A Clear Separation
1216 Words
“Bella, I’m over here” he waved to the woman dressed in a short sundress. Her large thick-rimmed glasses covered her face and she looked less than stellar in her flip-flops and sling bag.
“Hi. Sorry, I’m late. I had a lot to do.”
“It’s fine. I already went ahead to order for you. Green Tea, right?”
“.......yeah, thanks.”
“I have a lot to do today so let’s go straight into it. What’s the progress with Melvin?”
“......He’s been taking me on dates out of his own violation. We meet up at least twice a week now.”
“That’s great. You’re making great progress. I never really expected you to capture his attention so quickly.”
“Hmmm……”
“Bella, what’s wrong? You don’t like the drink? Are you sick? Or……do you not want to do this anymore?”
“I feel so guilty, Jeremy. He’s doing so much for me and……..”
“Bella” Jeremy’s voice was cold. She flinched, unable to look him in the eyes.
“You know just what is at stake here. Do you know how damn hard I’ve worked to be here?! Do you know how much that bastard takes me for granted?! Just because he’s nice to you doesn’t mean he’s a good person! Wake up, Bella. He’s the reason our lives are this way!”
“It happened so long ago. Please, Jeremy, let’s not risk everything like this. I don’t want to hang around another man any longer. I want to be with you.”
“Bella, dropping out of this means breaking up with me.”
Bella’s hands tightened around the mug. The man seated before her seemed so close yet so far away. It was only a few months ago they were seated in the same cafe, confessing their love for each other.
“Please Jeremy, don’t leave me. I’m sorry. I won’t complain anymore. Please, don’t leave me alone” her voice broke as she reached for his hand. There was a cold look in his eyes as if it wasn’t his lover seated in front of him.
“I’ll send you new information and where next time. Don’t contact me before I contact you. Make sure you take care of your skin and replace your tacky clothes” he said, snatching his hand away. He dropped some money on the table, stood up, and walked away. Bella could do nothing but watch his back as he left her completely alone. She didn’t want her tears to fall and she didn’t want to accept the truth, the fact that she had been abandoned by Jeremy.
Bella made it to her apartment one way or the other. She hung her bag by the door and placed her flip-flops on the little shelf near the door. She crashed on the sofa, curling up on it. She didn’t know when but the tears began flowing. Jeremy confirmed their breakup. She didn’t want it in the first place; her love for him was the reason why she agreed. And now…….
“Why is this happening to me?” she sobbed, dampening her couch. She cried and cried until she exhausted herself and fell asleep on the couch. The afternoon sun had already sunk into the horizon when she woke up. The stinging pain in her eyes and head made her linger on the couch a bit longer. The reason why she woke up though wouldn’t go away.
Reluctantly picking herself up from the couch, she walked to the doorway to answer the relentless doorbell. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Suddenly her heart began beating faster when she thought of the possibility of it being Jeremy. It had happened quite often in the past when they had fought and he came over to her apartment to apologize.
She opened the door with bated breath and a flushed face. Her face immediately fell when the person at the door wasn’t who she was expecting.
“Hey! Rude much?!” Claudia yelled as she saw the expression change.
“.......come in.”
“Wow, I bring you food and alcohol and this is my welcome. I think I’d better go back now……”
“Wait. Bring the alcohol. I’m sorry.”
“Say I’m sorry your highness.”
“Are you a child?”
“Tch, you’re no fun” Claudia grumbled as she entered the apartment. The tiny apartment was the same way she always saw it, neat and organized. She dropped the food on the kitchen counter and cleaned two mugs she took from the cupboard while Bella opened the bottle she brought. Claudia opened the fridge to see a bag of chips which she grabbed and took to the couch.
“So, why do you look like you spent the entire night binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy again?”
“It’s cos I did” Bella replied, pouring into the second cup. She grabbed a pack of ice in the freezer, dropping it into the cups before she picked up the juice to pour into it. Claudia had already opened the chips and started eating when she arrived with the mugs. She used the remote to switch on the TV.
“I’m surprised your boyfriend isn’t here today. Oh yeah, you two are no longer together. How are you feeling?”
“I…..don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. I really love Jeremy but both of us have so much between us. I…..don’t even know anymore.”
“Isn’t this great then?! You have the chance to dump that asshole and get with someone better. You deserve better, Bella. You’re very beautiful.”
“Thank you, Claudia.”
“Sooooooo, when are you going to tell me about the new guy?”
The sip she took from her cup sprayed out of her mouth. Claudia looked on, unimpressed as Bella cleaned up her mess with a closeby paper towel.
“You have to stop doing that.”
“You caught me by surprise.”
“That’s not a problem of mine. Tell me about the new guy. If you don’t want to talk about that, tell me how you know Melvin and Rhea Jones!”
“I have a feeling that’s why you came here” Bella laughed wryly.
“Tut tut tut, none of that manners. Just spill the tea girl! That’s why I’m here.”
“If I said I couldn’t tell you, you’d be a dear and leave me alone, right Claudia?”
“My dearest Bella…….” Claudia smiled, pinching one of Bella’s cheeks. Bella cried out in pain as she struggled to get out of the vice-like grip of the gossipmonger in her house.
Bella was only thankful that Claudia didn’t press the matter and slept early so she wouldn’t get the entire truth out of a drunk Bella. If Claudia were to learn of the plan between her and Jeremy, things could get out of hand quickly.
Once Claudia was fast asleep, Bella looked around the place once she was done cleaning. In the past, Jeremy and she would be curled up on the couch, watching Grey’s Anatomy all over again. She choked on a sob.
“I miss you, Jeremy.”
- Writer
