Chapter 11: Cloud Smoke
Eric often drank for work gatherings, but his stomach wasn’t well. When he was fighting with Kelly, it escalated, and he was practically drowning in alcohol.
One night, he came to my door reeking of alcohol, saying he felt awful, and asked if he could stay the night. I cooked him oatmeal. After he took the hangover remedy and ate the oatmeal, his first words were: “Do you want to date with- out ever breaking up?” For a long time after that, I immersed myself in the role of a perfect girlfriend. I would specifi- cally research healthy recipes for him, learn to make stews, but in the end, he’d always say he just wanted a bowl of plain oatmeal.
One night as I was making him oatmeal like usual, waiting for him to come home, he rushed in, grabbed his suitcase, and hurried out without even noticing how I hid my hands behind my back-blisters from scalding my fingers.
I cautiously asked him to stay, but he left without looking back. Later I learned he’d raced to catch the earliest flight for Kelly’s birthday. Through wind and rain, that ritual never changed.
Memories drifted like scattered clouds. I averted my gaze and said flatly, “If your stomach is not feeling well, go to the hospital. I am not a doctor. Why are you coming to me?”
Seeing me take a step back, as if afraid to get closer to him again, his face instantly turned pale.
I acted oblivious and added, “If you really can’t hold on, call Kelly. I bet she’ll rush over the moment she hears how heartbroken you are.”
Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked away. When I finally looked back from a distance, he was still frozen in place.
His silhouette looked strangely desolate.
It wasn’t until Kelly found me the next day that I learned Eric had refused the arranged marriage.
“You’re quite capable, Maddie,” She eyed my transformed appearance, jealousy flashing in her eyes. “You swore up and down about cutting ties with him, yet you’re still accepting his charity… Isn’t it just about the future? Whatever he can give you, I can give too!”
She slammed a recommendation letter and a check against my chest. “Take these, then vanish. Completely. From our lives.” The check fluttered to the ground as she turned.
I picked up the check, slowly smiling, “What makes you think this could make me disappear? Seems you still don’t get it,”
She frowned, disdain written across her face. “You’ve got quite the appetite. Do you know how many people dream of getting this? And yet you…”
Her words trailed off as she suddenly froze, staring at me in disbelief. “Impossible! Eric couldn’t possibly have real
feelings for you! He promised to marry me when we were kids! It must be you-why are you always hanging around? If you hadn’t been begging him behind the scenes to pave your way, he’d never have gone against Susan’s wishes! Did you really think you two were just one step away back then?”
“Listen, Maddie!” Her chest rose and fell dramatically, unleashing years of pent-up resentment. “People like you don’t belong in our world. Just give up already!”
Seeing her like this, I actually felt calm. “Had enough? Did you ever consider that people like me, as you call them, never intended to stay involved with you?”
She froze, then bit her lip. It was like punching cotton-her anger couldn’t rise or fall, finally escaping as a cold snort: “Good that you’ve come to your senses.’
I gave a short, bitter laugh. “Right. I came to my senses, but you can’t. After all, I did nothing yet stole away your man’s heart. That doesn’t sit well with you, does it?”
My words hit a nerve. Her face twisted, but I refused to be her punching bag anymore.
“Instead of wasting your breath on me, better keep him away from me.”
