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Chapter 2

Author: Pork Chops
Jon texted, "Are you still upset? Didn't I buy you a bunch of things? There are snacks and makeup.

"You must've seen mine and Julie's couple profile pictures, huh? You're not crying alone, are you?

"It's your fault for trying to give me the cold shoulder. I'll change my profile picture back to our photo if you apologize."

It was the same thing all over again. No matter who was at fault, Jon would manipulate the rhetoric to make it seem like I was the villain. He was always like that.

I used to say he was brainwashing me, but he would deny it and claim his words were the truth.

Now that I made myself an outsider and reflected on that troubled relationship, I realized he only saw me as something he could constantly push boundaries with.

Jon assumed I was admitting to being in the wrong when I didn't answer his texts. So, he sent me a matching pair of images. He texted, "Julie says these are cute. Let's use them for our profiles. I'll use the human cartoon, and you can have the little dog."

The two pictures formed a bigger image of a human cartoon holding a leash to a cartoon pug.

I didn't think it was cute at all.

Yet, Jon had already changed his profile to the human cartoon without caring about my response.

I replied, "You can ask Julie to match with you. I don't like it."

"Fine! Just for the record, you're the one who said this!!" Jon responded with several exclamation marks.

As expected, his and Julie's profile pictures changed. The two even posted a story update about it and tagged me. They stated I had told them to use the profile pictures, so they naturally had to comply.

I turned off all notifications for him and shut down my phone to begin packing. For the entire night, I tidied up my things into suitcases before cutting and throwing away all my photos with Jon. I didn't keep any of the gifts from him.

Upon exiting my old place, my neighbor saw me and asked, "Were you and your husband on a honeymoon trip? Your husband seems to be posting new pictures every day. Though, he's really bad at touching up the photos, as you don't even look like yourself."

I shook my head. "That's not me. We're not married, and I'm single now."

My neighbor nodded contemplatively.

Jon phoned me when I got into the car and was leaving. It was like he had suddenly remembered our wedding, which he ditched. "Did our relatives say anything when you were alone at the wedding? How are your parents?"

"They're fine. Nobody said anything."

"I'll be home on Sunday. I want you to whip up some barbecue ribs. Julie wants to have them. Oh, and clean the guest bedroom. Julie has nowhere to stay since she broke up with her boyfriend, so she'll be living with us for a few months."

"Clean it yourself. I'm busy."

A displeased Jon bellowed into the phone, "You have loads of free time, even with your job! How can you not have time to clean the house? Who do you think you're trying to fool?

"Clean it up at once, or you can move out and let Julie sleep in the main bedroom."

"Oh," I said before hanging up.

Then, Jon sent a long list of things Julie needed after moving in with us. He also asked me to buy the best quality items for her, but he didn't give me any money. It seemed he wanted me to buy things for his precious childhood friend out of my pocket.

"After you prepare everything, drive me home when Julie and I return. Remember to sanitize our house because Julie has germaphobia.

"Also, hurry up and find someone to take in your cat these next few days. Julie doesn't like cats and is allergic to them."

There was also a voice message after Jon's texts. It was from Julie.

She spoke in a bragging tone that only women could understand, "I'm really sorry. I wasn't planning to stay with you guys, but Jon insisted I go. He told me to make myself comfortable since I'm his best friend, so you'll treat me as your best friend, too."

Perhaps the two were waiting for me to blow up like I used to. Little did Jon and Julie know they would only receive a red exclamation upon sending their texts and voice messages.

I blocked them and immediately put the home I bought up for sale. From then on, Jon and I were no more than strangers.

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    Jon texted, "Are you still upset? Didn't I buy you a bunch of things? There are snacks and makeup."You must've seen mine and Julie's couple profile pictures, huh? You're not crying alone, are you?"It's your fault for trying to give me the cold shoulder. I'll change my profile picture back to our photo if you apologize."It was the same thing all over again. No matter who was at fault, Jon would manipulate the rhetoric to make it seem like I was the villain. He was always like that.I used to say he was brainwashing me, but he would deny it and claim his words were the truth.Now that I made myself an outsider and reflected on that troubled relationship, I realized he only saw me as something he could constantly push boundaries with.Jon assumed I was admitting to being in the wrong when I didn't answer his texts. So, he sent me a matching pair of images. He texted, "Julie says these are cute. Let's use them for our profiles. I'll use the human cartoon, and you can have the litt

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