Chapter 9
A month later, things blew up for the first time at Michael's company dinner.
He had promised to go to a school event with Clara's child.
But then, an important client showed up at the last minute, and Michael was stuck at work.
Clara went straight to his office building, carrying her child.
It was raining that day.
Clara stood at the lobby entrance, her white dress drenched, holding her crying child whose face was streaked with tears.
She tried calling Michael, but he didn't answer.
So she asked the receptionist to leave a message for him.
"Please tell him we're waiting for him," Clara said.
The receptionist didn't recognize her and asked what her relationship was with Michael.
"I'm the one he can't get over," Clara replied.
A colleague happened to overhear her words.
Within half an hour, the whole office was buzzing about it.
Someone texted me: [Your man's dream girl stormed into his office.]
"Your man's dream girl stormed into his office."
I replied: [Congrats to him. Looks like his fantasy finally came true.]
They replied: [You're way too chill about this.]
I replied: [Honestly, if I wasn't keeping it together, I'd be cracking up right now.]
That night, Michael called I over a dozen times.
I didn't pick up a single one.
Finally, he texted I: [Did you know she'd pull something like this?]
I replied: [Sorry, I'm not the Weather Report.]
Michael: [Word's gotten around the office, and now I'm stuck.]
I: [Weren't you the one who brought her into your life in the first place?]
He didn't reply.
I figured he'd finally back off.
But half an hour later, he turned up at my place.
This time, he didn't even bother to ring the doorbell.
He was sitting on the stairs outside my apartment.
When I opened the door to take out the trash, I saw him sitting on the steps, head down.
The hallway light cast a dim glow, making him look dull and defeated.
I stood in the doorway, holding the trash bag.
"Move," I said.
He looked up at me. "Can I come in for a bit?"
"No," I replied.
He gave a wry smile. "What, I'm not even allowed inside anymore?"
"Don't you have somewhere else to stay?" I asked.
"It's too loud over there," he said.
I looked at him. "You brought her into your life, you dote on her kid, you chose all this. And now it's too noisy for you, so you come here hoping for some peace and quiet?"
He stood up, a bit unsteady on his feet.
I didn't bother to help him.
He leaned against the wall, closing his eyes.
"I swear I didn't know she'd show up at the office today," Michael said.
"She's way too hung up on you," I replied.
He opened his eyes and looked at me.
I shot his own words right back at him.
"Weren't you always the one making excuses for her before?"
Michael looked like hell.
I brushed past him and went downstairs to toss the trash.
He followed me.
The wind was chilly after the rain, and the air around the trash area was thick with the smell of wet garbage.
I tossed the bag in and turned to face him.
"So, what are you really trying to say?" I asked.
He stayed silent for a while, then finally said, "I kind of regret it."