“What’s wrong with a check-up?” I asked, puzzled by his sudden change in tone. “Lots of couples do premarital health screenings, don’t they?”
“That’s only for people who sleep around. We don’t need one!” Jake replied. “Besides, it’s not even required for marriage anymore. Why waste time?”
“Waste? It’s about taking care of our health…”
I was about to make my case when his phone buzzed, cutting me off. He glanced at the screen. “A buddy just texted. Something urgent came up, and I need to go. Want me to drop you off first?”
He was already standing before I could respond. Seeing how rushed he was, I swallowed my words.
“No need, I can get home on my own. You should hurry,” I said.
“Alright, I’m off then.”
He left in a hurry, and as I watched him go, a feeling of unease crept over me. Was he trying to dodge something?
Back home, I texted to let him know I’d made it safely. But he didn’t reply. It wasn’t until that evening that he finally called.
“Just saw your message. My friend had a bit of a crisis, and I only just got home,” he explained.
“What happened?” I asked, concerned.
“It’s his ex-fiancée. They were about to get married, but she suddenly demanded an expensive engagement ring and insisted on a lavish wedding. My friend’s just an average guy—there’s no way he
