by PongPong

We’ve been together almost three years.

Long-distance. Full-time jobs. Too many calls.

When we click, it’s great.

When we fight, it’s a different planet.

Like parallel lines—

We weren’t supposed to meet.

But we did.

And it got intense.

We were planning a trip to Singapore.

Midweek concert.

She flies out Monday.

She didn’t tell me that part until this call.

She also wants to see her best friend there.

It started with:

Her: “When are you leaving?”

Me: “Up to you. What are you thinking?”

(I figured I’d arrive Wednesday

and maybe leave Saturday night.

That gives us one full day,

then she can stay longer

and hang out with her friend.)

Her: “I’ll have four meetings on Thursday.”

(She tried to show me the calendar.)

“Then I’d need to take a day off.”

Me: “Are the meetings important?”

(She already said she could take a day off,

so I thought something changed.)

Her: “Not really.

But I don’t want to use my leave for this trip.

I want to save it for two other trips later.

I’m thinking of leaving on Monday.”

Me: “That Vietnam trip isn’t even confirmed.

I already told you—this one matters more to me!”

Her: “So… you’re leaving Saturday?”

Me: “Do you want me to?

I thought we’d want more time together.

Saturday’s a full day,

other than the three weekdays before.”

Her: “It’d be weird if I came to Singapore

and only spent one day with her!”

Me: “WTF.”

I don’t remember when I hung up.

She kept calling.

Which was annoying.

I was already furious.

Why not just text?

So I did:

“You spend Saturday with her.

It just feels like

explaining yourself to your friend matters more

than how we arrange this.”

She kept calling.

I went into the bathroom.

Didn’t answer.

She texted:

“No, it’s not. Answer my call first.”

I replied:

“I don’t want to talk. Or maybe just… let’s not go.”

Then she said:

“I’m just too shy to say

I want to spend two days with her.

I’m afraid you’ll get mad.”

I saw the message.

I wasn’t that angry anymore.

So I picked up.

Me: “Why? So, explaining to your friend

is the most important thing?”

Her: “Not like that!

I’m just… too shy to say

I kinda want to spend two days with her…”

Me: “Why do you need to be shy?

And what, you complaining about

how little time we have—was that fake?”

Her: “See?

This is exactly why I didn’t dare to say it.

I just wanted to walk around SG with her.”

(She said it, already crying.)

Me: “So you don’t want to walk around with me?

You just met her!”

Her: “It’s not like that… I… I

I just want to get drunk with her.

You never want to get drunk with me!”

Me: “WTF.”

(I almost laugh. I try not to.)

“You get drunk too fast…

Why didn’t you just say it in the first place?”

Her: “Because every time I say what I want—

if it’s not what you want—

you get mad.

And I’m scared.”

Me: “That’s not true!

I kept asking how many days you want with her.

You wouldn’t say.

I always tell you to do what you like.

And now I’m the one who makes it hard?”

Her: “Because… you always say

you’re okay with what I want.

But then you go quiet.

And I can feel it.

You’re not okay.”

Me: “Yeah.

Maybe you’re right about that part.

I might be too obvious about how I feel

But that’s on me.

You still have the right to say what you want!”

It took maybe two, three hours.

Crying.

Yelling.

Laughing, somehow.

She left for baking class.

We agreed—

she’d spend two days with her friend.

And I told her we could drink together one night.

She’s excited.

Fighting is never shallow.

We try again.

Not perfect.

But we try.

A piece by PongPong, refined with the assistance of ChatGPT—from founder to creator. Phase1.