Chapter 3
I didn't think I was the one with the problem. It was Isembert.
How could he split himself in two, loving Charlize in his heart yet thinking that he and I were a couple?
I slapped him viciously across the face.
He pushed himself away from me and kicked the table violently. The contents on the table were sent crashing to the floor.
"Fine, Claudia! Fine!" he growled.
This time, our places were reversed.
He was the one driven to the brink of madness by a single sentence.
"It's your birthday tomorrow. Let's go to the county clerk's office to get our marriage certificate!
"Two o'clock in the afternoon. I'm only giving you one chance!
"If you miss it, don't ever bring up marriage again!" he warned ominously.
With that, he slammed the door shut, leaving me alone at home once more.
After years of yearning, I had obtained what I wanted so easily.
Yet, I felt no joy whatsoever.
I started packing my belongings from every room. I had called this place home for years. Packing up was tougher than I expected.
Before I knew it, it was late at night.
*****
The next day, I went to a real estate agency and put the house up for sale.
The agent worked fast, and by 10:30 AM, everything was done. There was still plenty of time before two o'clock.
The taxi driver asked me where I was headed.
Without thinking, I blurted out an address.
It wasn't the county clerk's office. It was the basement apartment where Isembert and I once called home.
The taxi pulled up in front of the old neighborhood.
This place had been spruced up some time back.
I walked around it twice, but couldn't find a trace of its former self.
"Claudia?" someone called out. It was my ex-landlady.
She tugged at me excitedly and introduced me to someone. "Back then, this young couple lived here. One day, it was snowing heavily, and they couldn't get a cab. Claudia's boyfriend carried her on his back to the hospital.
"They lived here for two years and then started their own successful business. When they stayed at my place, they found both career success and love!
"Isn't that right, Claudia?" she said, beaming at me.
Seeing how delighted my ex-landlady looked, I nodded absently. "You have such a good memory."
It was truly amazing how fate worked. It turned out that Jojo was her new tenant.
The moment I saw Jojo's cheerful face, I suddenly invited her without thinking. "It's my birthday today. Wanna accompany me to a place?"
I then took her to a glitzy downtown mall. She had been chattering away the whole way, but when we arrived in front of the brightly lit luxury display cases, she instinctively lowered her voice.
She reminded me so much of myself back then.
We were so poor. For Isembert and me, going shopping on a date was a luxury.
We had neither the spare cash nor the free time to do it leisurely.
After Isembert's company stabilized, I finally had my first date.
Unlike him, who had been here many times before, I had never set foot in a place like this.
My instinct, deeply rooted in poverty, acted faster than my reason, and I stopped the Boucheron sales staff from picking up the necklace.
I leaned close and said in a voice I thought was very soft, "Isem, that's so expensive. Let's go buy some gold. At least it retains its value."
Isembert chuckled, and I found myself laughing along with him.
After that, Isembert never mentioned going out on a date again.
It wasn't until much later that I realized his laughter was out of helplessness.
I didn't take Jojo to those intimidating luxury boutique counters.
The gold jewelry counter was good enough for us.
"Jojo, you helped me the other day. You can pick any necklace you like," I told her.
"Claudia, that's too much…" Jojo gasped in astonishment.
"It's my birthday. Please don't turn me down, okay?" I said with a smile.
Jojo pointed at herself, then looked at me. In the end, she picked out a thin, delicate necklace.
"Can I have another one just like this? We'll take both," I told the staff.
Just as my finger pointed to a particular tray, a raspy, haughty woman's voice rang out, "I'll take the whole tray."
Jojo and I turned around in unison.
Charlize was standing a few steps away with a limited-edition handbag and looking at me haughtily.
She playfully patted the man on the chest. "Pay up! Are you so mesmerized by the pretty lady?"
A hint of awkwardness flashed in Isembert's eyes. He cleared his throat and mumbled, "Claudia, what a coincidence."
Indeed, it was such a coincidence.
I glanced at the time. It was 3:20 PM.
Neither of us went to the county clerk's office to get our marriage certificate.
"I brought her here to pick out a gift. We'll go to the county clerk's office another day..." For the first time ever, Isembert actually tried to explain himself.
But I couldn't care less now. It was just another typical example of a broken promise.
I simply nodded at him in greeting.
Charlize acted like she had just recognized me and said with a meaningful side glance, "Oh, she followed us again.
"I say, Isembert! Can you keep your bitch in check?
"She's always tailing me like I am some kind of criminal with something to hide? If this keeps up, I won't dare ask you out anymore," she whined sarcastically.
The truth was, I couldn't stand Charlize.
It wasn't just because Isembert liked her, but also because she was so full of herself.