Chapter 14: When Clarification brought more Confusion
The situation might be bewildering to strangers if they saw us in the room right now. Lissand is seated on the baroque sofa, with the calm Becca comforting her and running her hand along her back. On the opposite side of the room, Micheal handed me a glass of wine, looked at where the two women were sitting, and then leaned against the wall, seemingly unbothered.
Becca's eyes, filled with profound sadness, met mine before she took a deep breath. "We called off the engagement this morning," she confessed to her friend, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.
"Yes, because he is a cheating bastard." Lissand cried, throwing dagger eyes in our direction.
"And that bit-" Becca didn't let her finish as she covered her friend's mouth.
"No one cheated." Becca continued. "I pressured Micheal's hands last year by giving him an ultimatum. Either we move to the next step, or we break up." She turned towards Micheal's direction but didn't look at him, " and since he doesn't want to move in without us getting married, he proposed."
It's a good thing she went back to look at Lissand, or she would have seen the confused look I threw at Micheal.
"Six months ago, he conveniently remembered that he was married and started to look for his wife." Lissand looked at her friend, more confused.
"Wait, you were a mis -"
"Let her finish," Micheal interjected as he handed a glass of wine to each of the women. He then walked back to my side of the room, standing evidently closer to me. This didn't escape Becca's sad eyes.
"We were never physically intimate if that's what you were worried about." This time, Becca was looking at me as if looking for understanding. "Michael and I have been friends since childhood. My high school admiration for him developed into a crush, and so I pursued him. However, his feelings for me haven't changed. But since he hasn't had any long-term relationships, I had hoped he would realise I am the one for him, considering our shared history."
Becca took a few sips of wine before continuing, "When he joined the Marines, I almost lost hope. I know I will not see him for a long time, and a lot can happen. So, I went to Paris, focused on my career, and made sure that I was the best. I wanted to be sure that when we meet again, he would look at me differently." She raised her hand when he started to protest, saying, "Just let me finish this."
"I didn't know what happened during that period, that he was in training. When I returned a year ago, I decided to confess my feelings to him. We decided to give it a try, and he was always respectful and caring towards me. Yet, deep down, I sensed that his feelings were not romantically inclined." she gazed at me sadly. "I think he is not capable of being genuinely romantic. Most of his exes warned me about it." She finished the wine in her glass and placed it on the table beside the sofa.
"I'll spare you the details of our relationship," she said as she got up and walked toward me, "Months ago, he told me that he just recalled he was married. At that moment, I thought it might not be that significant since he forgot. Then I wondered, 'What made you different? Why did he marry you?'"
"It was just ..." I started to explain, but Becca gently took my hand.
"When he said he had to get a divorce, my hope returned. Since he clearly cared for me." I could feel the slight trembling of her hand, "And you weren't even able to live together. "
Doesn't she know it was a contract marriage? I wanted to ask Micheal, but he just stared at Becca. "He looked for you. "She squeezed my hand, "And when he finally found you, something changed. I felt the change."
"We had a temporary separation. I thought it would make him realize what I mean to him," she finally stared at Michael, but she was still squeezing my hand as if asking for support. "But instead of divorce, you two got remarried," she gave me a sad smile. "We finally broke it off this morning."
As a single tear rolled down her delicate cheek, she maintained her unwavering gaze on Michael while holding my hand. However, Michael remained still, his sorrowful eyes meeting hers in a silent exchange.
"Micheal, "I whispered, and he turned towards me. I felt Becca's hand tighten on mine, "You have to tell her."
He pulled me towards his side and placed his hand on top of Becca's and mine, squeezing both. "It's OK," he whispered in my ear. It might have looked like he kissed my temple since I heard Lissand gasp from across the room.
"This will be the final goodbye," Becca pressed her lips tightly before letting go of my hand and holding Michael's. "We will not see each other for a long while, at least until I'm finally good." Still holding Michael's hand, she looked me in the eye. "Take care of your husband."
"Asshole", I heard Lissand mutter as she followed Becca out of the room and gave me a final murderous glance.
When the door closed behind them, I moved away from Michael and glared at him. "Did you have to be a jerk?"
"I didn't want to prolong her misery. You heard her - even now, it feels like she is still clinging to hope."
"Micheal Smith, did you just use me to break up with your fiancée?" I seethed, clenching my fist. I was about to punch him in his stomach, but his pained eyes told me differently. I found myself wrapping him in my embrace. "You cared for her," I whispered, trying to make sense of it all.
"Yes." he paused, "As a friend. And I can't give her the love she wants." After a brief silence, I felt his arms wrap around me.
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