“Are you serious?” Ellisa asked so loudly that Rossie had to cover her best friend's mouth. They were at the pantry having lunch. And when her best friend slapped her arm she let go. “Bitch you rode with him?”
“I had to! You know I could be damn dead if my parents saw me!”
“No, you could’ve said that he is another friend!”
“As if they’d let it go that fast!”
Yeah, she remembers the last time when one of their guy co-workers gave her a ride. It took them months to get over it. The questions were ridiculous! It was like she was being interrogated for murdering 50 people.
“Hell, I’d go through that again!” she exclaims at Ellisa.
“But bitch, tell me what he looks like? I don’t remember!” There was excitement in Ellisa’s voice that made Rossie twitch up her upper lip in disappointment.
“He looks normal to me. He’s cocky and a jerk.”
Ellisa looks up, thinking about what her friend has spoken out of her mouth. She puts a hand over her chin. “If he’s cocky and a jerk… that means he is hella gorgeous, huh?”
“What? Didn’t you hear me?” Rossie shakes her head.
“Oh, I heard you fine. Whenever you say the guy is a jerk or just normal, that man is gorgeous! That's exactly your definition of gorgeous! You just don’t admit it.”
She can’t even argue with Ellisa so she let it slide, stuffing food in her mouth. Because she was hyper in filing a divorce earlier she had completely forgotten to ask for information. She can’t recall if she ever asked him if he had submitted those papers to legalize their marriage.
What’s crazy is that none of the witnesses were people she knew. It was all people they didn’t know or at least for her. She should probably meet up with that guy to talk about this more. Or maybe… she glances at where Lucas is, they know each other.
Her best friend seems to notice where she was looking so Ellisa did the same. They were low-key checking out Lucas and his team members, laughing so carefree.
“Lucas seems to be avoiding the topic about your husband,” Ellisa whispers. She had to shift back her gaze to her friend. “Ya know, men are so loyal to their friends. Lucas won’t throw your husband off the bus.”
“I agree with you.” There is something that tells Rossie that this marriage, that man knows about this. He could’ve been the one to do the trick. “Hey, Ell, do you perhaps know how divorcing someone works?”
“Uhm…” The long silence tells Rossie the answer. “It looks easy in movies I watch.”
“Nevermind.”
Rossie took out her phone and began searches. Of course, it’s different from country to country. There are even places that don’t have divorce as an option, only annulment. Luckily in Yukiha, divorce is permitted. It looks easy but until the other partner signs the paper, it will be hard.
“Shit! That man is stubborn,” she muttered.
“What was that?” Ellisa was also busy with her phone. “You said something?” she asked raising a brow.
“I’m really in trouble. I can’t let Jake find out about this,” Rossie sighs heavily. She puts down her phone and rakes her hair, gripping some strands. She’s really going crazy. “What’s worse is that Jake will be coming home soon.”
“Really?” Ellisa's eyes widened for a moment and then that evil laugh came. “You are dead meat, Rossie. You better work fast on this. Also, warn your husband not to get near you on those days. Your BOYFRIEND is a messy guy.”
“Jake is good to me!”
“Okay,” Ellisa shrugs. “Good when he slapped you five years ago?”
“It was my fault! Can we not talk about this?” she fires a look at Ellisa which made her best friend roll her eyes and mouth, ‘fine’.
It’s true Jake slapped her once but he didn’t mean it. He was just drunk then and she made a really bad mistake then. What more could it be now if Jake finds out she’s married? No, he can’t know and she’ll make sure of that.
After their shift, Rossie tried to get a hold of Lucas but when she went to his bay, he was already gone which is suspicious. That guy knows something. Since he is gone, Ellisa and her decided to just let it slide.
They were talking about their irate calls as they were riding the elevator. It’s a routine for them, to get their feelings out and talk bad about how stupid one customer is.
“He told me no offense and I had helped him but he still wanted to talk to a supervisor!” Ellisa exclaimed freely. “They’re wasting time! As if a supervisor can help them when we have the same damn tool!”
They both laugh about it. It’s common in their account. Customers call them with loud voices and are already frustrated. They understand that but at least some customers should know they also dealt with annoying ones every twelve minutes.
“Ohlala! There’s one jerk I see right now!” Ellisa squeals when they’re out of the glass door. Rossie looks at where she is looking and her eyes grew wide. “I can tell that’s your husband. He’s got coffee in his hand.”
Rossie ignored what Ellisa commented and marched down the mini stair and to the man holding coffees in his hand. Her best friend had to follow from behind.
“Must be a troublesome night to have your brows drawing together.” He smiles and looks at Ellisa. “Good morning. I’m sorry I had to steal my wife from you last night. We had to be introduced.”
“Oh, it’s no problem!” Ellisa was quick to be a bandwagon, making Rossie scoff.
“Coffee for you too,” Jared states, giving Ellisa a coffee which she gladly took. Then he took another one and faced her ever-glaring wife. “Of course, one for my wife.”
Hesitant but she took it from him and utter a small thanks before asking why he was there. Ellisa seemed to have guessed the tension between the married couple so she put her hands in mid-air.
“Ya know… I think I have to go stop by somewhere,” she obviously lied. “Would you mind, giving your wife a ride…”
“Jared. My name is Jared.” He extended his hand which Ellisa took. “A pleasure to meet my wife’s best friend.”
“Now that’s a husband for you,” Ellisa whispered to Rossie before leaving. “Tea later!” she added.
As soon as her best friend was gone, her face turned uninterested as ever. It’s good that he is here so they can talk about their marriage and how to end it.
“I’ve looked up how we can get out of this marriage quickly,” she started. “I just need you to sign the papers I will file as soon as I get a lawyer.”
Jared didn’t say anything but instead opened the door for her. She’s never used to someone opening up the door for her so she frowns.
“Get in,” he commands. She was just staring at it for a couple of seconds. "Do you really want to talk about this in public?"
"Fine!"
Rossie had no choice and got inside the passenger's seat. He closes it softly and she watches as Jared moved to the other side and gets in the car. His mood seemed to change so quickly and now she is sitting still and nervous inside his car. She has not even taken a sip of her coffee and her heart is beating crazy. She clears her throat, getting his attention.
"So, what's your plan?"
“Listen,” he spoke calmly, softer than last night, “I want to stay married.”
I want to stay married. Jared's words echoed in Rossie's head. It took her three long minutes to react, opening her mouth and blinking in disbelief again. Did she hear it right? Or is her mind having thoughts of its own?"C-Come again?" she asked."I want to stay married," he repeated.So, she didn't mishear it. It was just hard for her brain to process the thought that Jared was making this more complicated for her. She breathes in and out. "Now why would you want to stay married?" She tries to be calm. "You know I have a boyfriend, right? I can't stay married to you!""I know but he doesn't need to know," he casually said.Why is it so easy for him? she asked in her head, feeling her blood boiling in her veins. This guy clearly didn't think this through."I am not that kind of girl!" She completely broke composure. "I am going to divorce you no matter what happens! I'm sure we'll see each other in court!" Rossie was about to open the car door but it was locked. She shifted her hea
Aunt Natalie's office which is inside her house is creepy enough to make you want to stay out. It's a huge house, with a big-not-looked-for lawn filled with decaying leaves. It's just a big mystery to Rossie why the cemented pathway was the only one clear from the leaves. Not a single one on the pavement. With Ellisa by her side, Rossie feels a little secure, grabbing tight onto her best friend's arm. This wasn't cool at all. If she had known, she would have just looked for her own lawyer. The place seems really haunted."Now, listen," Ellisa faced her so suddenly, looking all too serious, "if she asks you something, you must tell her the truth. She hates it when she finds you lying.""What the hell would I lie for? She'll probably know before I could even say the lie."Ellisa stopped for a moment to think it through and then agrees with her. "Also, my aunt is actually a fan of marriage. She won't like this but she'll help you out.""Maybe we should just--"The creaking of the wooden
Rossie has been awake the whole morning. She couldn't shake the fact that Jake was coming home in a few hours. She was even invited by his parents to their place for his homecoming. That's how special Jake is to them.The family Vermond is well known to define elegance. They were very strict with the whole family of lawyers, generation to generation, and now, Jake. He is well a disappointment to his clan for being with somebody who works in customer service. In the past, Jake's parents wanted Rossie to pursue college and enroll in a law school but she didn't want to feel indebted. Also, being a lawyer wasn't her passion. She is still figuring out what she really wants to do at the age of 25. Most people would figure out what they want or that they're already set on a path but her? She's just a wandering ghost, lost in the present and struggling to know her own.A knocking on her door kept her out of her thoughts. She looks at the door and it opened before she could even say it was, r
Two days since Jake left the city again. After that shocking proposal he did, Rossie was a bit agitated with Primrose not telling her entirely. Of course, it wasn't her sister's fault and probably her sister just didn't want to ruin the surprise. What can she do? It was already there. She already said yes.What's worst is that the preparation for the wedding will be in three months' time. She has been given three months and most divorces she read about online take eleven months or so. It would at least take six months. She is doomed!"I really should've confessed to Jake," Rossie frustratingly groaned. She was back to work and on her lunch break like always, she is with Ellisa."Yeah, that jerk didn't invite me to the engagement. I'm not sure if I should support you in this." Right, Ellisa was still mad that she wasn't even invited. That she is my best friend yet she was never there to capture that moment. It was another reason for her to hate Jake even more"If I knew I would've inv
Although Jared didn't shout it out, he still made Rossie listen to him. She knows it is not a good thing to provoke someone like him and she knows she won't get another chance. It all depends on her being nice to him now since he has something that she needs.Rossie looks away, adjusting the pillow around her neck, and then hides half of her face with the plushie that he gave her. It can't be helped. "As long as you commit to your words about tomorrow then be it.""I don't say things I don't mean," he repeated the sense of what he said earlier.The ride was quiet and long that it had Rossie falling asleep again. The funny thing is that Jared never woke her up. They stayed parked at some vacant lot until she slowly moved, making her morning face that made him hide a smile. She even did some stretches, opening her eyes halfway."We've been here for quite a while now," he tells her. Looking at Rossie it seems like she was still making her way into the world. "You're asleep for about thre
"What does he do?" Rossie could not help the thrills in her fingertips."Well..." Lucas looks her in the eyes and the next thing he said killed her and Ellisa. "I don't actually know," he answers, scratching the side of his face. "I swear I am going to kill you!" Ellisa shouts, gaining some attention all over the pantry. Lucas was just laughing. "You sound like you knew everything and do us like that! Motherhooker!""Honestly, I don't know what he does but I do know he is someone you don't want to mess with," Lucas clarifies to them. "Also, congratulations on your engagement, Rossie."So, Lucas knows about them, she thought, well of course he does! And she knows about her engagement which means Jared must have known... yet he didn't say anything. It's impossible for him not to notice the big rock on her ring finger. "Thank you," she tells Lucas. "May I ask, how did you guys meet?""Well, he used to come to work in this company. Then he handled us for a while. He was so strict but I
Primrose was worried seeing her sister just got home. They never really see each other often and thank God she is free this morning. So, she wants to apologize to her sister for not fully telling her that Jake was planning to propose and for not telling her what she further knew.As a younger sister, she didn't have as much responsibility as her sister. All she needed to do was graduate and be good at school, unlike her sister who needed to work for them.They were a well-off family and they never struggle with money until one day when she was twelve when their families' tailoring business burned down, leaving nothing but damages and debt for them. The Vesmonds help them because Jake wanted to help but from then on, her sister kept downgrading herself and she has always been worried.Just as Rossie got inside her room, Prim decided to follow afterward, knocking on her sister's door. There wasn't any response so she just turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Her sister was sitt
The next night, Rossie was picked up by Jared again. At first, she hesitated to tell him about what she and her sister talked about earlier but she ended up telling him. "I know it's ridiculous to meet my sister but she really wants to meet you," she reasoned. Ugh! This was embarrassing for her. "You don't have to agree though. I can just tell her you're really busy.""When can I meet her?" he asked. Instantly her eyes couldn't help but widen, jerking her face to see if he was serious. He looked serious. "Uhm... when are you free?""I'm free anytime."That doesn't sound right. The first few days they were talking to each other she remembers him saying that he was busy and had no time. Now, he is saying that he is free anytime. It made her scoff."My day off is on Thursday. Maybe you can give her a ride to school or something." Well her sister said she just wants to meet Jared. She never said anything bout getting to know her husband."Anything is good with me." Somehow Rossie think