Fridge Notes and Heartaches: The Moment My World Tumbled Down

A Note on the Fridge in My Boyfriend’s House Knocked the Ground Out from under My Feet

At last, Chloe believes she’s figured out how to be in a relationship. With Jack, she feels happy and loved. That is, until one day, she discovers everything about her ex-boyfriend on Jack’s refrigerator, including a note and a sentimental item. How does Mike fit into all of this, and what is going on?

I was utterly enamoured with Jack as soon as I walked into his kitchen. I was all set to prepare a delicious dinner for our at-home date night. But my heart froze as soon as I set eyes on his refrigerator.

A magnet that I had previously spotted was there, right in the centre. It was the identical magnet I had from my Caribbean vacation with my ex-boyfriend Mike. I took a closer look at it since, well, it was a memento and there were probably thousands of them on refrigerators.

However, a chip was present at the top.

I thought to myself, I knew it. It is the identical one.

I realised that I dropped the magnet when the vendor gave it to me, and I didn’t have the courage to replace it, so that’s why I recalled the chip.

But now it was there, gazing back at me.

And then there was the note under the magnet, a personal note that used to belong to us, written in Mike’s handwriting.

Bun, I love you!

It was an entrance to my history.

Mike and I had been friends in college. He was a well-liked jock who played football and pursued a business management degree at the same time. We met by chance when I was a first-year law student and wandered into the wrong lecture hall.

Over time, I believed that Mike and I were becoming closer and aiming for a sustainable, long-term future.

I could not have been more mistaken.

I should have known better, though, because Mike had never shown me his family at home. They were people I had never met.

Mike hailed from an affluent family, so secure was his future that he didn’t even need to go to school.

He said, “But I didn’t have a choice,” after we went to get churros one day. “My father demanded that I get a degree so that I can uphold the family name properly.”

Mike ended our relationship shortly after I graduated.

“Look, Chloe,” he murmured. “You’ve done fantastically. And while our time as students was enjoyable, I’m ready for anything bigger at this point. I need someone on my level because I’m successfully managing one of my father’s enterprises.”

I experienced a profound sense of betrayal since, during our time at university, I was the one who kept Mike together when his despair broke him. Additionally, I was the only one who supported him after he had become angry with his buddies.

I went on with my life, attending graduate school and concentrating on myself in spite of it.

I ran into Jack two years later; we had met at a walkathon to raise money for animal welfare. Mike was not anything like Jack.

Deeply kind, sympathetic, and considerate.

Years later, I was in his kitchen, about to start cooking, when I happened upon this flashback.

When Jack realised I was staring at the refrigerator, his face went white.

“Chloe, we really need to talk,” he stated in a strained tone.

Jack led the way to the living room and took a seat.

“Mike is my stepbrother,” Jack stated, tearing apart a web of personal grudges and familial strife with his admission. He portrayed Mike as conceited and spoilt, a bully during their shared upbringing.

“Do you know he almost stopped our parents’ wedding?” Jack pondered. “He said that his father was too well-established to be marrying my mother, who was a nurse at the time.”

I couldn’t understand Jack’s decision to let Mike move in despite his shortcomings.

“It’s only been a few nights, Chloe,” he replied. “I was attempting to determine how to make it function. I’ve always been under Mike’s shadow; you have to understand that. After graduating from college, he returned home with his family and shared tales of his prosperous business and the girl he had let go.”

“So you knew about me?” I let out a gasp.

“Both yes and no. I wasn’t given any personal information by Mike, but he did talk to me about you. You know he didn’t post you, therefore I didn’t get to view any pictures.”

That seems reasonable to me. Not once did Mike post about me. Always, it was about his pals.

“It was clear that you were the same person when we finally met. We’ve got such a wonderful thing going on, I should have informed you a long time ago,” Jack remarked.

His words chilled me to the bone, like ice water. Was I involved in Jack’s attempt to avenge his brother?

“So, why at this moment? Why are you just now informing me?” I enquired. “And why is that magnet on the fridge?”

Jack let out a long sigh.

“Last night at our family meal, I asked my mother to give me our grandmother’s ring. Giving it to my spouse was always going to be my responsibility. “Chloe, I really do care about you,” he uttered gently.

“What?” I let out a cry. I didn’t realise we had arrived yet.

“It’s a thought I’ve had for some time,” he replied. However, I wasn’t going to act on it right now. Besides, Mike lost it at the table. He is aware that we have been dating for a while.”

I questioned, “And then?”

“And last night, he came home with me. We enjoyed a few beers while talking about you and my gratitude for having met you.”

Jack continued by revealing that Mike continued to watch sports on TV before going to bed.

“I just know that I threw junk food at him and asked him to see himself out,” Jack replied.

“So, he wrote the note and put the magnet on the fridge?” I inquired, taking in the ridiculousness.

I was puzzled that Jack had never revealed that Mike was his brother, even though everything he told me made sense. Actually, when we first met a long time ago, neither had his parents.

I threw the note away and headed to the kitchen to pour myself a yoghurt. I had to reflect. I had the impression earlier in the day that everything was coming together for me. I was content while I was with Jack.

But now that his truth was out in the open, I was at a loss for words. I had doubts about everything. I felt as though I knew nothing about Jack at that point.

The discourse that ensued was a complex network of explanations. Jack said that he had leaned on Mike’s regrets to help him get closer to me, thinking he could turn the story to his advantage.

I felt uncomfortable with his confession and became aware of it as I thought about it.

Here was a man who, on the whole, I felt treated me exactly like Mike, and I thought it was true. Ultimately, though, Jack appeared as engrossed in his own life.

I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he wouldn’t just admit that Mike was his brother.

Jack remarked, “He does this every time.” “He comes in and ruins everything.”

Jack flicked on the TV and started to browse the channels.

“I don’t know what else to tell you,” he replied. But with Mike in it, this is just the way life is. Chloe, it’s the Mike show. Could you please prepare us some food right now?”

That concluded things.

Any semblance of trust or affection that I could have had was destroyed by Jack’s confession. I was unable to look past it because there were simply too many unanswered questions.

Entering the kitchen, I considered giving Jack something to eat. However, I soon came to the conclusion that I simply didn’t want to stay.

We’re heading out to dinner tonight to talk about our future, even though I haven’t spoken to Jack in over a week. I don’t believe that we will be together in the future. Sometimes a falsehood is just too big.