatting away enthusiastically, but I, the guy who used to kill himself trying to make Rose laugh, stayed completely silent.
My uncharacteristic behavior, of course, caught Rose's attention.