Discover trending full drama movies featuring romance, family conflicts, hidden identities, revenge, and unforgettable moments.
Each movie brings exciting characters, surprising plot twists, touching relationships, and powerful stories that keep you watching until the final scene. From billionaire romances to inspiring life journeys, every film offers a unique experience.
Enjoy HD movies with English subtitles and stay tuned for regular uploads of the latest popular drama films.
#DramaFilm #RomanticMovie #MicroDrama #FullMovieHD #TrendingDrama #LoveStory #AsianCinema #MovieTime #EnglishSub #DramaChannel
Each movie brings exciting characters, surprising plot twists, touching relationships, and powerful stories that keep you watching until the final scene. From billionaire romances to inspiring life journeys, every film offers a unique experience.
Enjoy HD movies with English subtitles and stay tuned for regular uploads of the latest popular drama films.
#DramaFilm #RomanticMovie #MicroDrama #FullMovieHD #TrendingDrama #LoveStory #AsianCinema #MovieTime #EnglishSub #DramaChannel
Categoria
🛠️
LifestyleTrascrizione
00:02My 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.
00:16For 18 years, I was just his shadow.
00:19Is that really why?
00:21He 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,
00:34and the sharp crack made my head jerk violently to the side.
00:38The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth,
00:41and I could hear a high, thin ringing that drowned 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 fiancée,
01:00was standing up for his secretary, Yvonne Foster,
01:03and 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.
01:12Lucilia, can you just stop making a scene?
01:15A 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.
01:29Joe, don't be so harsh.
01:30See how frightened she is?
01:32She's almost in tears.
01:35Joseph's jaw clenched, the fire still burning in his eyes.
01:39Lucilia, this is a place of business, not your personal wayground.
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.
02:00I 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 me.
02:26In 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
02:43out so long that it just touched my toes.
02:45We lived next door to each other, and our family 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,
03:02sitting behind 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.
03:29He walked straight over to Humbert's desk.
03:31Listen up.
03:34Lucia is my sister.
03:36Try 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,
03:46and no matter how he tried, he just couldn't shake me.
03:49In middle school, after every soccer game,
03:52Joseph always went for ice cream with his teammates.
03:54I'd just squat by the field, hugging my backpack,
03:57and waiting for him until the sun stretched our shadows long.
04:01He'd eventually come over, pull me up by the arm.
04:03Lucia, what are you, glue to the spot?
04:06Still, despite the complaints,
04:08he'd split his strawberry popsicle in half and give me my 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,
04:20tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear,
04:22or even just napping with my head on the desk,
04:25I could always feel his eyes on me.
04:26His gaze would brush past me,
04:28as light and fleeting as a summer breeze.
04:31The night our parents suggested we should get engaged,
04:34he dragged me into the fire escape.
04:36As the motion sensor light flickered overhead,
04:38his hand, clammy and tense,
04:41squeezed mine so tightly that it almost hurt.
04:44You need to think this through.
04:46You're still young.
04:48What if you find someone better someday and...
04:52Joseph, you're the best person in the entire world.
04:55He shivered,
04:56and then suddenly pressed me back against the wall and kissed me.
04:59In the dark,
05:00my fingers lingered over the scar at the back of his neck.
05:03That night,
05:04the moonlight slipped through the iron bars
05:06and scattered over us in patches,
05:08making me almost fool myself
05:10into thinking we really were in love.
05:12After college,
05:13I joined the Shaw Group
05:14and ended up working under Joseph.
05:16Just when we were about to get engaged,
05:18Yvonne walked into our lives.
05:20She was the newest intern in the company.
05:22On her first day,
05:23Yvonne came in with coffee for everyone,
05:25flashing a big cheerful smile.
05:29Hey everyone,
05:30I'm Yvonne.
05:32Can't wait to work with you guys.
05:34When she reached me,
05:35she stopped mid-action.
05:37Whoa!
05:40Are you actually using a thermos
05:41with cartoon characters on it?
05:43That's so tacky.
05:44Seeing me stay quiet,
05:46she nibbled her lip.
05:47Sorry,
05:48it's just my blunt honesty.
05:50I swear,
05:51I wasn't trying to say you have bad taste.
05:53But really,
05:54Lucille,
05:54how old are you?
05:56Still this childish?
05:57I always thought women in the office
05:59were supposed to be all classy
06:01and have great style.
06:02Every eye in the office
06:03locked onto me.
06:05My workspace was completely covered
06:07in cute characters,
06:08from the cartoon-themed keyboard
06:10and collectible figurines
06:11right down to the decorative stickers
06:13lining my monitor.
06:14What Joseph used to jokingly call
06:16Lucille's little treasures
06:18was now sitting there on display,
06:20being judged like evidence in court
06:21with everyone staring.
06:23A high-pitched whine filled my ears,
06:25so loud that it felt like a drill
06:27boring into my skull.
06:28This was the first time
06:29I'd ever been maliciously mocked in public.
06:31The shame was so overwhelming,
06:33and I just wanted the ground
06:34to swallow me up.
06:46I gripped my skirt tightly,
06:48trying hard not to show
06:50how shaken I was.
06:52That's enough.
06:53Joseph's voice cut through the tension
06:55from behind me.
06:56When I turned around,
06:57I saw his lips pressed
06:59into a thin line of displeasure.
07:01Sunlight poured in
07:01through the floor-to-ceiling windows
07:03behind him,
07:04gilding his silhouette.
07:05For a split second,
07:07he looked just like
07:07that middle school boy
07:08who'd throw punches for me
07:10without a second thought.
07:12Yvonne pouted,
07:13clearly annoyed.
07:13I was just messing around
07:15with Lucia.
07:16Seriously, Mr. Shaw,
07:17you have to step in
07:18for this kind of thing?
07:19This isn't a lounge
07:20for chit-chat, Yvonne.
07:21If you're so eager
07:22to make small talk,
07:23maybe you should resign
07:24and chat to your heart's content
07:25elsewhere.
07:25Yvonne had no choice
07:26but to drag herself
07:27back to her desk,
07:29clearly sulking.
07:31I hadn't even noticed
07:32when Joseph and Yvonne
07:33started hitting it off.
07:35Then one day,
07:36the housekeeper showed up
07:37with lunch for three
07:38instead of just two.
07:40There's nothing here I like.
07:42We're eating healthy today.
07:45Yvonne says it's good
07:46to cleanse our systems
07:47once in a while.
07:48Yvonne settled in next to me,
07:49coffee in hand.
07:50Sorry, Lucille.
07:52I shot her a look.
07:53She arched her brow,
07:55lips curled
07:56into a wickedly amused smile.
07:58Oops.
07:59I forgot you're not
08:00into this healthy stuff.
08:01But you should really
08:02try eating lighter, Lucia.
08:05I've just noticed
08:06your clothes are fitting
08:07a bit tighter lately.
08:11Unlike me.
08:14You really do love
08:15to hear yourself talk,
08:16don't you?
08:16Let's get one thing straight.
08:17We're not friends.
08:19And for the record,
08:20those skin-tight clothes
08:21you're so proud of,
08:22they're not giving
08:23what you think they are.
08:24Her perfectly drawn eyeliner
08:25twitching with anger.
08:28Lucy, you've gone too far.
08:32I've gone too far?
08:34Looks like I'm just
08:35crashing your little party,
08:37spinning on my heel to leave.
08:39Joseph instinctively
08:40pulled me close,
08:41just like he did
08:42back in middle school
08:43when those punks
08:43cornered me in an alley.
08:45But this time,
08:46his arms carried the scent
08:47of another woman's perfume.
08:50Fine.
08:50I'll have the housekeeper
08:51make something you like tomorrow.
08:54Don't be upset, okay?
08:55Yvonne's face
08:57instantly darkened.
08:58From the next day on,
09:00Yvonne's digs at me
09:00got even more ruthless.
09:03Wow.
09:04Chanel with
09:05that thing?
09:08Lucille,
09:09what a bold choice.
09:10I'm honestly speechless.
09:12Who even still
09:13likes that stuff?
09:15All the cool kids
09:16are into edgy
09:17collectibles now.
09:18Get with the times,
09:19Bumpard.
09:19The guys around
09:20first out laughing.
09:22At lunch,
09:23I gave my cutlery
09:24a quick wipe
09:25with a napkin.
09:26Yvonne immediately
09:27nudged the guy
09:28beside her.
09:29Oh my god,
09:30are we two fans
09:30for ordinary cutlery now?
09:32What's wrong?
09:33Is the royal palace
09:34missing its precious princess?
09:38When it was time
09:39for the annual
09:39desk shuffle at work,
09:41I lugged my monitor
09:42across the office,
09:43my arms aching.
09:44Just as I paused
09:45to catch my breath,
09:47check it out,
09:48our princess
09:49can't even move
09:50her own monitor.
09:51Any knights
09:51want to come
09:52to her rescue?
09:53She and the creep
09:54is dead,
09:55some of them
09:56even blatantly
09:56snapping pictures
09:57and filming
09:58like it was showtime.
10:03but Yvonne giggled
10:04coquettishly.
10:05Oh come on,
10:06it was just a joke.
10:08Lucy is always
10:09so proper.
10:10I was just trying
10:11to help her
10:11come out of her shell
10:12a little.
10:13Joseph was silent
10:14for a moment
10:15and then,
10:15to my surprise,
10:16he nodded in agreement.
10:18She really is
10:19a bit introverted.
10:20Girls these days
10:21are just so fragile.
10:23Yvonne couldn't
10:23help but laugh,
10:24giving Joseph
10:25a light punch
10:26on the arm.
10:27Hey,
10:27don't lump
10:28everyone together.
10:28I'm definitely
10:30not like that.
10:31Joseph smiled at her,
10:32his eyes showing
10:33his quiet approval.
10:34That day,
10:35after holding it in
10:36for so long,
10:37I finally reached
10:38my breaking point.
10:39During one holiday,
10:41my parents and I
10:41went to Salaston.
10:43The sea breeze
10:43was gentle,
10:44the sun was relentless
10:45and I was having
10:47the time of my life.
10:48By the time we got back,
10:50my skin was peeling
10:51and patchy
10:51from the sun.
10:52Usually,
10:53my skin would clear up
10:54on its own
10:55after a while,
10:56so I never worried
10:57about it.
10:57But on my first day,
10:58back,
10:59immediately felt
11:00the sharp,
11:00assessing stare
11:01of Yvonne.
11:02Oh my!
11:04Lucia,
11:05honey,
11:05look at the state
11:06of your skin.
11:08What a disaster!
11:12No way you pass
11:13for a princess now.
11:15Look at that patchy skin,
11:16never in the storybooks,
11:18is it?
11:18Then she shot
11:19an exaggerated wink
11:20at the guys next to her.
11:22Seriously,
11:22she's turning
11:23into the ugly duckling
11:24right before our eyes.
11:26I froze in place,
11:27heat flooding my cheeks
11:28as humiliation
11:29burned through me.
11:30Joseph just stood there,
11:32right by her side,
11:33catching my eye
11:34with that little smirk,
11:35like he didn't care at all.
11:36And in that instant,
11:38I felt something
11:38deep inside me break.
11:40Perhaps the ghost
11:41of our 18 years
11:42as childhood sweethearts,
11:43or the last fragment
11:44of a dream
11:45where I'd once marry him.
11:47Before I knew it,
11:47I grabbed my coffee
11:49and splashed it
11:49right into Yvonne's face.
11:51And her makeup
11:52melted instantly
11:53as coffee dripped
11:54down her cheeks,
11:55mascara trailing
11:56in inky rivers
11:57like tears.
11:58Lucia!
11:59Are you insane?!
12:00She sputtered,
12:01desperately scrubbing
12:02at her ruined face,
12:04clumps of mascara
12:05sticking to her fingers
12:06and cheeks.
12:07I gave a cold laugh,
12:08mimicking her mocking tone.
12:10Wow.
12:11And here you go on
12:12about how you act
12:13like one of the boys.
12:14Since when do guys
12:15show up to work
12:16with a full face
12:17of makeup.
12:18With all that
12:19eyelid tape,
12:19mascara,
12:20and lipstick,
12:21you're more prompt
12:22than anyone I know.
12:24Some tomboy you are.
12:25People jumped in
12:26to hold me back
12:27and Joseph snatched
12:28the cup right out
12:29of my hand.
12:31Lucille,
12:31apologize.
12:32I locked eyes with him,
12:34feeling my nose sting.
12:35You were laughing
12:36when she made fun of me.
12:38Now that I finally
12:39say the truth,
12:40you want me
12:41to say sorry?
12:42Cut it out
12:42with the childish tantrum.
12:44Fights are one thing,
12:45but drenching someone
12:45with coffee is just wrong.
12:47You crossed the line,
12:48so take responsibility
12:49and apologize.
12:50Apologize?
12:51Hell no.
12:53Before I knew it,
12:54he slapped me hard.
12:55The sound echoed
12:56in the room.
12:57My ears rang,
12:58yet I could still hear
12:59Yvonne's pleased
13:00sniffling
13:01and the whispers
13:01and the whispers
13:01of my coworkers.
13:03With that one slap,
13:0418 years of shared history
13:06and every last shred
13:07of my feeling for him
13:08shattered.
13:09I slowly raised my head,
13:11looking at Joseph,
13:12the same boy
13:13who once stood up for me.
13:14Real classy,
13:15Joseph.
13:16We're done.
13:18I burst into my room,
13:20rifling through drawers
13:21and tossing clothes around
13:22like I'd completely lost it.
13:24The delicate figurine
13:26perched on the top shelf
13:27of my bookcase,
13:28the pink hoodie
13:29Joseph once gave me
13:30buried deep in the closet,
13:32the faded movie ticket
13:33stubs in the drawer,
13:34anything and everything
13:35with Joseph's mark.
13:37I shoved them all,
13:38violently,
13:38into a cardboard box.
13:40A glass jar of stars
13:41fell from the bookshelf,
13:42and broken glass
13:43scattered everywhere.
13:45It was the stars
13:46Joseph had stayed up
13:47all night,
13:47folding for my 18th birthday.
13:49I lugged the heavy box outside
13:51and dumped it in the trash,
13:52startling a couple of sparrows.
13:54I finally picked up the phone
13:55and called my mother.
13:56Mom,
13:57call off the engagement.
13:59Joseph and I are over.
14:00My mother got home.
14:02I was holding an ice pack
14:03to my face.
14:04Who did this to you?
14:06I buried my face
14:06in her shoulder,
14:07the familiar scent
14:08of laundry detergent
14:09filling my senses.
14:11And just like that,
14:12I was a little kid again,
14:14sobbing uncontrollably
14:15against her.
14:16After hearing the whole story,
14:18my mother,
14:18she just stormed out the door.
14:21When Joseph's mother,
14:22Fiona Shaw,
14:23opened the door,
14:25What's going on?
14:27Your son hit Lucy
14:28because of some intern.
14:32Fiona,
14:33to be honest,
14:34our family has always
14:36treated yours
14:37with nothing but respect.
14:39I've never once
14:40raised a hand
14:40to my own daughter,
14:41not in all her life.
14:42Joseph would never
14:43do that on purpose.
14:44I'm sure it's...
14:46There's nothing more to say.
14:47The engagement
14:48between our families
14:49is over.
14:51That night,
14:52my mother held me close
14:53as we sat on the bay window.
14:55The familiar scent
14:56of rose clung to her,
14:58reminding me
14:58of those nights
14:59when I was little
15:00and had a fever.
15:01She'd cradle me
15:02the whole night through.
15:04I mumbled,
15:05pressing my face
15:06into her shoulder.
15:07Am I being too selfish?
15:09Will this ruin
15:10our family's business?
15:12Mom softly
15:13combed through my hair.
15:14I'd be lying
15:15if I said
15:16this won't shake things up.
15:17But honey,
15:18that's nothing
15:19you need to worry about.
15:20All I want
15:21is for you to be happy
15:22every single day.
15:23And if the world
15:24comes crashing down,
15:26your dad is there
15:26to hold it all up for you.
15:28The next day,
15:30Joseph was hammering
15:31on my door
15:31like a rainstorm,
15:33each knock sharper
15:34and more frantic
15:35than the last.
15:36When I opened the door,
15:37he was there
15:38beneath the dim
15:39yellow porch light.
15:41Lucille,
15:42what crazy stunt
15:43are you pulling this time?
15:44I silently tilted
15:45my face up,
15:46letting him get a clear look
15:48at the hideous handprint
15:49on my left cheek.
15:50A whole night later,
15:51the slap mark
15:52had only swelled
15:53and darkened.
15:54How?
15:54How come?
15:57He reached out,
15:58his fingers trembling
15:59and pausing
16:00just before touching
16:01my cheek.
16:02I swear,
16:02I didn't use
16:03that much force.
16:04I let out a cold laugh.
16:05I'm sorry, Lucille.
16:07I didn't mean to.
16:09When I saw you
16:10treating that intern
16:11like that at work,
16:12I just lost my temper.
16:14I didn't let him finish.
16:16Since you're here,
16:16let's get this straight.
16:18Starting now,
16:19we're done.
16:20The engagement
16:21between the Chandler
16:21and Shaw families
16:22is over.
16:23Joseph,
16:24from now on,
16:25we'll treat each other
16:26like strangers.
16:28If you run into me
16:29on the street,
16:30keep your distance
16:31and don't ever come
16:33knocking on my door again
16:34like you did today.
16:35Get lost, Joseph.
16:37Joseph stared at me.
16:38So is this all
16:39because I defended Yvonne
16:41or is it just
16:42because I slapped you?
16:45Since when are you
16:46so petty, Lucille?
16:47It was one slap.
16:49If it means that much
16:50to you,
16:51then hit me back.
16:52Joseph,
16:53this was never
16:53about the slap.
16:55It's about you
16:56choosing to stand
16:56with the people
16:57who hurt me.
17:00And I am done
17:01with you.
17:01The motion sensor light
17:02in the hallway
17:03suddenly switched off.
17:04Just before the darkness
17:05took us,
17:06my last sight
17:07was of his eyes,
17:08red and glistening.
17:09They flickered
17:10and became the eyes
17:11of that boy
17:11from years past.
17:13The one who'd get
17:14into fights for me
17:14and then just laugh
17:15off his bruises.
17:16Joseph stood there.
17:18His face went still,
17:19like he didn't
17:19even recognize me.
17:21He had seen me cry,
17:22laugh, whine
17:23and mess around.
17:24But he had never
17:25seen me like this,
17:26cold as ice.
17:28I didn't mean it,
17:29Lucy.
17:30I just lost control
17:32for a minute,
17:33okay?
17:35I shook my head.
17:37Save it.
17:39Joseph,
17:39don't ever come
17:40after me again.
17:43Joseph grabbed
17:43my wrist suddenly.
17:45His eyes were red
17:46and fierce.
17:47Really?
17:48You're throwing away
17:5020 years
17:50over one slap?
17:52Lucille,
17:53since when did you
17:53become so unreasonable?
17:55Watching him rage.
17:56It reminded me
17:57of the middle school years
17:59when a guy
17:59tried to mess with me.
18:01Joseph had the same
18:02cold look
18:02as he beat that guy
18:03until he begged.
18:04Now,
18:05that fury
18:05was directed at me.
18:08It is a big deal,
18:09Joseph.
18:11So know your place.
18:13Joseph let out
18:14a bitter laugh.
18:16Fine.
18:17Remember your words.
18:18He let go of my hand.
18:21We're done.
18:23You've got nerve,
18:24Lucille.
18:24Just don't come
18:25crying back to me.
18:27As he turned to leave,
18:29he knocked over
18:29a potted plant.
18:30The sound of
18:31the shattering pot
18:32triggered the garden's
18:33motion sensor light.
18:34I stood in the
18:35flickering light,
18:36watching his back
18:37vanish around the corner.
18:39It felt like
18:39watching the boy
18:40who once fought for me
18:41disappear from my life
18:43forever.
18:43The next day at work,
18:45gossip spread like wildfire
18:47through the office
18:48break room.
18:48Everyone was talking.
18:50Joseph and Yvonne
18:51were officially dating.
18:53As I walked by
18:53with my coffee,
18:55I saw Yvonne on her toes,
18:56fixing Joseph's tie.
18:58Joe,
18:59let's go to my favorite
19:00restaurant tonight
19:00to celebrate.
19:01Joseph's gaze shifted
19:03over her shoulder
19:03and suddenly met mine.
19:05He tried to step back,
19:06but Yvonne wrapped her
19:07arm around his neck.
19:09Back at my desk,
19:10my group chat
19:11was blowing up.
19:12I heard Yvonne arrived
19:13in Mr. Shaw's car
19:14this morning.
19:15I saw a hickey
19:16on her neck.
19:16Is Ms. Chandler
19:17going to be okay?
19:18I closed the chat
19:19and remembered
19:20last month's team dinner
19:21when Yvonne raised
19:22her glass and said,
19:23I really don't like
19:24being around women.
19:25They're always so loud
19:26and chatty.
19:27It's just better
19:28hanging out with guys.
19:30They don't have
19:31fragile egos
19:31like some girls.
19:33You can say
19:33whatever you want.
19:34The moment she finished
19:35speaking,
19:36the other women
19:36in the office
19:37exchanged knowing looks.
19:39First thing the next morning,
19:40Yvonne posted
19:41a pitiful update
19:42getting iced out
19:43by the girls at work again.
19:44I guess telling the truth
19:45just gets you excluded.
19:46The post featured
19:47a picture of the
19:48Bulgari necklace
19:49Joseph had bought
19:50to comfort her.
19:52After work that day,
19:53I curled up on the sofa
19:54and vented to my parents
19:56about it.
19:57I've met plenty like her.
19:59Don't get too close, sweetie,
20:00or you'll get hurt.
20:02Isn't it wrong
20:02to talk about someone
20:03behind their back?
20:04He was carrying the fruits
20:05his father had sent over,
20:07but his eyes were ice cold.
20:09The living room
20:10fell dead silent
20:10except for the sharp snipping
20:12of the flower scissors.
20:13Now that I thought back,
20:15that was probably the moment
20:16I became the petty,
20:18gossipy girl in his eyes
20:19while Yvonne became
20:20his pure, genuine ideal.
20:22I later heard the gossip
20:23from co-workers.
20:25At some point,
20:26Joseph and Yvonne
20:27had formed a deep friendship.
20:29Yvonne made beautiful slides
20:30with smooth...
20:31She could even make
20:32data visualization
20:33look simple,
20:35something Joseph always
20:36struggled with.
20:36When I used to help him
20:38with his slides,
20:39he would always point out flaws,
20:40telling me the logic was off
20:42or the colors were too harsh.
20:44Yvonne never made those mistakes.
20:46She would just lean close
20:47to the screen and say,
20:49Joe, I made this chart
20:50animated for you.
20:52His ears would turn red.
20:57Last time, we played fool.
20:59Most of the women,
21:00including me,
21:01stayed back.
21:02But Yvonne cleared the table
21:03in one turn
21:04and got cheers
21:05from all the guys.
21:09One of Joseph's friends
21:10slung an arm around him
21:12and joked,
21:12Yvonne's way more fun,
21:14a lot better than that
21:15sensitive girl
21:16you used to be with.
21:17I'd seen some of their
21:18private messages
21:19by accident.
21:20Yvonne had sent
21:21an exaggerated crying emoji
21:23along with a message,
21:24I need your comfort.
21:26Ms. Chandler was mean
21:27to me again today.
21:28Joseph had replied,
21:30just ignore her.
21:31She's probably on her period.
21:32Once,
21:33after a department meeting,
21:34Yvonne brazenly sat
21:35on Joseph's lap.
21:39We're in a real relationship,
21:41not like some people
21:42who only got engaged
21:43out of childhood obligation.
21:44Oh,
21:45don't tell me
21:46you think I'm talking about you.
21:47In that moment,
21:48I finally understood
21:49childhood sweethearts
21:51couldn't compete
21:51with a sudden new plane.
21:5318 years of history
21:54had lost to a
21:55three-month infatuation.
21:57After all,
21:58the whole company knew
21:59that I,
22:00the girl whose smiles
22:01were reserved for Joseph,
22:02had now become the punchline
22:04to his new love story.
22:05A cold snort
22:07came from Joseph
22:08at the conference room door.
22:09I never looked up,
22:11but I could feel
22:11his gaze burning
22:12into the top of my head
22:14like a cigarette
22:14that refused to go out.
22:16I never looked up.
22:17As time went on,
22:18their public displays
22:19of affection
22:19grew even more obvious.
22:21Yvonne would slip
22:22her strawberry-patterned
22:23hair tie
22:24around Joseph's wrist,
22:25the pink elastic
22:26pressing into his tan skin
22:28like a mark of ownership.
22:30Soft breaths
22:31and the sound of kissing
22:32sometimes drifted
22:33from the fire escape
22:34until the day
22:35the cleaning lady
22:36walked in on them.
22:39After work,
22:40she always walked
22:40with her arm
22:41wrapped around his
22:42and he would simply
22:43smile and allow it.
22:44It was strange
22:45how those same scenes
22:46that once made
22:47my heart flutter
22:47now looked like something
22:49from a poorly written
22:50romance drama.
22:52Everything continued
22:53until one evening
22:54when Joseph cornered me
22:56in the parking lot
22:57after work.
22:58He carried the scent
22:59of Yvonne's perfume,
23:00but his expression
23:01was tangled
23:02and unfamiliar.
23:04Lucille,
23:05let's get back together.
23:07I met his plea
23:08with a cold laugh
23:09and a firm refusal.
23:10Joseph's hand
23:11clamped around my wrist
23:12like a vice,
23:13his palm burning hot
23:14as he squeezed
23:15with bone-crushing force.
23:17Lucy,
23:18I was wrong.
23:19I only dated Yvonne
23:21to make you jealous.
23:22Let's get back together.
23:24Just say yes
23:25and I'll break up
23:26with her immediately.
23:27I laughed at the thought
23:28that Joseph saw me
23:29as nothing more
23:30than a convenient
23:31backup plan.
23:32I jerked my hand free
23:33and said,
23:34Joseph,
23:35listen up.
23:36I...
23:37Before I could finish,
23:38the elevator dinged open
23:39to reveal Yvonne,
23:41her face ghostly pale
23:42as she rushed out.
23:43Without any makeup,
23:45she clutched a medical report
23:46in her hand.
23:47Joe, the baby.
23:48Our baby is gone.
23:50Joseph's expression
23:51instantly hardened
23:52as he released me
23:53and turned to support her,
23:55only to be violently
23:56pushed away.
23:57Are you happy now, Lucille?
24:01This is all your fault
24:03for forcing me
24:03to work overtime yesterday.
24:05Now Joseph,
24:06my baby,
24:06he is gone.
24:08Are you finally satisfied?
24:10Joseph's hand
24:11clamped around my wrist
24:12like a hot brand.
24:13I could feel
24:14my own pulse
24:15throbbing against his palm.
24:17His gaze
24:17was terrifyingly dark.
24:19Why?
24:20You did this intentionally.
24:23I didn't.
24:25Believe whatever you want.
24:28Lucille,
24:29when did you become
24:29so cruel?
24:30I slammed my heel
24:31into his knee,
24:32leaving a scuff mark
24:33on his tailored trousers.
24:37I told you
24:38I didn't do it.
24:39Now back off
24:40and don't touch me.
24:41Just as Joseph
24:42released me in pain
24:43and tried to grab me again,
24:45a hand with distinct knuckles
24:46suddenly slid between us.
24:48The slender fingers
24:49rested casually
24:50on Joseph's wrist.
24:51Sir,
24:53A true gentleman
24:54doesn't force a woman.
24:56My head snapped up
24:57and I found myself
24:58locked into a pair
24:59of smiling,
25:00captivating eyes.
25:01It was Charlie Foley,
25:02the legendary senior
25:03from law school,
25:04the sharp-tongued debater
25:05known for leaving
25:06his opponents
25:07utterly speechless.
25:09Charlie!
25:09I stood there frozen.
25:11It had been three years
25:12since the college
25:12debate finals
25:13and we hadn't spoken since.
25:15I never expected
25:16our reunion would happen
25:17in a situation like this.
25:19Just play along,
25:20Lucille.
25:21As his warm breath
25:22brushed my ear,
25:23he suddenly applied pressure
25:24to Joseph's wrist.
25:25Joseph grunted in pain
25:27and released his grip.
25:28I didn't wait to see
25:29what would happen next.
25:31Turning on my heel,
25:32I walked straight to my car
25:33and drove away
25:34without looking back.
25:35In my rearview mirror,
25:36I saw Charlie standing
25:37in front of Joseph,
25:38adjusting his cuff
25:39with a single fluid motion.
25:41He looked both calm
25:42and dangerous,
25:43like a guard cat.
25:44The next day
25:44during the team outing,
25:45I wasn't feeling well.
25:47The sun beat down mercilessly
25:48as I trailed
25:49at the back of the group.
25:51my shirt already soaked
25:52with cold sweat.
25:53Only when black spots
25:54began dancing
25:55at the edge of my vision
25:56did I realize
25:57how serious things were.
25:58As my knees
25:59hit the gravel
26:00Lucille!
26:01Joseph's familiar scent
26:02enveloped me
26:03as his arm
26:04wrapped around my waist,
26:05holding me so tightly
26:06that it felt like
26:07my ribs might break.
26:08His fingers trembled
26:09against me,
26:10though he tried
26:11to keep his voice steady.
26:12You skipped breakfast
26:13again, didn't you?
26:15Yvonne stood a few steps away,
26:17her manicured nails
26:18digging so hard
26:19into a water bottle
26:20that the plastic
26:21cracked loudly
26:22in the stillness.
26:25Let me go.
26:27I'm fine.
26:28Just release me.
26:30Do you have to be like this?
26:32Joseph's eyes glistened
26:33with unshed tears.
26:34Even if you hate me,
26:37don't take it out
26:37on yourself like this.
26:38The sound of quick footsteps
26:40approached
26:40as a first aid attendant
26:42parted the crowd,
26:43holding a torn open
26:44glucose packet.
26:45A colleague knelt beside me,
26:47helping me drink the glucose
26:48before glancing pointedly
26:50at Joseph.
26:52Your girlfriend seems
26:53to need you more
26:53right now, Mr. Shaw.
26:54Everyone followed her gaze
26:56to where Yvonne was
26:57now hunched over,
26:58clutching her stomach.
26:59Joseph stood frozen
27:00for a moment
27:01before his grip
27:02finally slackened.
27:03I took the glucose
27:04and drank it straight down.
27:06The sweet taste
27:07brought back a sudden memory
27:08of when I was 16,
27:09when Joseph had rushed
27:10across the basketball court
27:12to press a strawberry candy
27:13into my hand
27:14during a hypoglycemic episode.
27:16The team outing
27:17finally concluded
27:18when an HR colleague
27:19dropped me off
27:20at my doorstep.
27:21The moment my mother
27:22saw my injured knee,
27:23she grew terribly worried
27:24and insisted on taking me
27:26to the hospital
27:26for a checkup.
27:27I found myself
27:28at the nearest
27:29general hospital
27:30that evening.
27:30The waiting area
27:31was empty
27:32except for one figure
27:33sitting in the corner.
27:35Hey Lucille.
27:36Charlie looked up.
27:37His knee was wrapped
27:38in thick bandages
27:38with dark red blood
27:39already seeping
27:40through the layers.
27:41What happened to you?
27:43It's nothing.
27:45Got into a fender bender today.
27:47He needed eight stitches
27:48in his knee
27:49and still calls it nothing.
27:50You're looking pale.
27:52Is it your low blood sugar again?
27:53He pulled a piece of candy
27:54from his coat pocket
27:55like magic.
27:57Strawberry,
27:57I heard you like these.
27:59I couldn't bring myself
27:59to say no
28:00so I just nodded
28:01and accepted it.
28:02Over the next few days
28:04we kept running
28:04into each other
28:05at the hospital.
28:06He was there
28:07for his regular
28:08bandage changes
28:09while I came
28:09for blood sugar checkups.
28:11When rain fell
28:12he'd limp alongside me
28:13under his umbrella
28:14all the way to my car.
28:16It was funny
28:16how this debate champion
28:17who could destroy
28:18opponents with his words
28:19turned out to be so gentle.
28:21That afternoon
28:22sunlight streamed
28:23through the hospital windows
28:24as Charlie sat
28:25on the treatment bed
28:26his ears flushed crimson.
28:28Lucille.
28:28He said
28:29fiddling with a loose thread
28:30on his bandage.
28:32I think we'd be good together.
28:34We're both single.
28:35Would you ever think
28:36about dating me?
28:37The medical report
28:38slipped from my fingers
28:40fluttering to the floor.
28:41Sorry I...
28:42No need to rush your answer.
28:44Charlie bent
28:44to pick up the papers
28:45without even wincing
28:46when his injury pulled.
28:48I can wait.
28:49A week later
28:50Charlie started showing up
28:51outside my office.
28:52On Monday
28:53he appeared with pink tulips
28:55still wet with morning dew
28:56saying they'd reminded him of me
28:58when he passed the flower shop.
29:00On Wednesday
29:00it was a limited edition
29:02strawberry cake.
29:04Buy one and get one free.
29:05It would be a shame
29:06to waste it.
29:08By Friday
29:09he was buying drinks
29:10for everyone in my office.
29:12The craziest part
29:13was when my desk neighbor
29:14actually offered him her seat
29:16while winking at me.
29:17Miss Chandler
29:18Mr. Foley says
29:19he's here for a business meeting.
29:23The break room gossip
29:24kept getting wilder.
29:25During lunch
29:26a close co-worker
29:27cornered me
29:28in the restroom.
29:29Is it true?
29:29Charlie has an eight pack.
29:31I have no idea.
29:33Oh don't give me that!
29:35He shook my shoulders
29:36playfully.
29:37When he brought flowers
29:38yesterday
29:39his shirt was so tight
29:42that our receptionist
29:44totally saw his V-line.
29:47Outside the glass door
29:48Charlie was bent over
29:50fixing my jammed drawer.
29:52With every movement
29:52his neatly tucked shirt
29:54rode up just enough
29:55to reveal a strip
29:56of his toned waist.
29:57he was a complete distraction
29:58and I bet
29:59he was flaunting it
30:00on purpose.
30:01Okay for real though
30:03are Charlie's abs
30:04as rock hard as they say?
30:07I heard when he sweats
30:09his muscles actually gleam.
30:11How many abs does he have?
30:13What do they feel like?
30:15I bit my straw
30:16remembering that summer afternoon
30:18after he won
30:19the tennis championship
30:20the way he hiked
30:21his shirt up
30:21to wipe his face.
30:23I think
30:23eight?
30:26But it was just
30:27a glimpse.
30:29Oh my Lucille!
30:30You lucky girl!
30:32I lunged to cover her mouth
30:33my face burning.
30:34Right then
30:34the sharp crack of
30:35shattering glass
30:36cut through the office.
30:37Joseph stood frozen
30:38in a circle of wreckage.
30:39Blood dripped from his fingers
30:41blooming into ugly red stains
30:42on the papers below.
30:44Yvonne rushed over
30:44with a tissue
30:45but he wrenched his arm away.
30:47Don't touch me.
30:48But his eyes weren't on her.
30:49They were fixed on me.
30:50He stared at me
30:51like he was watching
30:52his entire world end.
30:54A warm weight
30:54settled on my shoulder.
30:55I hadn't even heard
30:56Charlie come up behind me.
30:58Dinner's booked Lucille.
30:59My treat after work.
31:00The sound seemed
31:01to snap something in Joseph.
31:02He dropped to his knees
31:03clawing at the shards of glass.
31:05They cut into his palm
31:06but he didn't seem to feel it.
31:07Blood welled up
31:08and dripped from his watch strap
31:09drawing crooked red lines
31:10on the beige carpet.
31:12He stopped in front of me
31:13his eyes fixed on mine
31:14with the desperate focus
31:15of a gambler
31:16making his final bet.
31:17Lucy
31:19I'm hurt
31:20can I have a band-aid?
31:21My gaze automatically
31:22dropped to my bag.
31:23I always had band-aids in there
31:25the cartoon kind
31:26waterproof
31:26stuff like that.
31:28It was a habit
31:29from middle school
31:29from all the times
31:31Joseph would get hurt
31:32playing soccer.
31:34I don't have any.
31:36In an instant
31:37his hand shot out
31:38and locked around my wrist.
31:41You always do.
31:42Mr. Shaw
31:43Charlie stepped between us.
31:45Here
31:46use this.
31:47He gave a meaningful glance
31:49at Joseph's bloody hand.
31:51Though it probably
31:51won't be enough.
31:52Joseph staggered back.
31:53He looked down
31:54at his bloody hand
31:55and let out a harsh
31:56broken laugh.
31:56You're ruthless Lucille.
31:58Yvonne rushed to his side
31:59and tugged his arm.
32:00Joe come on
32:00let me take you to the hospital.
32:02Get off me.
32:03He said
32:03shaking her hand away.
32:05The blood kept dripping
32:06from Joseph's hand
32:07a small vivid pool
32:08spreading on the floor.
32:09It took me back
32:10to a rainy day
32:11in sixth grade.
32:13Joseph had cornered
32:14the boy
32:14who'd pulled my hair
32:15and left him
32:16a mess of bruises.
32:17Walking home
32:18he shook out
32:19his sore wrist
32:19and shot me a grin.
32:21You're such an ugly
32:22crying Lucille.
32:23Later
32:24for Cable
32:25that boy and his friends
32:26pushed Joseph
32:27out of a second story window.
32:28When I finally found him
32:30he was sitting
32:30in a pile of shattered glass
32:32trying clumsily
32:33to hide the wound
32:34on his arm.
32:35Don't cry.
32:36It's fine.
32:36Just a scratch.
32:37But blood was already
32:39welling up
32:39between his fingers.
32:40That night
32:41I ran to three
32:42different pharmacies
32:43and came home
32:44with a whole box
32:45of cartoon band-aids.
32:46When I rolled up
32:47his sleeve the next day
32:48his ears turned bright red.
32:50Don't you feel shy Lucille?
32:52But he still let me
32:53cover every cut
32:54and bruise on his arm
32:55with those pink
32:56kitten band-aids.
32:58But everything
32:59changed later.
33:00One day
33:01Yvonne walked by my desk
33:02in her tall heels
33:03and made a show
33:04of knocking my bag
33:05off the chair.
33:06Oh my god
33:07are you 12?
33:08Who still uses these?
33:10At the time
33:10Joseph stood behind her
33:12watching with a faint smile.
33:13I don't carry
33:14band-aids anymore
33:15I said
33:16my eyes locked
33:17on Joseph's.
33:18I quit a long time ago.
33:20A shudder ran through him
33:22grasping at the memory
33:23of a different summer night
33:24me on my toes
33:26placing a band-aid
33:27on his cheek.
33:28I broke our gaze
33:29and looked down
33:30his hand hung in the air
33:32blood dripped
33:33from his fingers
33:34dotting the floor
33:35like tiny red petals.
33:36He let out a quiet laugh
33:38his smile as fragile
33:39as cracked ice.
33:41Fine.
33:42The words seemed
33:43to take everything
33:44he had left.
33:45Turning away
33:45I watched his retreating
33:47back until the elevator
33:48doors closed
33:49and it hit me.
33:50I'd seen that same figure
33:52when we were 16
33:53after he'd fought for me.
33:55Back then
33:55the evening sun
33:56stretched his shadow
33:57so far
33:58that it could swallow
33:59me whole.
34:00One day
34:00after a meeting
34:01Yvonne followed me
34:03into the break room
34:03and locked the door.
34:05Lucille.
34:05She said.
34:06Tell me this was
34:07all on purpose.
34:08I slowly stirred my coffee
34:09watching the foam swirl.
34:11I don't know what you mean.
34:12She suddenly grabbed
34:13the sugar jar
34:14and hurled it at the wall.
34:15Glass shards
34:16sprayed near my feet.
34:18Cut the act!
34:19She was breathing hard
34:20her chest rising
34:21and falling.
34:22Does it make you happy?
34:23Seeing Joe
34:24miserable over you?
34:25I set my cup down
34:26the bottom making
34:27a crisp clack
34:28against the marble counter.
34:30Miss Foster
34:31you've got two things
34:32very wrong.
34:33I said.
34:34First
34:35Joseph and I are done.
34:37The engagement is off.
34:38There's nothing left
34:39between us.
34:40I turned on the tap
34:41the water rushing
34:42to fill the silence
34:43between her heavy breaths.
34:45Second
34:46I don't care
34:47what he's going through.
34:48Stop coming to me
34:49with his problems.
34:51And I dried my hands
34:52and moved past her
34:53her body stiff
34:54and her voice
34:55shattered the quiet
34:56behind me.
34:57You think you've won?
34:59No.
35:00I said.
35:00I know how to move on.
35:02He's just a man.
35:03If you want him
35:04he's yours.
35:06The harsh break room
35:08lights made Yvonne
35:09look pale.
35:10You think you're
35:10so special?
35:11Her voice was raw.
35:13The only reason
35:14you matter
35:15is because
35:16he can't forget you.
35:18Want to know
35:19the real difference
35:19between us and animals?
35:21A hurt animal
35:22will beg for mercy.
35:23A person fights back.
35:25He slapped me
35:26and that was
35:27the day we were done.
35:28Her hand snapped out
35:29nails digging
35:30into my wrist.
35:31Don't you look down
35:32on me.
35:33What could a sheltered
35:34little princess
35:35like you possibly
35:36understand?
35:37I understand enough.
35:39I know Joseph sent you.
35:40I leaned in.
35:41And I know
35:42this must be killing you.
35:44She froze
35:45as a slow smile
35:46spread across my face.
35:48How pathetic
35:49being sent
35:50by your boyfriend
35:50to his ex.
35:51But relax.
35:52When I say
35:53it's over
35:54I mean it.
35:55I don't look back.
35:56So do me a favor
35:57and tell Joseph.
35:59We're done.
36:00Yvonne's face
36:00went through
36:01a series of emotions.
36:02As I walked away
36:03her voice trailed
36:04after me.
36:05Lucille
36:05so you left him
36:07just because he hit you?
36:09Yes.
36:09I replied calmly.
36:11Just because he hit me.
36:12My answer was still
36:13the same.
36:13That evening
36:14I got a call
36:15from an unknown number.
36:17Without thinking much
36:18I picked up.
36:19The breathing
36:19on the other end
36:20suddenly went so quiet.
36:23Lucy.
36:23Joseph's voice
36:24was rough.
36:25I'm sorry.
36:27I read your diary.
36:29I knew he was referring
36:30to that pink satin diary.
36:32He'd searched
36:32half the city
36:33for my 10th birthday.
36:35He'd shown up
36:36sweaty and beaming
36:37telling me
36:37Lucilla
36:38you have to write
36:39all your secrets in here.
36:41We'll read them together
36:42when we're old.
36:43So
36:43I said
36:44my voice cold.
36:46The soft sound
36:47of pages rustling
36:48came through the phone.
36:49Joseph's voice broke.
36:51On page
36:52two and seventeen
36:55you wrote
36:56that you'd show me
36:56this diary
36:59on our wedding night.
37:01Outside my window
37:02the neon lights
37:03blurred into streaks
37:03of color.
37:04I wiped my eyes hard
37:05and found my palm
37:06wet with tears.
37:07Joseph.
37:08I began.
37:09Do you know
37:10what I wrote
37:10on the last page?
37:11There was just silence
37:12on the other end.
37:13It reads.
37:14I stressed each syllable.
37:18Today
37:18I threw
37:20this diary away.
37:23Goodbye
37:24to eighteen years
37:25of loving
37:26Joseph.
37:27I could hear
37:27pages shuffling
37:28hurriedly
37:29on the other end.
37:31I'm sorry.
37:32Lucy.
37:33He whispered.
37:34I looked out
37:34at the falling snow.
37:36That's enough.
37:37I interrupted
37:38quietly.
37:38Did you even
37:39check the date
37:40on that last entry?
37:41Joseph went
37:42completely silent.
37:43It was the same day
37:44you slapped me
37:46in front of everyone.
37:48Nothing you say
37:49now matters to me.
37:51Don't come
37:51looking for me.
37:53I paused
37:54then added
37:55a good ex
37:56should stay gone.
37:58After that
37:59I hung up.
38:03On my
38:04twenty-fourth birthday
38:05my parents decided
38:06to throw me a party
38:07and told me
38:08to invite
38:08all my friends.
38:10I hadn't planned
38:11on inviting
38:12Joseph
38:12but remembering
38:13how kind
38:14his parents
38:14had always been
38:15to me
38:16I sent him
38:16an invitation
38:17anyway.
38:18Charlie of course
38:19asked me for an
38:20invite as if
38:20I would say no.
38:21During the party
38:23I was pouring
38:23Edward some coffee
38:24when Joseph
38:25walked in
38:25with Yvonne.
38:27You've grown up
38:28Lucy.
38:28Edward said.
38:30That stupid boy
38:32doesn't deserve you.
38:33Let's not talk
38:34about that
38:34I said with a smile
38:36refilling his cup.
38:38Try the coffee.
38:39it's really good.
38:40The party went
38:41perfectly.
38:42As it was winding
38:43down I slipped
38:44away to the terrace
38:44to enjoy a moment
38:45of peace in the
38:46cool autumn air.
38:48Suddenly I heard
38:49footsteps behind me.
38:50Lucy.
38:51Joseph's voice
38:52was hoarse
38:52and strained.
38:53His suit
38:54was crumpled
38:54his tie askew
38:55and he reeked
38:56of alcohol.
38:57He said
38:58suddenly grabbing
38:59my wrist.
39:00I don't understand.
39:01How did we end
39:01up like this?
39:02We were so close
39:03to getting married.
39:05We were supposed
39:06to build our
39:06happiness together.
39:07So now it's
39:08my fault?
39:08The night breeze
39:09cut through me
39:10suddenly bone chilling.
39:12I laughed coldly.
39:13Because I didn't
39:14forgive you
39:15for slapping me?
39:16He flinched
39:17my words clearly
39:18hitting a nerve.
39:19And why should
39:20I forgive you?
39:21I asked.
39:22I heard everything
39:23that night
39:24at the bar.
39:25Joseph staggered
39:26back as if all
39:27the strength
39:28had left him.
39:29I heard your
39:29little bet
39:30calmly straightening
39:31my sleeves.
39:32You lost
39:33Joseph.
39:34You made
39:34your bed
39:35now lie
39:35in it.
39:37The bar
39:38was smoky
39:38that night.
39:39The stale
39:39smell of alcohol
39:40making my eyes
39:41water.
39:41As I reached
39:41the booth
39:42I heard
39:42Joseph's friends
39:43teasing him.
39:44You've got
39:44some nerve
39:45Joseph.
39:46Stringing the
39:46Chandler Andrus
39:47along for years.
39:49Not worried
39:49she'll finally
39:50dump you?
39:51Joseph leaned
39:51back in his
39:52chair with a
39:52smug grin.
39:54She just needs
39:55a little
39:55sweet talk.
40:01After all
40:02this time
40:04I know
40:04exactly how
40:05to handle
40:06her.
40:07Then
40:07Yvonne leaned
40:09in closer
40:09her chestnut
40:11curls brushing
40:11against his
40:12shoulder.
40:13Honestly
40:15someone like
40:16Lucille is so
40:17easy to
40:17manipulate.
40:19Her red
40:19lips curved
40:20into a smirk.
40:21Bet if you
40:22slapped her in
40:22public
40:23and then
40:23sweet talked
40:24her later
40:24she'd come
40:25crawling back
40:25like a puppy
40:26begging you
40:28to stay.
40:29I know
40:30these love
40:31struck girls
40:31all too well.
40:32No way!
40:34Go on
40:34Joseph.
40:35Give it a
40:36shot.
40:37Under the
40:37buzzing lights
40:37Joseph chucked
40:38his beer to
40:39the sound of
40:40everyone's
40:40laughter.
40:42Fine
40:43I'll try.
40:43He said.
40:44That was
40:45when I realized
40:46it.
40:46Our 18 years
40:47of childhood
40:47friendship
40:47meant nothing.
40:48Just another
40:49bar bet to
40:49him.
40:50In that
40:50moment the
40:51bitter alcohol
40:51seemed to
40:52burn right
40:52through my
40:53chest.
40:53Now on
40:54the terrace
40:55Joseph stood
40:56pale faced.
40:57You heard
40:57everything.
40:58He stumbled
40:58forward reaching
40:59for my hand.
41:00Lucy I was
41:01drunk.
41:01It was just
41:02bar talk.
41:03It didn't
41:03mean anything.
41:05Bar talk?
41:06But you went
41:07ahead and tried
41:08it the next
41:08day.
41:09That's not
41:09what I meant.
41:11I interrupted
41:12touching my
41:13cheek.
41:13Joseph.
41:15Don't even
41:15try to deny it.
41:16You're just
41:17making this
41:17embarrassing.
41:17He stood
41:18there completely
41:19frozen.
41:20I looked
41:20right at
41:21him.
41:21Aren't you
41:22the one who
41:22always says
41:22talking behind
41:23people's backs
41:24is wrong?
41:24Look at
41:25you.
41:26Making bets
41:27about your
41:27own fiancé
41:28behind her
41:28back.
41:29How pathetic
41:30is that?
41:31Joseph's face
41:32went pale
41:32instantly.
41:33In the
41:34moonlight he
41:34gave a
41:35weak smile.
41:36His lips
41:36parted but
41:37in the end he
41:38just let his
41:38arms fall to
41:39his sides.
41:40The night
41:40breeze stirred
41:41the terrace
41:42curtains.
41:42His suit
41:43looked gray in
41:43the moonlight
41:44making him
41:45look like a
41:45statue slowly
41:46turning to
41:47dust.
41:47His lips
41:48trembled as
41:49he whispered
41:49I was
41:50wrong.
41:51I was
41:52wondering at
41:52the time.
41:53I stepped
41:54forward.
41:56What were
41:57you thinking?
41:58That I'd just
41:59quietly forgive
42:00you?
42:01Or like
42:02Yvonne said?
42:03That I'd come
42:04crawling back
42:05like a puppy
42:05with just a
42:06few sweet
42:07words?
42:08Joseph looked
42:08up sharply
42:09his eyes
42:10bloodshot.
42:10I held his
42:11gaze.
42:11It doesn't
42:12matter anymore.
42:13I don't
42:13care who
42:14you are or
42:14what you
42:14think.
42:15None of
42:15it matters
42:16to me
42:16now.
42:17Why should
42:18I waste
42:18feelings on
42:19a stranger?
42:21That's not
42:21true.
42:22See?
42:23You still
42:24won't admit
42:24it.
42:25You never
42:25really respected
42:26me.
42:27If that
42:27night, if
42:28I hadn't
42:29made that
42:29bet, we'll
42:30No, you
42:31had doubts
42:31about us,
42:32Joseph, didn't
42:33you?
42:33There was a
42:34moment you
42:35thought marrying
42:35me would be
42:36boring.
42:37Then Yvonne came
42:38along and she
42:40made you feel
42:40alive in ways I
42:41never could.
42:42It's
42:42understandable.
42:43You liked
42:44me because
42:44we grew up
42:45together and
42:45our families
42:46matched, but
42:47the truth is
42:48you never truly
42:49loved me, or
42:49at least not
42:50enough.
42:51You called me
42:52beautiful, but
42:52you thought I
42:53was boring.
42:54We knew each
42:54other too well.
42:55The excitement
42:56was gone, but
42:57Yvonne was
42:57different.
42:58She was my
42:59opposite, and
43:01you were hooked.
43:02Joseph, even
43:03without Elilon,
43:04there would have
43:05been someone
43:05else.
43:07Another pretty
43:08young thing who's
43:08not like me.
43:10you just didn't
43:10have to put me
43:11down to make
43:12yourself feel
43:12better.
43:14How dare you
43:15hit me?
43:16No one's ever
43:17laid a hand on
43:17me.
43:18Who do you
43:19think you are,
43:19Joseph?
43:20What gave you
43:21the right?
43:22Who made you so
43:23sure you could
43:23get away with it?
43:24Joseph's face
43:25went pale.
43:26I'd hit a nerve,
43:27exposing his
43:28darkest, most
43:28selfish thoughts.
43:29He had no
43:30comeback.
43:31Lucy, have I
43:32lost you?
43:36Joseph, you
43:37didn't lose me.
43:38You lost
43:39yourself.
43:40The cold
43:40moonlight cut
43:41across the
43:42terrace, trapping
43:43his shadow
43:43beneath him.
43:44In his
43:44perfectly fitted
43:45suit, he
43:46looked completely
43:47empty, like a
43:47ghost of himself.
43:48You don't love
43:49me anymore, do
43:50you?
43:50The words left
43:51his lips in a
43:52fragile whisper, a
43:53question he already
43:54knew the answer
43:54to.
43:55I looked at the
43:56boy I had
43:56idolized all my
43:57youth, now broken
43:58and lost like a
43:59child.
44:00I never loved
44:01you.
44:05What, what did
44:06you say?
44:07The boy I loved
44:08was the one who
44:09would fight for
44:09me.
44:11The one who
44:12slipped me
44:12strawberry candies
44:14when I felt
44:14Wayne.
44:17The Joseph I
44:18knew died that
44:19night in the
44:19bar because of
44:20your bet.
44:21Silent tears
44:21traced paths
44:22down Joseph's
44:23face.
44:23He tried to
44:24speak, but no
44:25words came.
44:26You know
44:27what?
44:28I'm so glad we
44:29never got married.
44:30I took one last
44:31look at the
44:31man who felt
44:32like a stranger
44:33now.
44:35I turned and
44:36walked toward the
44:37warm glow of
44:38the party, leaving
44:39the sound of his
44:40choked sobs behind
44:41me.
44:42The cheerful noise
44:43of the party
44:44quickly swallowed
44:44the sound, just
44:46as time would
44:46erase everything
44:47we once had.
44:48Later, Yvonne was
44:50let go from the
44:50company.
44:51Rumor had it
44:52Joseph broke up
44:53with her too.
44:54After that,
44:55Joseph was a
44:56changed man.
44:56He became a
44:57constant presence
44:58in my life, a
44:59quiet shadow.
45:02Every morning, a
45:03warm cup of
45:04milk and bread
45:04would be waiting
45:05on my desk.
45:06During lunch, he'd
45:07have the quietest
45:08corner in the
45:09cafeteria saved
45:10for me.
45:11After work, his
45:12footsteps would
45:13follow mine, always
45:14keeping a distance
45:15of about 30 feet.
45:16What are you
45:17trying to achieve?
45:18I finally confronted
45:19him at the
45:20stairwell landing.
45:21He still had on
45:22the cufflinks I
45:23bought for his
45:2318th birthday.
45:24I'd saved every bit
45:26of my allowance
45:27for three months
45:27to get those.
45:29I just...
45:31I just needed
45:31to pay you back
45:33for everything.
45:35Don't.
45:36Staying away
45:37from me is the
45:38only payment I
45:39want.
45:39Joseph, don't
45:40make me look
45:40down on you.
45:42I didn't tell
45:43a soul I was
45:43quitting my job.
45:44On my last
45:45day, I just
45:46had a quiet
45:46goodbye lunch
45:47with a few
45:48co-workers I
45:48was close to.
45:49Joseph was
45:50the last to
45:50know I was
45:51leaving for
45:52grad school
45:52overseas.
45:53I wasn't
45:54sure how he
45:54found out.
45:55But when I
45:56left, he chased
45:56the car, running
45:57after us until
45:58he couldn't.
45:59Through the
45:59window, I
46:00watched him
46:01running.
46:01The proud
46:02boy I once
46:02knew, now
46:03completely
46:04shattered.
46:04The trees
46:05flew by as
46:06his figure
46:06shrank in
46:07the rearview
46:07mirror.
46:08His white
46:09shirt flapped
46:09wildly in the
46:10wind, like a
46:11bird that had
46:11lost its flight.
46:12My mom glanced
46:13at me, concerned.
46:14His running
46:14figure shrank
46:15into the
46:16distance, vanishing
46:17beneath the
46:17trees at the
46:18corner.
46:19As the plane
46:19took off, I
46:20opened the
46:21shade.
46:2130,000 feet
46:22up, the sun
46:23was shining
46:24bright.
46:26word about
46:27Joseph still
46:27reached me
46:28now and
46:28then.
46:29According to
46:30my friends, he
46:31had taken to
46:31heavy drinking
46:32and was
46:32constantly getting
46:33into fights at
46:34bars.
46:35They told me he'd
46:36become a sharp
46:37business prodigy
46:37with a ruthless
46:38reputation.
46:39They also joked
46:40that his
46:41relationships had
46:42the lifespan of a
46:42clean shirt.
46:43One afternoon in
46:44Lavisburg, I
46:46hurried into the
46:46classroom and
46:47almost ran right
46:48into Charlie.
46:49He looked
46:49surprised.
46:51It's been a
46:51while, Lucille.
46:54Does this mean I
46:55can finally ask
46:56you out?
46:58For the entire
46:59two years I was
47:00abroad, a
47:01mysterious package
47:02would arrive at
47:02my door for
47:03every birthday.
47:04The contents
47:05were always
47:06thoughtful.
47:07Sometimes a
47:07bottle of
47:08liqueur I'd
47:08mentioned in my
47:09post.
47:10Other times, a
47:11hard-to-find
47:11art book I'd
47:12liked on
47:12Instagram.
47:13One year, it
47:14was even the
47:14same orange-scented
47:16hand cream I'd
47:16used as a
47:17child.
47:17I always
47:18accepted them,
47:19but never
47:19actually opened
47:20any.
47:21They just ended
47:21up piled in the
47:22corner, gathering
47:23dust.
47:24On graduation
47:25day, Charlie
47:26was waiting for
47:27me outside the
47:27library under
47:28an umbrella, his
47:30shoulders sprinkled
47:30with cherry blossom
47:31petals.
47:32He wore a
47:33graduation pin
47:34identical to
47:34mine, and his
47:35smile was brighter
47:36than the sun,
47:37finally breaking
47:38through the
47:38clouds.
47:39Lucille,
47:41would you
47:42consider giving
47:42me a chance?
47:43Seeing his
47:44fingers tremble
47:45with nerves, I
47:46couldn't help but
47:46laugh softly, before
47:48giving him a clear,
47:49happy nod.
47:49We later ended
47:50up working in the
47:51same office
47:52building, and
47:53every day, he
47:54would find some
47:54new creative way
47:55to have a gift
47:56sent to my
47:57office.
47:57The gifts ranged
47:58from hot chocolate
47:59to handwritten
48:00cards, with the
48:01most extravagant
48:02one being a
48:03delivery of 999
48:05roses.
48:06All those
48:07unopened gifts
48:08stored in the
48:08supply room were
48:09finally discovered
48:10by Charlie one
48:11weekend.
48:12He crouched in
48:13front of the
48:13cardboard boxes,
48:14looking at them
48:15for a long
48:16while, before
48:16suddenly glancing
48:17up.
48:18Should we
48:18throw them
48:18out?
48:19I thought it
48:19over for a
48:20moment, and
48:20then nodded.
48:21He stood up
48:22and hugged me,
48:23his clothes
48:23carrying a
48:24light scent of
48:24cedar wood.
48:25Actually, it
48:25seems like a
48:26waste to just
48:27discard them.
48:28What if we
48:28donated everything
48:29to an
48:30orphanage instead?
48:34A long time
48:35afterward, Charlie
48:36suddenly pointed
48:37at his phone
48:37screen one day,
48:38and said,
48:39Look at
48:39this.
48:40The final
48:41photo showed
48:41the children
48:42who received
48:42the donations,
48:44holding up the
48:44plush toys with
48:45radiant smiles.
48:47One of those
48:47once meticulously
48:48wrapped gift
48:49boxes was now
48:50resting peacefully
48:51in a child's
48:52hands.
48:53Outside the
48:54window, the
48:55first snowflake
48:56of the year
48:56landed gently
48:57on the window
48:58frame.
48:59Charlie softly
49:00kissed the top
49:01of my head
49:01and whispered,
49:03Happy birthday,
49:03Lucille.
49:04It was a happy
49:05birthday, indeed.
49:09time to
49:10Is it
49:10one day,
49:10choice.
49:10I did
Commenti