Promise you'll be good?

1 0 0
                                    


Joe had just bared his soul, confessing everything about his affair with Amy, his colleague at work. The weight of his words hung in the air, thick with the tension of a truth finally revealed. Jase, always the fixer, ordered some caipirinhas, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere.

He chatted with Joe about trivial things, drawing him into a conversation that allowed me a moment to process it all. The caipirinha was doing its job—relaxing me, making my eyelids heavy. I excused myself, retreating to the sanctuary of my bed, where I quickly succumbed to sleep, the weight of the day pressing down on me.

I woke up hours later, the dark sky outside signaling night had fallen. Feeling somewhat restored, I made my way to the pool house. I wanted space, solitude, and a place to think, so I asked for dinner to be served there. I also requested clothes and some help. I wasn't planning on returning to the main house that night. My plan was to sleep alone, away from the chaos inside.

But plans change.

It was two in the morning when I found myself trudging back to the house, pillow in hand. I wasn't sure what I expected, but finding Joe still awake, eyes glued to the television, wasn't it.

"Oh, thank God," he breathed as soon as he saw me, relief washing over his face.

I didn't respond. I was too tired for words, too weary for arguments. I crawled into bed, and he switched off the TV, sliding in beside me and wrapping me in his arms.

"You're an asshole," I muttered, just before sleep claimed me once again.

Even in the morning, the sting of betrayal still lingered, but routine has a way of dulling the edges of pain. The day began like any other—except it wasn't. Over breakfast, I found myself murmuring, "Gosh, six years," as I poured orange juice into my glass.

"That long?" MaryAnne's voice carried a note of surprise, though her eyes betrayed her knowledge of the situation. "Oh my."

"And I had no idea." My words felt heavy, as though they were the sum of all my regrets and missed signs.

"But come on now, let's be reasonable here..." MaryAnne's attempt at levity only served to stoke the fire within me. Before I knew it, the glass pitcher was out of my hands, crashing against the table. The sound echoed my anger, my frustration. Without another word, I stormed out, seeking refuge in the garden.

The garden was where I tried to piece together the shattered remnants of my thoughts. The peace didn't last long. Soon, MaryAnne appeared, regret etched on her face.

"Lilian, I'm sorry. I was foolish and shouldn't have joked about it. Please, come back inside."

"I'm too embarrassed now. You turned me into a joke," I replied, my voice trembling with the weight of my hurt.

Before she could respond, the sound of someone knocking on the sliding door interrupted us. Two loud taps followed, announcing Jase's arrival.

"Yooo... you are a joke," Jase said, his voice booming across the garden. "Your husband cheated on you for six years, and you didn't know? Six years, gal, and you never noticed anything weird? That is just plain stupid. Now suck it up and come back inside. I know you don't wanna skip this breakfast."

I looked at him, confused, and for a moment, everything felt surreal. But there was something in Jase's tone, a mixture of harsh truth and concern, that pushed me to my feet. I followed him inside, each step heavy with uncertainty.

As I resumed my seat at the table, Jase continued, his voice now softer, more measured. "You're feeling shame, and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. Cao was a fucker. He lied and screwed you over. While you feel ashamed, suck it up and eat those mini muffins. They're too good to go to waste." He glanced at Joe, and his gaze was piercing. "Both of you."

Real.Doc - Part 2 - Joe (English Version)Where stories live. Discover now