Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 2

“I really don’t get why you’re throwing away your life for that guy. I mean, he’s such a control freak and he keeps changing his mind. One second he wants to get married and then all of a sudden he’s backing out because he suddenly wants to pay his debts, which by the way has always been there!” Brittany eyes were sharp like knives as she pounded on the table.

Crystal just gave her a giggle not wanting to show the same remorse and disappointment she felt, but she didn’t really have anymore say on it, since Clyde had already decided on the matter.

“I don’t know if there would be anyone else who’d look my way besides him, and you can’t find someone as responsible as Clyde these days, plus we’ve been together for years now,” she states with a smile.

Added that she was basically in love head over heels with the man, so she was just really okay with it so long as they were together.

“Figures. You know, that is exactly the reason why he’s able to order you around like this.” Brittany snorts, creasing her well contoured face.

Though she looked funny Crystal could only keep her sweet smile, not wanting to make her friend feel uncomfortable, plus the fact that she was lecturing her right now. She knew she was going to get an earful if she let’s it out.

“I don’t see any problem with it,” she just says fainting a sigh.

Brittanny rolled her eyes, as she pressed the cigarette on her lips once more, giving it several more puffs before looking straight at Crystal.

“There are plenty of guys out there besides him, someone who’d treat you better, someones who would actually love you for who you are and not some guy who just keeps using you!” Brittany’s eyes had that warm look now, the one that looked like she was baring her soul to her.

“I doubt anyone would take a second look at me,” Crystal let out another low giggle.

Though she was laughing and showing joy, she could not hide the pain from that undeniable truth. From her high school days up to her college years, no one really gave her any attention as she was quite the plain looking girl.

That was why she fell so madly in Love with Clyde, the man was the first ever person to actually notice her and treat her properly.

She couldn’t really understand or sympathize with her friend Brittany’s way of thinking. After all, she look nothing like her friend. Blond, blue eyed and perfectly shaped in all the right places.

Ever since college Men have been throwing themselves at her friends feet, yet not one was able to catch her friends fancy.

She on the other hand was lucky enough to bump into Clyde, being on the same class and course. The moment she saw him it was like time slowed down for her, as he gave her that smile that lit the very room she was in.

She never really thought that they’d end up together since the man had a girlfriend that time, but things suddenly turned out for her, when during their second semester the two broke up for reason’s she did not want to know.

After that she remained beside the man, comforting him and being his shoulder to cry on, until eventually they became a couple and engaged five years later.

“Oh please, you’re not even giving yourself enough credit. You’re a great catch, any man could see that,” Brittany’s voice was now sweet and much more calmer, even though she was pressing hard on the remains of her cigarette on the ashtray on their table.

Crystal felt the usual rush of blood in her cheeks, she knew her friend only wanted to make her feel better, after what she had just told her.

“I wish everyone thought that way.” She held her chest feeling that sort of pang inside of it, knowing full well that she wasn’t really amounting to much. “Anyway, I should be going now,” she says seeing the time on her phone.

Lunch break was almost over and she didn’t really want to be late again for work, even if it means leaving her best friend there.

“You haven’t even finished your salad,” Brittany gestures her hand to the half eaten plate.

With a few scoops Crystal was able to gobble everything up, licking her lips as she felt sauce drip on it.

“Done,” She smiled, cheeks still puffed from the continuous chewing that she was doing.

Grabbing her purse and quickly standing on her chair, Crystal waves good bye to Brittany as she proceeded to walk quickly. She only had fifteen more minutes to go before her break was over.

Brittany just ended up sighing as she took a sip from her coffee. “Hey, don’t forget to greet Michelle, its her birthday this week!” she calls out.

Crytal turns smiling as she gave her friend another wave of her hand. “Will do!” she says before turning around once more to quicken her phase.

She still had five minutes left when she arrive at her office, allowing her enough time to breath and fix the things that she needed to do.

Taking a quick detour to the lavatory she gave herself a few look on the mirror. There was the part of her that believed Brittany, seeing as she would have looked good during her younger years, but time was not really kind to her.

Her hair was now a complete raggedy mess, her eyes already had large dark circles from the countless times she needed to stay up late, waiting for Clyde to come home. And her body was already sagging from the lack of exercise and eating.

There wasn’t really much she could do now that she was passed her prime, she was already thirty and counting. That was an age she knew was impossible to get by now with her current state.

For her it was already too late to re-think things and start a new. Besides that, she had already created her foundation towards the life that Clyde had promise her

Two minutes before her break was finally over, she had combed her hair, applied a bit of her lip tint and powdered her face to look a bit more refreshed, before finally proceeding to her desk.

Crystal let out a sigh as files and files of papers were stack up on her table, waiting to be fixed and sorted.

A loud thud caught her attention as she was about to start typing on her computer, it wasn’t even a moment when another huge stack of files and folder was added to the rows that were already in front of her, along with a panting Gerald, one of her office mates.

“Hey Crystal, boss says she want’s these done by tomorrow,” he states with that feminine accent of his while tapping the top of the stacks of paper on the table.

Seeing how heap of work that she had, she gave it a quick browse, then judging by the contents after flipping some of the pages she already knew how long it was going to take to finish.

“I’m not sure if that’s possible right now, I haven’t even finish the last batch that she sent me,” She smacks her hand on the lined up documents that she still had.

Gerald’s face crumpled as he pouted his lips to her. “Tell that to her yourself. You know how the boss is, more work, work, work, but no added pay. I’m as piled up as you are, I swear if I find a better job, I’ll leave this place in a jiffy.” He slouches as he let out a deep breath all the while waving his hands around in the air.

Crystal just laughed it out, like the man said there was really no point in her complaining as she too didn’t have any choice with their boss’s decision, they both knew that those words were final whether it was possible or not.

“I’ll take care of it then,” she let’s out a forced smile though he suddenly felt a bit off.

Gerald pressed the back of his hand on his forehead as if fainting, fanning his other hand to his face. “I just wish we could at least get a raise from all this work you know.”

“I’d cross my finger for that,” She states.

Understanding full well how the man felt, being payed in minimum but being overworked was not really something that she dreamed of doing forever.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it then,” Gerald bids farewell as he carried another stack of thick folders to his own table.

Crystal just gave out a deep and long breath as she turned to the workload that was now piled up on her table. She was sure that it was again going to force her to pull out a bit more extra time if she was to finish all of it.

Without further delay she began typing the first few documents that she had already began working on.

It was already past eleven when they were finally done, Gerald was already patting his back as they came out of the building.

The streets weren’t that crowded anymore but there were still a lot of people that were coming in for work on the night shift. So, even though it was already late the whole place was still crowded.

“I really need to get a massage,” Gerald was already on his haunches as they walked to the bus stop.

Crystal laughed a bit while the man kept wiggling his hips as they strolled, as if dancing to a certain tune.

“Why don’t you? It’s almost pay day anyway,” she reminds him, remembering the date.

Gerald rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh.“Can’t, too many bills to pay and fridge is almost empty.” he frowns whilst rolling his eyes.

She just gave him an agreeing nod. “I feel you.”

“Girl, I’m am going on ahead, will you be alright by yourself?” Gerald turns to her upon seeing the upcoming bus that had a placard showing it’s destination.

“Yes, don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” She waves him off.

There were still several buses that were waiting in line but none of them had her destination, so she knew it was going to take a while.

“Alright, see you tomorrow,” Gerald says before running to the said vehicle.

Crystal giggled as the man still kept shaking his hips while running altogether flipping his hands to get the buses attention. It was only when her office mate was no longer there that her face finally straightened for the exhaustion.

Once again she ended up contemplating on things that were happening to her right now, though she wouldn’t say that it was hard, there was just something there that felt lacking.

There was a huge void in her chest that made her feel that she wasn’t doing enough or she should be doing so much more.

Then again, she remembered all the things that she had to sacrifice for her current life, if she hadn’t done those things she and Clyde wouldn’t be together now, engaged and waiting to get married.

Besides that she already knew that she had lost her chances a long time ago, as she had already shoved into her head that there was only one thing that she needed to focus now and that was to make sure that Clyde was taken care of.

Because for Crystal it was her duty to make sure that her man was well looked after. Seeing as it was one of the things that kept their relationship in tact. It was also one of the things that Clyde always reminded her and made her feel appreciated.

She really didn’t know what to do right now if anything were to change, fearing that she might jyx herself Crystal ended up shrugging it off, remembering that she was already quite lucky.

Getting married to the man she loved, having a stable job and a bright future ahead once they finally get married.