- 2 days ago
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:01My fiancé slapped me right in front of everyone, all to defend another woman.
00:07I blocked him on everything before the day was out.
00:10To everyone, it was unthinkable.
00:13Joseph Shaw and I had been a pair since we were six.
00:15For 18 years, I was just his shadow.
00:19Is that really why?
00:20He asked, voice full of confusion.
00:23Because I slapped you?
00:24Yes, just because you slapped me.
00:27When that slap landed, everything around me went dead silent.
00:31Joseph Shaw's hand came down with a fierce rush of air, and the sharp crack made my head
00:36jerk violently to the side.
00:38The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth, and I could hear a high, thin ringing that
00:43drowned out everything else.
00:45I stumbled, grabbing onto the desk for support, my fingers trembling.
00:49My left cheek went numb, and then erupted in a searing heat.
00:52When I looked up, I saw Joseph's hand still hanging in the air.
00:56Joseph, my childhood sweetheart and my fiancé, was standing up for his secretary, Yvonne
01:02Foster, and had just slapped me in front of everyone.
01:05Joseph realized what he'd done, and for a split second, his face went stiff.
01:09But then anger and impatience took over.
01:14A few low snickers cut through the office.
01:17The rest just watched in silence, enjoying the drama.
01:20Yvonne's chestnut brown curls gleamed with a honeyed sheen under the light.
01:24She leaned against Joseph, her red lips pulling into a mocking smirk.
01:35Joseph's jaw clenched, the fire still burning in his eyes.
01:38Lucilia, this is a place of business, not your personal way ground.
01:43Can you knock it off?
01:44His voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.
01:47More snickers rippled through the office.
01:49I had endured his temper for 18 years.
01:51I just never knew a slap from him could hurt this much.
01:54Shame, humiliation, and fury churned inside me, as I dug my nails deep into my palms.
01:59I didn't care what Joseph had to say next.
02:02I was done listening.
02:03As I grabbed my bag and rushed out the glass doors, I caught someone whispering behind me.
02:08Oh my god, if I were her, I'd never show my face here again.
02:13I had no idea where to go, but I couldn't stand the thought of going back to work.
02:17No way was I sticking around to face everyone there.
02:20Joseph had never been a patient man with me, but this was the first time he had ever hit
02:25me.
02:25In fact, it was the first time in my entire life that anyone had ever slapped me.
02:30I was six when my family moved into our new home.
02:33The day we moved in, Joseph was squatting in the hallway, playing with his toy cars.
02:38Sunlight slanted in from the window at the end of the corridor, stretching his shadow out
02:43so long that it just touched my toes.
02:45We lived next door to each other, and our families shared a small garden.
02:49My mother always said that Joseph and I were like two young trees growing up side by side,
02:54destined to walk life's path together one day.
02:57I remembered one bitterly cold winter in second grade, when a boy named Humbert Chapman, sitting
03:03behind me, stuck his chewed gum in my ponytail.
03:05The whole class burst into mocking laughter.
03:08I burst into tears, but my homeroom teacher just brushed it off, saying,
03:12Boys, mess with you because you're pretty.
03:14He's just trying to get your attention.
03:16Don't cry.
03:17When Joseph's father, Edward Shaw, found out,
03:20Joseph, go have a word with that boy from the second grade class tomorrow.
03:24The next day, during recess, Joseph walked in through the back door of our classroom.
03:28He walked straight over to Humbert's desk.
03:31Listen up, Lucia is my sister.
03:35Try bullying her again, and I'll beat you up.
03:38As he left, he gave me a reassuring pat on the head with a smile.
03:42From then on, I followed Joseph around like a shadow, and no matter how he tried, he just
03:48couldn't shake me.
03:49In middle school, after every soccer game, Joseph always went for ice cream with his teammates.
03:54I'd just squat by the field, hugging my backpack, and waiting for him until the sun stretched
03:59our shadows long.
04:00He'd eventually come over, pull me up by the arm.
04:03Lucille, what are you, glue to the spot?
04:06Still, despite the complaints, he'd split his strawberry popsicle in half and give me
04:11my share.
04:12I caught Joseph sneaking glances at me more times than I could count.
04:16Whether I was chewing on my pen while working through a math problem, tucking a loose strand
04:21of hair behind my ear, or even just napping with my head on the desk, I could always feel
04:25his eyes on me.
04:26His gaze would brush past me, as light and fleeting as a summer breeze.
04:30The night our parents suggested we should get engaged, he dragged me into the fire escape.
04:36As the motion sensor light flickered overhead, his hand, clammy and tense, squeezed mine so
04:41tightly that it almost hurt.
04:54He shivered, and then suddenly pressed me back against the wall and kissed me.
04:59In the dark, my fingers lingered over the scar at the back of his neck.
05:03That night, the moonlight slipped through the iron bars and scattered over us in patches,
05:08making me almost fool myself into thinking we really were in love.
05:12After college, I joined the Shaw Group and ended up working under Joseph.
05:16Just when we were about to get engaged, Yvonne walked into our lives.
05:20She was the newest intern in the company.
05:22On her first day, Yvonne came in with coffee for everyone, flashing a big cheerful smile.
05:29Hey everyone, I'm Yvonne.
05:32Can't wait to work with you guys.
05:34When she reached me, she stopped mid-action.
05:37Whoa!
05:39Are you actually using a thermos with cartoon characters on it?
05:43That's so tacky.
05:45Seeing me stay quiet, she nibbled her lip.
05:47Sorry, it's just my blunt honesty.
05:49I swear, I wasn't trying to say you have bad taste.
05:53But really, Lucille, how old are you?
05:55Still this childish?
05:57I always thought women in the office were supposed to be all classy and have great style.
06:02Every eye in the office locked onto me.
06:05My workspace was completely covered in cute characters, from the cartoon-themed keyboard
06:10and collectible figurines, right down to the decorative stickers lining my monitor.
06:14What Joseph used to jokingly call Lucille's little treasures was now sitting there on display,
06:20being judged like evidence in court with everyone staring.
06:22A high-pitched whine filled my ears, so loud that it felt like a drill boring into my skull.
06:28This was the first time I'd ever been maliciously mocked in public.
06:31The shame was so overwhelming, and I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.
06:46I gripped my skirt tightly, trying hard not to show how shaken I was.
06:53Joseph's voice cut through the tension from behind me.
06:56When I turned around, I saw his lips pressed into a thin line of displeasure.
07:00Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, gilding his silhouette.
07:05For a split second, he looked just like that middle school boy who'd throw punches for me without a second
07:10thought.
07:11Yvonne pouted, clearly annoyed.
07:13I was just messing around with Lucia.
07:16Seriously, Mr. Shaw, you have to step in for this kind of thing?
07:19This isn't a lounge for chit-chat, Yvonne.
07:21If you're so eager to make small talk, maybe you should resign and chat to your heart's content elsewhere.
07:25Yvonne had no choice but to drag herself back to her desk, clearly sulking.
07:30I hadn't even noticed when Joseph and Yvonne started hitting it off.
07:35Then one day, the housekeeper showed up with lunch for three instead of just two.
07:39There's nothing here I like.
07:41We're eating healthy today.
07:45Yvonne says it's good to cleanse our systems once in a while.
07:48Yvonne settled in next to me, coffee in hand.
07:50Sorry, Lucille.
07:52I shot her a look.
07:53She arched her brow, lips curled into a wickedly amused smile.
07:58Oops, I forgot you're not into this healthy stuff.
08:01But you should really try eating lighter, Lucia.
08:05I've just noticed your clothes are fitting a bit tighter lately.
08:11Unlike me.
08:14You really do love to hear yourself talk, don't you?
08:16Let's get one thing straight, we're not friends.
08:19And for the record, those skin-tight clothes you're so proud of,
08:22they're not giving what you think they are.
08:24Her perfectly drawn eyeliner twitching with anger.
08:29Lucy, you've gone too far.
08:31I've gone too far?
08:34Looks like I'm just crashing your little party.
08:37Spinning on my heel to leave.
08:39Joseph instinctively pulled me close, just like he did back in middle school,
08:42when those punks cornered me in an alley.
08:45But this time, his arms carried the scent of another woman's perfume.
08:49Fine.
08:50I'll have the housekeeper make something you like tomorrow.
08:54Don't be upset, okay?
08:56Yvonne's face instantly darkened.
08:58From the next day on, Yvonne's digs at me got even more ruthless.
09:03Wow, Chanel with that thing?
09:08Lucille, what a bold choice.
09:10I'm honestly speechless.
09:12Who even still likes that stuff?
09:14All the cool kids are into edgy collectibles now.
09:18Get with the times, Bumpard.
09:19The guys around the room burst out laughing.
09:22At lunch, I gave my cutlery a quick wipe with a napkin.
09:26Yvonne immediately nudged the guy beside her.
09:28Oh my god, are we two fans for ordinary cutlery now?
09:32What's wrong?
09:33Is the royal palace missing its precious princess?
09:38When it was time for the annual desk shuffle at work,
09:41I lugged my monitor across the office, my arms aching.
09:44Just as I paused to catch my breath,
09:47Check it out, our princess can't even move her own monitor.
09:51Any knights want to come to her rescue?
09:53She and the creep is dead,
09:54some of them even blatantly snapping pictures
09:57and filming like it was showtime.
10:01All right, don't take it too far.
10:03But Yvonne giggled coquettishly.
10:05Oh, come on, it was just a joke.
10:08Lucy is always so proper.
10:10I was just trying to help her come out of her shell a little.
10:13Joseph was silent for a moment,
10:14and then, to my surprise, he nodded in agreement.
10:18She really is a bit introverted.
10:20Girls these days are just so fragile.
10:23Yvonne couldn't help but laugh,
10:24giving Joseph a light punch on the arm.
10:27Hey, don't lump everyone together.
10:28I'm definitely not like that.
10:31Joseph smiled at her, his eyes showing his quiet approval.
10:34That day, after holding it in for so long, I finally reached my breaking point.
10:39During one holiday, my parents and I went to Salaston.
10:43The sea breeze was gentle, the sun was relentless, and I was having the time of my life.
10:48By the time we got back, my skin was peeling and patchy from the sun.
10:52Usually, my skin would clear up on its own after a while, so I never worried about it.
10:57But on my first day back, immediately felt the sharp, assessing stare of Yvonne.
11:02Oh my!
11:04Lucia, honey, look at the state of your skin.
11:07What a disaster!
11:12No way you pass for a princess now.
11:14Look at that patchy skin, never in the storybooks, is it?
11:18Then she shot an exaggerated wink at the guys next to her.
11:22Seriously, she's turning into the ugly duckling right before our eyes.
11:26I froze in place, heat flooding my cheeks as humiliation burned through me.
11:30Joseph just stood there, right by her side, catching my eye with that little smirk,
11:35like he didn't care at all.
11:36And in that instant, I felt something deep inside me break.
11:40Perhaps the ghost of our 18 years as childhood sweethearts,
11:43or the last fragment of a dream where I'd once marry him.
11:46Before I knew it, I grabbed my coffee and splashed it right into Yvonne's face,
11:51and her makeup melted instantly as coffee dripped down her cheeks,
11:55mascara trailing in inky rivers like tears.
11:58Lucia, are you insane?!
12:00She sputtered, desperately scrubbing at her ruined face,
12:03clumps of mascara sticking to her fingers and cheeks.
12:07I gave a cold laugh, mimicking her mocking tone.
12:10Wow, and here you go on about how you act like one of the boys.
12:14Since when do guys show up to work with a full face of makeup?
12:17With all that eyelid tape, mascara, and lipstick?
12:21You're more prompt than anyone I know.
12:23Some tomboy you are.
12:25People jumped in to hold me back, and Joseph snatched the cup right out of my hand.
12:31Lucille, apologize.
12:32I locked eyes with him, feeling my nose sting.
12:35You were laughing when she made fun of me.
12:38Now that I finally say the truth, you want me to say sorry?
12:42Cut it out with the childish tantrum.
12:43Fights are one thing, but drenching someone with coffee is just wrong.
12:46You crossed the line, so take responsibility and apologize.
12:50Apologize?
12:51Hell no.
12:52Before I knew it, he slapped me hard.
12:55The sound echoed in the room.
12:57My ears rang, yet I could still hear Yvonne's pleased sniffling and the whispers of my co-workers.
13:03With that one slap, 18 years of shared history and every last shred of my feeling for him shattered.
13:08I slowly raised my head, looking at Joseph, the same boy who once stood up for me.
13:14Real classy, Joseph.
13:16We're done.
13:18I burst into my room, rifling through drawers and tossing clothes around like I'd completely lost it.
13:24The delicate figurine perched on the top shelf of my bookcase.
13:28The pink hoodie Joseph once gave me, buried deep in the closet.
13:31The faded movie ticket stubs in the drawer.
13:34Anything and everything with Joseph's mark.
13:36I shoved them all, violently, into a cardboard box.
13:40A glass jar of stars fell from the bookshelf, and broken glass scattered everywhere.
13:44It was the stars Joseph had stayed up all night, folding for my 18th birthday.
13:49I lugged the heavy box outside and dumped it in the trash, startling a couple of sparrows.
13:54I finally picked up the phone and called my mother.
13:56Mom, call off the engagement.
13:59Joseph and I are over.
14:00When my mother got home, I was holding an ice pack to my face.
14:04Who did this to you?
14:05I buried my face in her shoulder, the familiar scent of laundry detergent filling my senses.
14:10And just like that, I was a little kid again, sobbing uncontrollably against her.
14:16After hearing the whole story, my mother, she just stormed out the door.
14:21When Joseph's mother, Fiona Shaw, opened the door.
14:25What's going on?
14:27Your son hit Lucy because of some intern.
14:32Fiona, to be honest, our family has always treated yours with nothing but respect.
14:38I've never once raised a hand to my own daughter, not in all her life.
14:42Joseph would never do that on purpose.
14:44I'm sure it's-
14:45There's nothing more to say.
14:47The engagement between our families is over.
14:50That night, my mother held me close as we sat on the bay window.
14:55The familiar scent of rose clung to her, reminding me of those nights when I was little and had
15:00a fever.
15:01She'd cradle me the whole night through.
15:04I mumbled, pressing my face into her shoulder.
15:07Am I being too selfish?
15:09Will this ruin our family's business?
15:12Mom softly combed through my hair.
15:14I'd be lying if I said this won't shake things up.
15:17But honey, that's nothing you need to worry about.
15:20All I want is for you to be happy every single day.
15:23And if the world comes crashing down, your dad is there to hold it all up for you.
15:28The next day, Joseph was hammering on my door like a rainstorm, each knock sharper and more frantic than the
15:35last.
15:35When I opened the door, he was there beneath the dim yellow porch light.
15:41Lucille, what crazy stunt are you pulling this time?
15:44I silently tilted my face up, letting him get a clear look at the hideous handprint on my left cheek.
15:50A whole night later, the slap mark had only swelled and darkened.
15:53How- how come?
15:57He reached out, his fingers trembling and pausing just before touching my cheek.
16:01I swear, I didn't use that much force.
16:03I let out a cold laugh.
16:06I'm sorry, Lucille. I didn't mean to.
16:09When I saw you treating that intern like that at work, I just lost my temper.
16:14I didn't let him finish.
16:15Since you're here, let's get this straight.
16:18Starting now, we're done.
16:20The engagement between the Chandler and Shaw families is over.
16:24Joseph, from now on we'll treat each other like strangers.
16:28If you run into me on the street, keep your distance.
16:31And don't ever come knocking on my door again like you did today.
16:35Get lost, Joseph.
16:36Joseph stared at me.
16:38So is this all because I defended Yvonne?
16:41Or is it just because I slapped you?
16:45Since when are you so petty, Lucille?
16:47It was one slap.
16:49If it means that much to you, then hit me back.
16:52Joseph, this was never about the slap.
16:55It's about you choosing to stand with the people who hurt me.
17:00And I am done with you.
17:01The motion sensor light in the hallway suddenly switched off.
17:04Just before the darkness took us, my last sight was of his eyes, red and glistening.
17:09They flickered and became the eyes of that boy from years past.
17:12The one who'd get into fights for me and then just laugh off his bruises.
17:16Joseph stood there.
17:17His face went still, like he didn't even recognize me.
17:20He had seen me cry, laugh, whine, and mess around.
17:24But he had never seen me like this, cold as ice.
17:28I didn't mean it, Lucille.
17:30I just lost control for a minute, okay?
17:35I shook my head.
17:37Save it.
17:38Joseph, don't ever come after me again.
17:42Joseph grabbed my wrist suddenly.
17:45His eyes were red and fierce.
17:47Really?
17:48You're throwing away 20 years over one slap?
17:52Lucille, since when did you become so unreasonable?
17:55Watching him rage.
17:56It reminded me of the middle school years when a guy tried to mess with me.
18:00Joseph had the same cold look as he beat that guy until he begged.
18:04Now, that fury was directed at me.
18:08It is a big deal, Joseph.
18:11So know your place.
18:13Joseph let out a bitter laugh.
18:16Fine, remember your words.
18:18He let go of my hand.
18:21We're done.
18:22You've got nerve, Lucille.
18:24Just don't come crying back to me.
18:27As he turned to leave, he knocked over a potted plant.
18:30The sound of the shattering pot triggered the garden's motion sensor light.
18:34I stood in the flickering light, watching his back vanish around the corner.
18:38It felt like watching the boy who once fought for me disappear from my life forever.
18:43The next day at work, gossip spread like wildfire through the office break room.
18:48Everyone was talking.
18:49Joseph and Yvonne were officially dating.
18:52As I walked by with my coffee, I saw Yvonne on her toes, fixing Joseph's tie.
18:58Joe, let's go to my favorite restaurant tonight to celebrate.
19:01Joseph's gaze shifted over her shoulder and suddenly met mine.
19:05He tried to step back, but Yvonne wrapped her arm around his neck.
19:09Back at my desk, my group chat was blowing up.
19:12I heard Yvonne arrived in Mr. Shaw's car this morning.
19:15I saw a hickey on her neck.
19:16Is Ms. Chandler going to be okay?
19:18I closed the chat and remembered last month's team dinner when Yvonne raised her glass and said,
19:23I really don't like being around women.
19:25They're always so loud and chatty.
19:27It's just better hanging out with guys.
19:30They don't have fragile egos like some girls.
19:33You can say whatever you want.
19:34The moment she finished speaking, the other women in the office exchanged knowing looks.
19:38First thing the next morning, Yvonne posted a pitiful update,
19:42getting iced out by the girls at work again.
19:44I guess telling the truth just gets you excluded.
19:46The post featured a picture of the Bulgari necklace Joseph had bought to comfort her.
19:51After work that day, I curled up on the sofa and vented to my parents about it.
19:56I've met plenty like her. Don't get too close, sweetie, or you'll get hurt.
20:01Isn't it wrong to talk about someone behind their back?
20:04He was carrying the fruits his father had sent over, but his eyes were ice cold.
20:09The living room fell dead silent, except for the sharp snipping of the flower scissors.
20:13Now that I thought back, that was probably the moment I became the petty, gossipy girl in his eyes,
20:19while Yvonne became his pure, genuine ideal.
20:22I later heard the gossip from co-workers.
20:24At some point, Joseph and Yvonne had formed a deep friendship.
20:28Yvonne made beautiful slides with smooth...
20:31...she could even make data visualization look simple, something Joseph always struggled with.
20:36When I used to help him with his slides, he would always point out flaws, telling me the logic was
20:42off or the colors were too harsh.
20:43Yvonne never made those mistakes.
20:46She would just lean close to the screen and say,
20:48Joe, I made this chart animated for you.
20:52His ears would turn red.
20:57Last time, we played fool.
20:59Most of the women, including me, stayed back.
21:02But Yvonne cleared the table in one turn and got cheers from all the guys.
21:06Yvonne!
21:09One of Joseph's friends slung an arm around him and joked,
21:12Yvonne's way more fun, a lot better than that sensitive girl you used to be with.
21:17I'd seen some of their private messages by accident. Yvonne had sent an exaggerated crying emoji,
21:23along with a message, I need your comfort. Ms. Chandler was mean to me again today.
21:28Joseph had replied, just ignore her. She's probably on her period.
21:32Once, after a department meeting, Yvonne brazenly sat on Joseph's lap.
21:39We're in a real relationship. Not like some people who only got engaged out of childhood
21:43obligation. Oh, don't tell me. You think I'm talking about you.
21:47In that moment, I finally understood. Childhood sweethearts couldn't compete with a sudden new plane.
21:53Eighteen years of history had lost to a three-month infatuation. After all, the whole company knew
21:59that I, the girl whose smiles were reserved for Joseph, had now become the punchline to his new
22:04love story. A cold snort came from Joseph at the conference room door. I never looked up,
22:10but I could feel his gaze burning into the top of my head, like a cigarette that refused to go
22:15out.
22:16I never looked up. As time went on, their public displays of affection grew even more obvious. Yvonne
22:22would slip her strawberry-patterned hair tie around Joseph's wrist, the pink elastic pressing into his tan
22:27skin like a mark of ownership. Soft breaths and the sound of kissing sometimes drifted from the
22:34fire escape until the day the cleaning lady walked in on them. After work, she always walked with her
22:40arm wrapped around his and he would simply smile and allow it. It was strange how those same scenes
22:46that once made my heart flutter now looked like something from a poorly written romance drama.
22:52Everything continued until one evening, when Joseph cornered me in the parking lot after work.
22:58He carried the scent of Yvonne's perfume, but his expression was tangled and unfamiliar.
23:05Lucille, let's get back together. I met his plea with a cold laugh and a firm refusal. Joseph's hand
23:11clamped around my wrist like a vice, his palm burning hot as he squeezed with bone-crushing force.
23:16Lucy, I was wrong. I only dated Yvonne to make you jealous. Let's get back together. Just say yes,
23:25and I'll break up with her immediately. I laughed at the thought that Joseph saw me as nothing more
23:30than a convenient backup plan. I jerked my hand free and said, Joseph, listen up. I-
23:37Before I could finish, the elevator dinged open to reveal Yvonne, her face ghostly pale as she rushed out.
23:43Without any makeup, she clutched a medical report in her hand.
23:46Joe the baby, our baby is gone. Joseph's expression instantly hardened as he released me
23:53and turned to support her, only to be violently pushed away. Are you happy now, Lucille?
24:01This is all your fault for forcing me to work overtime yesterday. Now Joe's and my baby is gone.
24:08Are you finally satisfied? Joseph's hand clamped around my wrist like a hot brand. I could feel my
24:14own pulse throbbing against his palm. His gaze was terrifyingly dark. Why? You did this intentionally.
24:23I didn't. Believe whatever you want. Lucille, when did you become so cruel?
24:30I slammed my heel into his knee, leaving a scuff mark on his tailored trousers.
24:37I told you I didn't do it. Now back off and don't touch me.
24:41Just as Joseph released me in pain and tried to grab me again, a hand with distinct knuckles
24:46suddenly slid between us. The slender fingers rested casually on Joseph's wrist.
24:51Sir, a true gentleman doesn't force a woman. My head snapped up, and I found myself locked into a
24:58pair of smiling, captivating eyes. It was Charlie Foley, the legendary senior from law school,
25:04the sharp-tongued debater known for leaving his opponents utterly speechless.
25:09I stood there frozen. It had been three years since the college debate finals, but we haven't spoken
25:14since. I never expected our reunion would happen in a situation like this.
25:19Just play along, Lucille. As his warm breath brushed my ear,
25:22he suddenly applied pressure to Joseph's wrist. Joseph grunted in pain and released his grip.
25:28I didn't wait to see what would happen next. Turning on my heel, I walked straight to my car
25:33and drove away without looking back. In my rearview mirror, I saw Charlie standing in front of Joseph,
25:38adjusting his cuff with a single fluid motion. He looked both calm and dangerous, like a guard cat.
25:43The next day during the team outing, I wasn't feeling well. The sun beat down mercilessly,
25:48as I trailed at the back of the group, my shirt already soaked with cold sweat.
25:53Only when black spots began dancing at the edge of my vision, did I realize how serious things were.
25:58As my knees hit the gravel,
26:01Joseph's familiar scent enveloped me as his arm wrapped around my waist,
26:05holding me so tightly that it felt like my ribs might break.
26:08His fingers trembled against me, though he tried to keep his voice steady.
26:12You skipped breakfast again, didn't you?
26:15Yvonne stood a few steps away, her manicured nails digging so hard into a water bottle
26:20that the plastic cracked loudly in the stillness.
26:25Let me go. I'm fine. Just release me.
26:30Do you have to be like this?
26:31Joseph's eyes glistened with unshed tears.
26:34Even if you hate me, don't take it out on yourself like this.
26:39The sound of quick footsteps approached, as a first aid attendant parted the crowd,
26:43holding a torn open glucose packet. A colleague knelt beside me,
26:47helping me drink the glucose, before glancing pointedly at Joseph.
26:52Your girlfriend seems to need you more right now, Mr. Shaw.
26:54Everyone followed her gaze, to where Yvonne was now hunched over, clutching her stomach.
26:59Joseph stood frozen for a moment, before his grip finally slackened.
27:03I took the glucose and drank it straight down.
27:06The sweet taste brought back a sudden memory of when I was 16,
27:09when Joseph had rushed across the basketball court to press a strawberry candy into my hand
27:14during a hypoglycemic episode. The team outing finally concluded,
27:18when an HR colleague dropped me off at my doorstep. The moment my mother saw my injured knee,
27:23she grew terribly worried, and insisted on taking me to the hospital for a checkup.
27:27I found myself at the nearest general hospital that evening. The waiting area was empty,
27:32except for one figure sitting in the corner.
27:35Hey Lucille. Charlie looked up. His knee was wrapped in
27:38thick bandages, with dark red blood already seeping through the layers.
27:41What happened to you?
27:43It's nothing. Got into a fender bender today.
27:47He needed eight stitches in his knee and still calls it nothing.
27:50You're looking pale. Is it your low blood sugar again?
27:53He pulled a piece of candy from his coat pocket, like magic.
27:56Strawberry. I heard you like these.
27:58I couldn't bring myself to say no, so I just nodded and accepted it.
28:02Over the next few days, we kept running into each other at the hospital.
28:06He was there for his regular bandage changes, while I came for blood sugar checkups.
28:11When rain fell, he'd limp alongside me under his umbrella all the way to my car.
28:15It was funny how this debate champion, who could destroy opponents with his words,
28:19turned out to be so gentle. That afternoon, sunlight streamed through the hospital windows
28:24as Charlie sat on the treatment bed, his ears flushed crimson.
28:28Lucille. He said, fiddling with a loose thread on his bandage.
28:31I think we'd be good together. We're both single. Would you ever think about dating me?
28:37The medical report slipped from my fingers, fluttering to the floor.
28:41Sorry, I… No need to rush your answer.
28:44Charlie bent to pick up the papers without even wincing when his injury pulled.
28:47I can wait.
28:49A week later, Charlie started showing up outside my office.
28:52On Monday, he appeared with pink tulips still wet with morning dew,
28:56saying they'd reminded him of me when he passed the flower shop.
28:59On Wednesday, it was a limited edition strawberry cake.
29:04Buy one and get one free. It would be a shame to waste it.
29:08By Friday, he was buying drinks for everyone in my office.
29:12The craziest part was when my desk neighbor actually offered him her seat while winking at me.
29:17Ms. Chandler, Mr. Foley says he's here for a business meeting.
29:22The break room gossip kept getting wilder. During lunch, a close co-worker cornered me in the restroom.
29:29Is it true Charlie has an eight pack?
29:31I have no idea.
29:33Oh, don't give me that!
29:35He shook my shoulders playfully.
29:36When he brought flowers yesterday, his shirt was so tight that our receptionist totally saw his V-line!
29:47Outside the glass door, Charlie was bent over, fixing my jammed drawer.
29:51With every movement, his neatly tucked shirt rode up just enough to reveal a strip of his toned waist.
29:57He was a complete distraction, and I bet he was flaunting it on purpose.
30:01Okay, for real though, are Charlie's abs as rock hard as they say?
30:07I heard when he sweats, his muscles actually gleam. How many abs does he have? What do they feel like?
30:15I bit my straw, remembering that summer afternoon after he won the tennis championship,
30:20the way he hiked his shirt up to wipe his face.
30:22I think… eight? But it was just a glimpse.
30:29Oh my Lucille! You lucky girl!
30:31I lunged to cover her mouth, my face burning.
30:33Right then, the sharp crack of shattering glass cut through the office.
30:37Joseph stood frozen in a circle of wreckage. Blood dripped from his fingers,
30:41blooming into ugly red stains on the papers below.
30:43Yvonne rushed over with a tissue, but he wrenched his arm away.
30:47Don't touch me.
30:48But his eyes weren't on her. They were fixed on me. He stared at me like he was watching his
30:52entire
30:53world end. A warm weight settled on my shoulder. I hadn't even heard Charlie come up behind me.
30:58Dinner's booked, Lucille. My treat after work.
31:00The sound seemed to snap something in Joseph. He dropped to his knees, clawing at the shards
31:04of glass. They cut into his palm, but he didn't seem to feel it. Blood welled up and dripped from
31:08his watch strap, drawing crooked red lines on the beige carpet. He stopped in front of me,
31:12his eyes fixed on mine with the desperate focus of a gambler making his final bet.
31:17Lucy, I'm hurt. Can I have a band-aid?
31:21My gaze automatically dropped to my bag. I always had band-aids in there. The cartoon kind,
31:26waterproof, stuff like that. It was a habit from middle school, from all the times Joseph would
31:31get hurt playing soccer. I don't have any. In an instant, his hand shot out and locked around my wrist.
31:41You always do. Mr. Shaw. Charlie stepped between us. Here. Use this. He gave a meaningful glance
31:48at Joseph's bloody hand. Though it probably won't be enough. Joseph staggered back. He looked down
31:54at his bloody hand and let out a harsh, broken laugh. You're ruthless, Lucille. Yvonne rushed to
31:58his side and tugged his arm. Joe, come on. Let me take you to the hospital. Get off me. He
32:03said,
32:03shaking her hand away. The blood kept dripping from Joseph's hand, a small, vivid pool spreading on the
32:09floor. It took me back to a rainy day in sixth grade. Joseph had cornered the boy who'd pulled
32:14my hair and left him a mess of bruises. Walking home, he shook out his sore wrist and shot me
32:20a
32:20grin. You're such an ugly crying, Lucille. Later, for paper, that boy and his friends pushed Joseph
32:26out of a second-story window. When I finally found him, he was sitting in a pile of shattered glass,
32:32trying clumsily to hide the wound on his arm. Don't cry. It's fine. Just a scratch.
32:37But blood was already welling up between his fingers. That night, I ran to three different
32:42pharmacies and came home with a whole box of cartoon band-aids. When I rolled up his sleeve
32:47the next day, his ears turned bright red. Don't you feel shy, Lucille? But he still
32:53let me cover every cut and bruise on his arm with those pink kitten band-aids. But everything changed
32:59later. One day, Yvonne walked by my desk in her tall heels and made a show of knocking my bag
33:05off the
33:05chair. Oh my god, are you twelve? Who still uses these? At the time, Joseph stood behind her,
33:12watching with a faint smile. I don't carry band-aids anymore, I said, my eyes locked on Joseph's. I quit
33:18a long time ago. A shudder ran through him, grasping at the memory of a different summer night,
33:24me on my toes, placing a band-aid on his cheek. I broke our gaze and looked down. His hand
33:31hung in the
33:31air. Blood dripped from his fingers, dotting the floor like tiny red petals. He let out a quiet
33:37laugh, his smile as fragile as cracked ice. The words seemed to take everything he had left.
33:44Turning away, I watched his retreating back until the elevator doors closed and it hit me. I'd seen
33:51that same figure when we were sixteen, after he'd fought for me. Back then, the evening sun stretched his
33:57shadow so far that it could swallow me whole. One day, after a meeting, Yvonne followed me into the
34:03break room and locked the door. Lucille, she said, tell me this was all on purpose. I slowly stirred my
34:09coffee, watching the foam swirl. I don't know what you mean. She suddenly grabbed the sugar jar
34:14and hurled it at the wall. Glass shards sprayed near my feet. Cut the act! She was breathing hard,
34:20her chest rising and falling. Does it make you happy? Seeing Joe miserable over you? I set my cup
34:26down, the bottom making a crisp clack against the marble counter. Miss Foster, you've got two things
34:32very wrong, I said. First, Joseph and I are done. The engagement is off. There's nothing left between
34:39us. I turned on the tap, the water rushing to fill the silence between her heavy breaths. Second, I don't
34:47care what he's going through. Stop coming to me with his problems. And I dried my hands and moved past
34:53her, her body stiff, and her voice shattered the quiet behind me. You think you've won?
34:59No, I said. I know how to move on. He's just a man. If you want him, he's yours.
35:06The harsh break room lights made Yvonne look pale. You think you're so special? Her voice was raw.
35:13The only reason you matter is because he can't forget you. Want to know the real difference
35:19between us and animals? A hurt animal will beg for mercy. A person fights back. He slapped me,
35:26and that was the day we were done. Her hand snapped out, nails digging into my wrist.
35:31Don't you look down on me. What could a sheltered little princess like you possibly understand?
35:37I understand. I understand enough. I know Joseph sent you. I leaned in. And I know this must be
35:42killing you. She froze as a slow smile spread across my face. How pathetic being sent by your
35:50boyfriend to his ex. But relax. When I say it's over, I mean it. I don't look back. So do
35:57me a favor
35:57and tell Joseph. We're done. Yvonne's face went through a series of emotions. As I walked away,
36:03her voice trailed after me. Lucille, so you left him just because he hit you? Yes. I replied calmly.
36:10Just because he hit me. My answer was still the same. That evening, I got a call from an unknown
36:16number. Without thinking much, I picked up. The breathing on the other end suddenly went so quiet.
36:23Lucy. Joseph's voice was rough. I'm sorry. I read your diary. I knew he was referring to that pink satin
36:31diary. He'd searched half the city for my 10th birthday. He'd shown up sweaty and beaming, telling
36:37me, Lucille, you have to write all your secrets in here. We'll read them together when we're old.
36:43So, I said, my voice cold. The soft sound of pages rustling came through the phone. Joseph's voice broke.
36:50On page two and 17, you wrote that you'd show me this diary on our wedding night. Outside my window,
37:02the neon lights blurred into streaks of color. I wiped my eyes hard and found my palm wet with tears.
37:07Joseph. I began. Do you know what I wrote on the last page? There was just silence on the other
37:13end.
37:13It reads, I stressed each syllable. Today, I threw this diary away.
37:23Goodbye to 18 years of loving Joseph. I could hear pages shuffling hurriedly on the other end.
37:31I'm sorry. Lucy. He whispered. I looked out at the falling snow. That's enough. I interrupted quietly.
37:38Did you even check the date on that last entry? Joseph went completely silent. It was the same day.
37:45You slapped me in front of everyone. Nothing you say now matters to me. Don't come looking for me.
37:53I paused, then added, A good ex should stay gone. After that, I hung up.
38:03On my 24th birthday, my parents decided to throw me a party and told me to invite all my friends.
38:10I hadn't planned on inviting Joseph, but remembering how kind his parents had always been to me,
38:16I sent him an invitation anyway. Charlie, of course, asked me for an invite as if I would say no.
38:22During the party, I was pouring Edward some coffee when Joseph walked in with Yvonne.
38:26You've grown up, Lucy. Edward said. That stupid boy doesn't deserve you.
38:33Let's not talk about that, I said with a smile, refilling his cup.
38:38Try the coffee. It's really good. The party went perfectly. As it was winding down,
38:43I slipped away to the terrace to enjoy a moment of peace in the cool autumn air. Suddenly, I heard
38:49footsteps behind me. Lucy. Joseph's voice was hoarse and strained. His suit was crumpled,
38:54his tie askew, and he reeked of alcohol. He said, suddenly grabbing my wrist.
38:59I don't understand. How did we end up like this? We were so close to getting married.
39:04We were supposed to build our happiness together. So now it's my fault?
39:08The night breeze cut through me, suddenly bone chilling. I laughed coldly.
39:13Because I didn't forgive you for slapping me? He flinched, my words clearly hitting a nerve.
39:19And why should I forgive you? I asked. I heard everything that night at the bar.
39:25Joseph staggered back, as if all the strength had left him. I heard your little bet, calmly
39:30straightening my sleeves. You lost, Joseph. You made your bed now lie in it.
39:37The bar was smoky that night, the stale smell of alcohol making my eyes water. As I reached the
39:41booth, I heard Joseph's friends teasing him. You've got some nerve, Joseph. Stringing the Chandler
39:46Andrus along for years. Not worried she'll finally dump you? Joseph leaned back in his chair with a
39:52smug grin. She just needs a little sweet talk. After all this time, I know exactly how to handle her.
40:07Then, Yvonne leaned in closer, her chestnut curls brushing against his shoulder. Honestly,
40:15someone like Lucille is so easy to manipulate. Her red lips curved into a smirk. Bet if you slapped
40:22her in public, and then sweet talked her later, she'd come crawling back like a puppy, begging you
40:27to stay. I know these love-struck girls all too well. Go on, Joseph. Give it a shot. Under the
40:37buzzing
40:37lights, Joseph chucked his beer to the sound of everyone's laughter. Fine, I'll try, he said.
40:44That was when I realized it. Our eighteen years of childhood friendship meant nothing,
40:48just another bar bet to him. In that moment, the bitter alcohol seemed to burn right through my chest.
40:53Now, on the terrace, Joseph stood pale-faced. You heard everything.
40:57He stumbled forward, reaching for my hand. Lucy, I was drunk. It was just bar talk. It didn't mean
41:03anything. Bar talk? But you went ahead and tried it the next day. That's not what I meant.
41:11I interrupted, touching my cheek. Joseph, don't even try to deny it. You're just making this
41:17embarrassing. He stood there, completely frozen. I looked right at him. Aren't you the one who always
41:22says talking behind people's backs is wrong? Look at you. Making bets about your own fiancé behind
41:28her back. How pathetic is that? Joseph's face went pale instantly. In the moonlight,
41:34he gave a weak smile. His lips parted, but in the end, he just let his arms fall to his
41:39sides.
41:40The night breeze stirred the terrace curtains. His suit looked gray in the moonlight,
41:44making him look like a statue, slowly turning to dust. His lips trembled as he whispered,
41:49I was wrong. I was wondering at the time. I stepped forward.
41:56What were you thinking? That I'd just quietly forgive you? Or like Yvonne said? That I'd come
42:03crawling back like a puppy with just a few sweet words? Joseph looked up sharply, his eyes bloodshot.
42:10I held his gaze. It doesn't matter anymore. I don't care who you are or what you think.
42:15None of it matters to me now. Why should I waste feelings on a stranger?
42:20That's not true. See? You still won't admit it. You never really respected me.
42:27If that night, if I hadn't made that bet, we'll- No! You had doubts about us, Joseph, didn't you?
42:33There was a moment you thought marrying me would be boring.
42:37Then Yvonne came along, and she made you feel alive in ways I never could. It's understandable.
42:43You liked me because we grew up together and our families matched. But the truth is,
42:48you never truly loved me, or at least, not enough. You called me beautiful, but you thought I was
42:53boring. We knew each other too well, the excitement was gone. But Yvonne was different.
42:58She was my opposite. And you were hooked. Joseph, even without Elilon, there would have been someone
43:05else. Another pretty young thing who's not like me. You just didn't have to put me down to make
43:11yourself feel better. How dare you hit me? No one's ever laid a hand on me. Who do you think
43:19you are,
43:19Joseph? What gave you the right? Who made you so sure you could get away with it?
43:24Joseph's face went pale. I'd hit a nerve, exposing his darkest, most selfish thoughts.
43:29He had no comeback. The cold moonlight cut across the terrace,
43:42trapping his shadow beneath him. In his perfectly fitted suit, he looked completely empty, like a
43:47ghost of himself. The words left his lips in a fragile whisper, a question he already knew the
43:54answer to. I looked at the boy I had idolized all my youth, now broken and lost like a child.
44:00I never loved you.
44:05What? What did you say?
44:07The boy I loved was the one who would fight for me.
44:11The one who slipped me strawberry candies when I felt Wayne.
44:16The Joseph I knew died that night in the bar because of your bet.
44:20Silent tears traced paths down Joseph's face. He tried to speak, but no words came.
44:26You know what? I'm so glad we never got married.
44:30I took one last look at the man who felt like a stranger now.
44:35I turned and walked toward the warm glow of the party, leaving the sound of his choked sobs behind me.
44:42The cheerful noise of the party quickly swallowed the sound, just as time would erase everything we
44:47once had. Later, Yvonne was let go from the company. Rumor had it Joseph broke up with her too.
44:54After that, Joseph was a changed man. He became a constant presence in my life, a quiet shadow.
45:02Every morning, a warm cup of milk and bread would be waiting on my desk. During lunch,
45:07he'd have the quietest corner in the cafeteria saved for me. After work, his footsteps would follow
45:13mine, always keeping a distance of about 30 feet. I finally confronted him at the stairwell landing.
45:20He still had on the cufflinks I bought for his 18th birthday. I'd saved every bit of my allowance for
45:27three months to get those. Don't. Staying away from me is the only payment I want. Joseph, don't
45:40make me look down on you. I didn't tell a soul I was quitting my job. On my last day,
45:45I just had a
45:46quiet goodbye lunch with a few coworkers I was close to. Joseph was the last to know I was leaving
45:51for
45:51grad school overseas. I wasn't sure how he found out. But when I left, he chased the car, running
45:57after us until he couldn't. Through the window, I watched him running. The proud boy I once knew,
46:03now completely shattered. The trees flew by as his figure shrank in the rear-view mirror.
46:08His white shirt flapped wildly in the wind, like a bird that had lost its flight. My mom glanced at
46:13me,
46:13concerned. His running figure shrank into the distance, vanishing beneath the trees at the corner.
46:18As the plane took off, I opened the shade. 30,000 feet up, the sun was shining bright.
46:26Word about Joseph still reached me now and then. According to my friends, he had taken to heavy
46:31drinking and was constantly getting into fights at bars. They told me he'd become a sharp business
46:37prodigy with a ruthless reputation. They also joked that his relationships had the lifespan of a clean
46:43shirt. One afternoon in Lavisburg, I hurried into the classroom and almost ran right into
46:48Charlie. He looked surprised. It's been a while, Lucille. Does this mean I can finally ask you out?
46:58For the entire two years I was abroad, a mysterious package would arrive at my door for every birthday.
47:04The contents were always thoughtful. Sometimes a bottle of liqueur I'd mentioned in my post,
47:09other times a hard-to-find art book I'd liked on Instagram. One year, it was even the same orange
47:15-scented
47:15hand cream I'd used as a child. I always accepted them, but never actually opened any. They just
47:21ended up piled in the corner, gathering dust. On graduation day, Charlie was waiting for me outside
47:27the library under an umbrella, his shoulders sprinkled with cherry blossom petals. He wore a
47:33graduation pin identical to mine, and his smile was brighter than the sun finally breaking through the
47:38clouds. Lucille, would you consider giving me a chance? Seeing his fingers tremble with nerves,
47:45I couldn't help but laugh softly before giving him a clear happy nod. We later ended up working in the
47:51same office building, and every day he would find some new creative way to have a gift sent to my
47:56office.
47:57The gifts ranged from hot chocolate to handwritten cards, with the most extravagant one being a delivery of
48:04999 roses. All those unopened gifts stored in the supply room were finally discovered by Charlie
48:11one weekend. He crouched in front of the cardboard boxes, looking at them for a long while, before
48:16suddenly glancing up. Should we throw them out? I thought it over for a moment, and then nodded.
48:21He stood up and hugged me, his clothes carrying a light scent of cedar wood. Actually, it seems like a
48:26waste to just discard them. What if we donated everything to an orphanage instead?
48:33A long time afterward, Charlie suddenly pointed at his phone screen one day and said,
48:39Look at this. The final photo showed the children who received the donations,
48:43holding up the plush toys with radiant smiles. One of those once meticulously wrapped gift boxes
48:49was now resting peacefully in a child's hands. Outside the window, the first snowflake of the year
48:56landed gently on the window frame. Charlie softly kissed the top of my head and whispered,
49:02Happy birthday, Lucille. It was a happy birthday indeed.
49:05Happy birthday, Lucille. Thank you.
Comments