Robin was my boyfriend, but on my birthday he was with another girl, Olivia, the childhood friend he grew up with.

I sat alone in front of a cold meal while he set off a huge firework display for her.

The two of them kissed under the fireworks, which was photographed by passers-by and exploded on the internet.

Everyone says they are a match made in heaven.

Robin's friend sent me a message mocking me, asking me how I felt now.

Outwardly indifferent, I said, "So what? None of my business."

But after I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but play the video of the fireworks that hit the internet over and over again, and I couldn't stop tearing up at the two people in the video who were so well matched and the comments from netizens.

They are really perfect together, but what about me?

——

Today was my birthday, and Robin promised to come home early to celebrate for me.

But then he called again in the afternoon, saying he had something important to do and might not be able to make it back.

I believed him and still hoped we'd celebrate when he returned. Little did I know his important thing was setting off fireworks with Olivia.

How ironic, how painful.

In the video, Robin's typically serious face was lit up with joy, his eyes full of warmth as he gazed at Olivia. It was a look I'd never received from him.

Before this, I'd assumed he was just naturally reserved, incapable of showing affection. I laughed bitterly at my own naivety, unwrapped my birthday cake, and ate in solitude.

I stuck a candle in celebration of myself, but the strong flame almost set my new on fire.

With tears in my eyes, I blew out the candle that was as lonely as I was.

The sugary, rich flavor filled my mouth, but suddenly seemed meaningless. I picked up my phone and dialed Robin.

He answered promptly, his voice as cold as ever. "What is it?"

In the background, I could clearly hear fireworks exploding.

After a brief silence, I swallowed my mouthful of cake and asked calmly, "Where are you?"

"At the office. What's going on?" He seemed to have moved away from the garden, as the fireworks were no longer audible.

His voice remained steady, showing no hint of the nervousness you'd expect from someone caught in a lie.

I glanced at the video playing on my tablet and felt even more detached.

"Let's end this," I said.

"Don't be joking," he replied.

I scoffed, "Maybe you should check your newfound internet fame. Mr Affectionate Celebrity, need I say more?"

With that, I ended the call.

Having initiated the breakup, I knew I couldn't stay at his place any longer. I looked at the untouched food on the table, got up, and found containers to pack it away.

Then I gathered my belongings and took a taxi back to my small apartment, which I hadn't visited in ages.

After university, my parents had bought me this little place in the city. When Robin and I got together, he always complained about the distance between our homes, saying it was inconvenient for us to go back and forth. He asked me to move in with him.

In reality, the physical distance between our homes was nothing compared to the emotional gulf between us. We appeared close, but our hearts were as far apart as opposite sides of the world.

Back in my long-neglected apartment, I did some quick tidying up and went to bed after getting ready for the night.

The next morning, I found only a few messages on my phone from Robin:

[What's wrong now?]

[Don't be so unresonable all the time.]

It seemed he'd returned home last night and discovered I'd moved out.

I didn't reply to his messages and just went about my day.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

Olivia would call Robin whenever she had an issue. 

She even had to have Robin rush to carry her to the hospital when she broke her ankle sunbathing in the park, and had to have Robin sleep with her once there was thunder and rain..

I had questioned him about it before. We'd argued and fought over it.

But he'd always say, "Only people with impure thoughts see impurity in everything."

Every time he stood me up for Olivia, he'd turn round and throw me a necklace to comfort me. I would continue the relationship as if nothing had happened.

But this time, I was tired.