- 11 hours ago
صفعة قبل الفرح
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00At my wedding, my fiancé slapped me across the face.
00:03All for his bridesmaid, right in front of our parents.
00:07That same day, I threw my ring away and called off the wedding.
00:10Everyone thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
00:13After all, Caleb and I had grown up together.
00:15I'd been in love with him since we were kids.
00:17I followed him around like a shadow for 20 whole years.
00:21But this time, I was dead serious.
00:24Later, when he finally tracked me down...
00:26Why?
00:27Just because of one slap?
00:29Yes, just because of one slap.
00:33The second his hand connected with my face,
00:36a sudden metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.
00:39After the sharp, echoing crack of the slap,
00:42the entire ballroom fell dead silent.
00:45The left side of my face went numb.
00:47Then it burst into a burning pain.
00:50I looked up at him, my fiancé, Caleb Westbrook.
00:53All because I caught Natalie Hawthorne trying on my wedding dress
00:57without permission.
00:58All because I refused to let her be my bridesmaid.
01:02Even Caleb looks stunned by what he'd done.
01:05Enough, Vanessa.
01:06Stop making a scene.
01:09The ceremony's starting.
01:10Can you just be reasonable for once?
01:13Natalie stood right beside him, biting her lip,
01:15her eyes turning glossy and red.
01:18Oh my god, Caleb, don't.
01:19It's my fault.
01:21I shouldn't have tried it on without asking.
01:22I just loved it so much.
01:24I'm so sorry.
01:25I didn't mean it.
01:26Just step down as your bridesmaid.
01:28Please, can you guys just stop fighting?
01:30Caleb shot her a look.
01:33Vanessa, if you don't want to do this, then leave.
01:35We have guests waiting out there.
01:37This is not the place for your tantrums.
01:40Humiliation hurt fury.
01:42They all surged up at once, lodging themselves in my throat.
01:45Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
01:49In front of all the guests, I slid the diamond ring off my finger,
01:53then turned around and walked away.
01:55I was done explaining myself,
01:57and I sure wasn't staying there to be humiliated in front of everyone.
02:01Honestly, Caleb had never been Prince Charming,
02:04but that was the first time he hit me.
02:07More than that, in my entire 25 years of life,
02:10that was the first time anyone had ever struck me.
02:14Caleb and I went way back.
02:16His grandpa, Walter, and my grandpa served in the army together.
02:20We grew up in the same neighborhood, literally next-door neighbors.
02:23I had been in love with him since I was a little girl.
02:26When I was five, a boy at the playground snatched my toys.
02:30He pulled my hair, dumped bugs straight into my backpack.
02:33I ran crying to my mother, Eleanor.
02:36She went to confront the boy's parents,
02:38but they just brushed it off as kids will be kids.
02:41Grandpa Walter was having dinner at our house that night.
02:44When he heard what happened, he called Caleb over.
02:47He told him to watch my back out there from now on.
02:50Caleb was two years older than me.
02:51When he heard I'd been bullied,
02:53he caught that boy by the playground slide,
02:55pinned him to the dirt, and beat him up.
02:58Caleb had always been big for his age.
03:00He had this mean, untouchable edge to him.
03:03By the time he was done,
03:04that boy and his two friends were bawling their eyes out.
03:08Anyone touches Vanessa, they deal with me.
03:12That was the exact moment I fell for him.
03:15From that day on, I became his shadow.
03:18I followed him every single day.
03:21Wherever he went, I was right behind him.
03:24Caleb hated it at first,
03:26but I never stopped trailing after him.
03:28Eventually, he got used to it and stopped telling me to leave.
03:31He would carry my backpack,
03:33tilt the umbrella toward me when it rained,
03:35and whenever I called his name,
03:36he'd turn around right away.
03:38At my 18th birthday party, Walter joked around.
03:41Well, if these two are this inseparated,
03:44maybe we should just make it official one day.
03:46I saw his ears turn red.
03:49And I'm marrying Caleb.
03:53But six years ago, everything shattered.
03:56That fall, Natalie Hawthorne arrived.
03:59She was the daughter of his mother's friend.
04:01She had just moved back from London
04:03and was staying at his house temporarily.
04:05She was gorgeous, with perfect natural curls
04:09and a soft, breathy accent.
04:11The very first day she moved in,
04:14Caleb brought her along to pick me up from campus.
04:16Oh my God.
04:18So this is your little sister, Vanessa?
04:20She's so cute, literally covered in pink.
04:23Wait, how old are you again?
04:25You're in college, right?
04:26You still dress like a little girl
04:28and no one's ever said anything?
04:29My face instantly burned red.
04:33I loved pink.
04:34I was obsessed with it.
04:35My clothes, my tumbler, my hair clips,
04:39my jewelry, my phone case,
04:41even my fingernails were pink.
04:43People had teased me for it plenty of times,
04:45but no one had ever talked down to me like that before.
04:49With such fake, over-the-top pity,
04:52my face burned.
04:53I just stood there, completely tongue-tied.
04:57Relax, I'm just super blunt.
04:59Don't tell me I offended the princess already.
05:02Seeing my reaction, Natalie just smiled and winked.
05:05All right, that's enough.
05:07Caleb cut through the tension impatiently.
05:09I turned around.
05:10He was staring at Natalie, brows drawn tight,
05:13clearly annoyed.
05:15Ooh, the princess knight in shining armor?
05:18What, I can't even make a joke?
05:20Seriously?
05:21What's your problem?
05:22That night, Caleb told our parents what happened.
05:24Diana smoothed it over immediately.
05:27She told Natalie to lay off the jokes,
05:29and she pushed Caleb to take us both out on weekends
05:32so we could bond.
05:34From that day on, Natalie was always around.
05:37I didn't know exactly when she and Caleb got so close.
05:41Every afternoon, Caleb used to bring me
05:43a strawberry milkshake after class.
05:45But one day, he handed me an iced Americano.
05:48I barely drink coffee.
05:50You know that.
05:51I stared at the iced coffee,
05:52my chest tightening.
05:54Come on.
05:55You only like the milkshake because it's pink.
05:57That stuff's basically melted sugar.
06:00Try drinking something healthier.
06:01Across from him,
06:03Natalie lifted an identical iced Americano.
06:06Oops, sorry, shortcake.
06:08I was craving coffee,
06:09so I told Caleb to grab these.
06:11But honestly, milkshakes are kind of...
06:13a lot.
06:16Do girls like you seriously drink that stuff every day?
06:20Do you always give people nicknames?
06:22For a second, she froze.
06:24Then came the wounded expression.
06:26Why are you making it such a big deal?
06:28I was joking.
06:30You're being way too sensitive, don't you think?
06:32Am I sensitive?
06:34Or did you do it on purpose?
06:36Enough, Vanessa.
06:38Caleb cut in sharply.
06:39She just moved here.
06:40Sometimes she speaks without thinking.
06:46Stop taking it so personally.
06:48My blood was boiling.
06:49Then maybe she should think before she talks!
06:53Hey, hey!
06:54Alright.
06:55My bad.
06:57How about this?
06:58Tomorrow I'll get you a Vanta strawberry milkshake.
07:01Deal?
07:02My little princess?
07:03Hearing that,
07:05Natalie's smile disappeared.
07:06She stared dead at me.
07:08From that day on,
07:10Natalie actively targeted me.
07:12Whenever I pulled out a pink pack of tissues,
07:15she would gasp dramatically.
07:17Wow!
07:18Even your tissues are pink?
07:20What?
07:20Are you trying to turn yourself into Barbie?
07:23At dinner,
07:23whenever I wiped down my silverware before evening,
07:27there it is.
07:28Princess mode activated.
07:30During summer break,
07:31I was hauling suitcases down from my dorm.
07:34Aw!
07:35The princess can't carry her own luggage.
07:37Someone get this girl a night.
07:40Every single time she did this,
07:42her friends would crack up.
07:44At first,
07:46Caleb actually stepped in.
07:47He would tell her to knock it off.
07:50Relax.
07:50I'm kidding.
07:52Vanessa's too guarded.
07:56I'm helping her loosen up
07:57and actually bond with people.
08:00She's a bit high maintenance.
08:03Is that just a girl thing?
08:05Natalie punched his shoulder playfully.
08:07Hey, Caleb.
08:07Don't lump me in with those girls.
08:10I'm definitely not like them.
08:12Caleb laughed.
08:13It was such a gentle smile.
08:15My chest tightened with a sour ache.
08:18I always knew he thought I was spoiled
08:20and through little tantrums.
08:22Maybe to guys like him,
08:24liking pink,
08:25hating germs,
08:26and not being physically strong
08:28just meant you were a high-maintenance princess.
08:31But finally,
08:33I snapped.
08:34It was a friend's birthday party.
08:36I wore a fitted pink button-down
08:38over a white cami to the club.
08:40When Natalie saw me,
08:42she practically shrieked.
08:44Oh.
08:45My.
08:46God.
08:47Vanessa,
08:48are you serious right now?
08:49Pink with a white cami?
08:51What's this,
08:51a teen drama?
08:52No, seriously.
08:53I'm dying.
08:55Do you think you're the main character?
08:57Look at you.
08:58You look like...
09:00What's the word?
09:01One of those girls
09:02trying way too hard to look cute.
09:04Like a Barbie doll
09:05that wandered onto the wrong set.
09:08Hilarious.
09:09She cracked up with a few guys
09:12who'd been mocking me
09:13since we were kids.
09:14Even Caleb seemed genuinely amused.
09:17The corner of his mouth twitched.
09:19A tidal wave of humiliation and shame
09:21swallowed me alive.
09:23While they were laughing,
09:24I grabbed my glass
09:25and tossed my drink
09:27right into her face.
09:28Natalie gasped,
09:30wiping furiously at her wet face.
09:32Her makeup melted.
09:33Black mascara completely streaked down her cheeks.
09:36She coughed violently.
09:38What the hell?
09:39What the hell is wrong with you?
09:40Are you insane?
09:42Oh, my God.
09:44I mocked her tone perfectly.
09:46Look at your heavy contour,
09:47fake lashes,
09:48and that dress that barely covers your ass.
09:50What are you, a hooker?
09:51Some trashy little club princess?
09:53Caleb scowled and stepped between us.
09:55He yanked the glass right out of my hand.
09:58Vanessa, apologize.
10:01He looked down at me,
10:02his brow furrowed.
10:03My eyes burned
10:04as I stared dead at him.
10:06Didn't you hear what she said to me?
10:08She mocked me first.
10:09That's not the point.
10:11You already insulted her back.
10:13Now apologize for throwing the drink.
10:15When you do something wrong,
10:16you own it.
10:18Stop acting like a child.
10:20He said it with such casual authority.
10:22Just say sorry.
10:24She won't hold it against you.
10:26Fuck off.
10:29Vanessa, what's gotten into you?
10:30You leave for college
10:31and suddenly this is how you talk?
10:33Apologize right now!
10:35I scoffed,
10:36turned on my heel,
10:37and walked straight out of the club.
10:39Three days later, Caleb showed up.
10:41He brought my favorite strawberry milkshake to campus.
10:44It had pink whipped cream on top,
10:46with my favorite flamingo straw sticking out of it.
10:49He stood below the balcony of my dorm building.
10:51Vanessa,
10:53come down.
10:54I owe you an apology.
10:56I stood on the balcony,
10:57looking down at him.
10:58The wind made my eyes sting.
11:00I went downstairs
11:01and took the shake from him.
11:03I took a sip.
11:04It was sweet,
11:05but my chest still felt tight and heavy.
11:08Do you actually think I'm spoiled,
11:10petty,
11:10and making a big deal out of nothing?
11:12He fell silent for a long time.
11:15Natalie's just blunt.
11:15She doesn't mean any harm.
11:17Just let it go.
11:18You take everything way too personally, Vanessa.
11:21That's probably why you have no friends.
11:24The milkshake sat heavy in my throat.
11:26I couldn't swallow it.
11:27Couldn't spit it out.
11:28So that was it.
11:29No matter how badly I was hurt,
11:31I was always the petty one with Caleb.
11:34Always too sensitive.
11:35Too dramatic.
11:37From that day on,
11:38our relationship just went on autopilot.
11:40We were together,
11:41but something between us had gone cold.
11:44After we finished grad school,
11:45our parents started bringing up marriage
11:47more and more.
11:49They thought it was time we settled down.
11:51Caleb didn't object,
11:52so the wedding was set for my 25th birthday.
11:56On the big day,
11:57Natalie was already standing in the bridal suite,
11:59wearing my wedding dress.
12:01She said she just wanted to see how it looked on her.
12:03I let out a disbelieving laugh.
12:05She glanced at the red reception dress
12:08I had just changed into,
12:09wrinkled her nose.
12:11Honestly,
12:12red is definitely not your color, Vanessa.
12:14It looks hideous on you.
12:16Take it off.
12:17If you want to try on a wedding dress so badly,
12:19go rent one.
12:21That one is mine.
12:22But she just did a little twirl in front of me.
12:25Oh, come on.
12:26You've already worn it for the ceremony.
12:28Caleb said he didn't mind.
12:30Why are you being so possessive?
12:32That was it.
12:33I reached out and grabbed the fabric.
12:36It's my wedding dress.
12:37Give it back.
12:38As we struggled,
12:40her foot caught on something.
12:41She tripped and fell hard onto the floor.
12:44Her carefully styled hair tumbled into a messy heap.
12:48At that exact moment,
12:49the door flew open.
12:51Caleb rushed in.
12:52His eyes landed on Natalie.
12:54And without a single second of hesitation,
12:57he raised his hand
12:58and slapped me straight across the face.
13:02It was raining when I walked out of the ballroom.
13:04A brutal August storm.
13:06Heavy drops smashed against the pavement.
13:08I walked step by step into the freezing rain,
13:12still wearing that red reception dress
13:14Natalie had just mocked.
13:16Behind me,
13:17my mother's voice tore through the storm.
13:20Vanessa, Vanessa, come back!
13:23Oh, for God's sake!
13:25What is wrong with her?
13:26Throwing a tantrum?
13:28Throwing a tantrum at her own wedding?
13:30This is so embarrassing!
13:32I didn't look back.
13:33My heel caught in a puddle,
13:35my ankle twisted,
13:36and I nearly fell.
13:37So I yanked off both heels,
13:39walked barefoot on the soaking wet pavement.
13:43The muddy water was freezing and filthy,
13:45but I couldn't care less.
13:47When I walked past the main gates,
13:49the hotel security guard stared at me
13:51like I'd lost my mind.
13:53Well, a barefoot bride walking into a thunderstorm.
13:57I probably did look insane.
13:59My phone buzzed non-stop in my purse.
14:02I pulled it out.
14:03Dozens of texts from relatives and friends.
14:06What happened?
14:07Is everything okay?
14:09Why did you leave?
14:10I powered the phone off and flagged down a cab.
14:13The driver hesitated when he saw me dripping wet,
14:16but eventually unlocked the doors.
14:19Where to?
14:19I gave him an address,
14:21an old apartment I shared with a friend back in college.
14:24She had moved to San Francisco,
14:25but she kept the lease and left me a spare key.
14:28The ride took 40 minutes.
14:30I shivered the entire way.
14:32I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or something else.
14:36When I arrived,
14:37I dug through my soaked purse.
14:39I only had $200 in cash and a debit card.
14:43My phone was completely dead.
14:45I climbed the stairs and unlocked the door.
14:48The apartment was dead empty.
14:51Just a bare mattress and a single folding chair.
14:55I peeled off the heavy, soaked dress,
14:57crawled into an old blanket she had left behind,
15:01curling into a tight ball.
15:03Finally, the tears started falling.
15:06It wasn't even heartbreak anymore.
15:08It wasn't anger either.
15:10It was just a suffocating emptiness.
15:13I'd loved Caleb for almost my entire life.
15:17When I was five,
15:18he beat up the boys who bullied me.
15:20I thought he was the bravest person in the world.
15:23When I was eight, I scraped my me.
15:26He crouched down and put a Band-Aid on it.
15:28His hands had been clumsy, but so careful.
15:32When I was 15, I bombed a test.
15:35He stayed on the phone with me for hours, saying,
15:38It's one test, Vanessa.
15:40You'll be fine.
15:41When I was 18, I got accepted into college.
15:45He bought me a pink crystal bracelet.
15:48My little princess finally grew up.
15:52But when did everything change?
15:54Was it the day Natalie showed up?
15:56Or was it even earlier than that?
15:58Maybe he'd never loved me.
16:01Maybe I was just a needy friend he had to look after.
16:04A shadow he just couldn't shake off.
16:07He treated me well, not out of love, but out of habit.
16:12He was used to me following him around, used to my clinginess.
16:16But Natalie was different.
16:18She was independent, fiercely opinionated, and bluntly outspoken.
16:23She didn't need him to act as her knight in shining armor.
16:27She even challenged him.
16:29To Caleb, maybe that was a mature, equal relationship.
16:33Not a childish, high-maintenance princess who needed constant coddling.
16:38Those thoughts spiraled, until I eventually passed out from exhaustion.
16:42In my dreams, I was five years old again.
16:45After he finished beating up those boys, he turned his head and looked at me.
16:50Sunlight hit his face.
16:53Anyone touches Vanessa, they deal with me.
16:56But the very next second, the dream shifted.
16:59He was standing in the grand ballroom, staring at me with an ice-cold face,
17:04before slapping me across the cheek.
17:06I jolted awake.
17:08Sweat slicked my skin.
17:10The storm had passed.
17:11The sky was starting to turn pale.
17:13I plugged in my phone, powered it on.
17:16It vibrated for three straight minutes, flooded with messages.
17:22Most were from my mother.
17:23Starting from a panicked,
17:25Vanessa, where are you?
17:27To, please answer me.
17:29And finally,
17:31Do you have any idea what this has done to both families?
17:36Then there were a few texts from Caleb.
17:38Where are you?
17:39Vanessa, are you done with this yet?
17:42Pick up.
17:44The very last one was sent at 2 a.m.
17:47Just one line.
17:48Are you happy now?
17:50I stared at that text.
17:52A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
17:54He slapped me across the face.
17:57And now he actually had the guts to text me.
18:01Are you happy now?
18:02Just like always.
18:04To him, this was totally my fault.
18:07I was being unreasonable.
18:08I ruined our perfect wedding.
18:11I didn't reply to anyone.
18:14I opened DoorDash and ordered some hot chicken soup.
18:17The buzzer sounded.
18:18I assumed it was the chicken soup.
18:21I pulled open the door.
18:23But it wasn't the delivery guy.
18:25It was Caleb.
18:26He was still wearing the same gray wedding suit.
18:29Dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes.
18:32Like he hadn't slept all night.
18:35He took one look at my pale face and froze.
18:38I knew exactly how pathetic I looked.
18:42I was drowning in a baggy old t-shirt someone left behind.
18:45And I still had the faint red handprint on my left cheek.
18:50He stared at me for a few seconds.
18:52His throat bobbed.
18:53You stayed here last night?
18:55I didn't answer him.
18:56Just turned and walked back inside.
18:59He followed me inside, scanning the completely bare room,
19:02his brows drawing together.
19:04You're staying here?
19:04You're staying here?
19:05There's not even a bed.
19:07None of your business.
19:08I sat down on the mattress, picked up a cup,
19:11and took a sip of water.
19:12He walked over and towered above me, looking down.
19:17Come home.
19:19Let's finish the wedding.
19:21We can pretend yesterday never happened.
19:24I slowly looked up at him.
19:26His face was so incredibly calm.
19:29Caleb, do you honestly think I can't live without you?
19:33What?
19:34I said, I'm not marrying you.
19:38We're done.
19:40His brow furrowed into a tight knot.
19:43Vanessa, do you even hear yourself?
19:44I do.
19:46I'm perfectly clear.
19:48Why?
19:49Just because of one slap?
19:52I didn't mean it.
19:54I didn't mean it.
19:54Given the situation...
19:56What situation?
19:58You saw Natalie on the floor and you hit me.
20:02You didn't ask why.
20:03You didn't ask what she did to me.
20:05You didn't even give me a chance to explain.
20:07You just hit me.
20:11Do you even know what she did?
20:13She wore my wedding dress.
20:15On my wedding day, she put it on without my permission.
20:19I told her to take it off and she refused.
20:23We argued.
20:24I tried to pull it off her.
20:26Then you walked in and you hit me for no reason.
20:31Tell me, Caleb.
20:32What did I do wrong?
20:34She'd never worn one before.
20:35She was just curious.
20:37Did you really have to make such a huge deal out of it?
20:41Did you really have to hit me?
20:45Caleb, I chased you for 20 years.
20:47I loved you for 20 years.
20:50I've been your loyal shadow for 20 years.
20:53I thought you were just bad at expressing yourself.
20:58I thought you loved me and didn't know how to say it.
21:01But that slap yesterday finally woke me up.
21:03You never loved me.
21:05You got used to me.
21:07I'm just an accessory to you.
21:09Someone you could snap your fingers at whenever it suited you.
21:13But Natalie?
21:14You'll back her up in public?
21:15You'll hit me for her?
21:17Because deep down, Caleb,
21:19she is more important to you.
21:21Not true.
21:21Say it, Caleb.
21:22Tell me what it actually is.
21:25He couldn't say a single thing.
21:28I let out a bitter laugh.
21:31Get out.
21:32I already threw the ring away.
21:34The wedding is cancelled.
21:35I'll deal with our families and the fallout.
21:38From now on, we're completely done.
21:40Don't ever reach out to me again.
21:43He didn't move.
21:45He stood there for a long time.
21:47Finally, he muttered,
21:49Cool off for a few days.
21:50I'll come back when you've calmed down.
21:52Then he turned around and walked out.
21:55The second the door shut, my legs gave out.
21:58I sank to the floor, burying my face in my arms.
22:02I was the one who initiated the breakup, who cancelled the wedding.
22:06But why, why did my chest still hurt this much?
22:11For the next three days, I locked myself in that empty apartment, ignored every call.
22:18My mother was losing it.
22:20She texted me that she and my father were already on their way.
22:24I just replied, I'm fine.
22:26Please don't come.
22:27On the third afternoon, the doorbell rang.
22:30I checked the peephole.
22:31It was her.
22:32With no choice left, I opened the door.
22:35When she stepped inside, her eyes welled up with tears.
22:39Oh, sweetheart.
22:41You've lost so much weight.
22:43You look so pale.
22:44Have you even eaten anything?
22:47As she scolded me, she started pulling thermoses out of her tote bag.
22:52I know you're hurting.
22:54I know what happened humiliated you.
22:56But starving yourself won't fix it.
23:00My nose stung.
23:02Tears threatened again.
23:03My father stood in the doorway.
23:06His face was dangerously grim.
23:10I've already talked to Caleb's parents.
23:12If you want to call the whole thing off, just say the word.
23:14I have your back.
23:17Drop it, Arthur.
23:20What?
23:21Laying a hand on my daughter right in front of me?
23:24Who the hell does he think he is?
23:26I didn't raise her to be his punching bag.
23:29She let out a heavy sigh and didn't argue back.
23:31I knew this had hurt them, too.
23:35Decades of friendship between our families.
23:37And now they were stuck in the middle of this mess.
23:40The wedding ruined everything.
23:43Mom, Dad, I'm sorry.
23:46I'm sorry for putting you through this.
23:50Stop talking nonsense.
23:51I don't care about any of that.
23:53I only care that you're okay.
23:55I only care that you're okay.
23:59That night, my mother stayed with me.
24:01And my father checked into a hotel nearby.
24:04She lay next to me on that bare mattress.
24:06Just like when I was little.
24:09Vanessa, be honest with me.
24:11Okay.
24:12Do you still love him?
24:15I stayed quiet for a long time.
24:18I loved him for 20 years.
24:21You don't just turn that off overnight.
24:24But, Mom, I don't want to love him anymore.
24:28I know, sweetie.
24:30Then take it slow.
24:31I'm right here with you.
24:33Staring into the dark, I cried without making a sound.
24:37On the fourth day, Caleb came back.
24:39But this time, he wasn't alone.
24:41Natalie was with him.
24:43I love him.
24:43I love you.
24:43I love you.
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