Breaking up
Author’s pov
“I will,” Ll replied and took his phone out of his pocket and he added, “I need to make an important call. Once I’m done, I’ll join you.”
“Okay, dear…” Juliana smiled and turned away, walking towards Stephanie’s house. James stared at her, his heart racing as he anticipated what would happen next.
“I hope Juliana comes out alone, without Stephanie. How am I going to handle this situation?” he wondered.
When Juliana reached the door, she knocked and called out,
“Hi, Stephanie!”
After a few seconds, Juliana thought she heard footsteps. Before she could determine if it was just her imagination or real, she heard the door opening. The footsteps moved inside. It was different from before when Stephanie would open the door and embrace her. Juliana quickly entered and followed her as she headed towards her room.
“Stephanie! Stephanie!” Juliana confronted her and gently embraced her.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” she said, tapping Stephanie’s back. Without words, Stephanie indicated that she wanted to go inside her room, and Juliana followed her. When they reached her room, they sat down on the bed.
“How and when did it happen? Was it yesterday, when I called you to come to Justin’s house opening?” Juliana asked, taking Stephanie’s right hand and placing it on her own lap, holding her affectionately.
“No, it was this morning,” Stephanie paused, blinked her eyes, and tears started flowing.
“Please, stop crying. Crying won’t bring him back, and I know you wouldn’t want to take him back into your life. As for me, his behavior has already made me see him as unworthy of a real man. I haven't even seen him, but I already despise him…” Juliana stopped when she noticed that Stephanie wanted to continue where she left off.
“I was so surprised when I heard a knock on my door this morning. When I opened it, I saw him and I never expected him to show up. It’s been a long time since he had been running away from me. I wanted to hug him, but he moved away…”
“You’re the cause of your own problem. Someone abandoned you for a party you had told him about many days ago. Why would you welcome him like that?” Juliana interrupted her.
“The next thing he did was say, ‘Stephanie, I know you’re not expecting this.’ I thought he came to apologize for what he did. But then he said, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t think this relationship will work…’” Stephanie burst into tears and buried her face in Juliana’s lap.
“I’m so sorry for what happened,” Juliana caressed Stephanie’s back and added, “I told you, if you can remember. I warned you that guy is not trustworthy enough to be your partner. Even though I haven’t seen him, he’s not the right person for you. I wouldn’t recommend someone like him to my worst enemy. But don’t worry, just be patient when a man comes your way. You can take me as an example. It’s been weeks or months since I mentioned that a man had been asking me out…”
“He proposed to you?” Her eyes came in contact with the ring. “How lucky you are,” Stephanie raised her head, feeling slightly better with this good news.
“I didn’t want to bring it up because of what you were going through…”
“This is great news. Have you forgotten how Justin left you on your own? I’m genuinely happy for you.”
“What’s his name? You’ve never introduced him to me,” Stephanie replied.
“His name is Gabriel. But I think I’m a bit older than him.”
“Older?” Stephanie opened her eyes. “Should we be considering age or love? If he truly loves you, then forget about age. Age is just a number. I’m so happy for you,” Stephanie wiped her eyes.
“He was the one who drove me here.”
“What? What do you mean? He drove you here? Why didn’t you ask him to come inside?”
“I didn’t come here to introduce my boyfriend to you. I don’t think it’s the right time.”
“Why? Your happiness is my happiness. I’d love to meet him,” Stephanie stood up and added, “the good news you brought has made me feel so much better. I’ve always wanted you to have a committed relationship, and it’s finally happened. Please, let’s go and see him.”
They both stood up, and Juliana embraced Stephanie again, saying, “Please, don’t embarrass me by crying.”
“I won’t cry, I promise,” Stephanie said, trying to compose herself and taking a deep breath. They left the room and went to the living room. The front door was still open, as Juliana had rushed to comfort Stephanie when she saw her crying earlier.
As they stepped out of the house, Juliana pointed to her car and said to Stephanie,
“Let me invite him inside.”
“No need for that. As soon as I heal from what I’m going through, I’ll take both of you out.”
“Hmm… That’s nice of you,” Juliana said and walked towards the car, with Stephanie following from behind.
“Honey, my friend wants to say hi,” Juliana stood at the car door, and Stephanie walked closer. The moment she saw James, her steps froze, and she immediately pointed with an angry tone.
“Is this your boyfriend, or are you mistaking him for someone else?” Stephanie asked angrily.
“Yes! This is my boyfriend? Do you know him?” Juliana asked.
“Oh my goodness!” James pretended and ran out of the car, walking closer to the two women.
“Don’t come closer to me, you scoundrel. You’ve already hurt me, and now you want my friend,” Stephanie snapped.
“Is this your friend?” James raised his shoulders and hands in confusion.
“What is going on here? Can someone please explain? Do you two know each other?” Juliana shouted.
“This is my ex, Juliana. Please, don’t fall for him. Please don’t,” Stephanie pleaded.
“It’s just a coincidence. I never knew your friend,” James said, attempting to approach Juliana.
“Please stay back and don’t come near me,” Juliana whispered.
“I can explain,” James pleaded, gesturing with his hands towards Juliana.
“I still don’t understand what’s happening here. You,” she pointed at James, “my friend’s ex-boyfriend, and now you’re my boyfriend or fiancé. This is insane. I’m leaving,” Juliana said uncontrollably.
“It’s just a coincidence, darling,” James tried to hold Juliana, but she got into her car and drove away. As she left, James kept shouting towards the car
“I can explain. You don’t have to leave like that.”
Stephanie and James watched as Juliana drove away, and when the place became silent, Stephanie confronted James, saying,
“You’re such a pervert. After sleeping with me, now you want my friend. That can never happen.”
“Did you ever introduce her to me before? How was I supposed to know she’s your friend?” James raised his voice.
“As long as you’ve let me down, I’ll never allow you to get close to Juliana again,” Stephanie declared, stomping her right foot on the ground before going inside and shutting the front door.
“What am I going to do? Will Juliana ever accept me again? If I had known, I wouldn’t have followed Juliana to see Stephanie,” James pondered, feeling regretful.
Juliana’s world had been turned upside down, and as she drove home, she still couldn’t believe it was real. However, the only difference was that she was talking to herself while driving.
“Is Gabriel actually Stephanie’s ex-boyfriend? Why did I fall in love with the wrong person? The person I called a pervert? Why did it have to be Stephanie’s ex-boyfriend? I thought my life was turning happy when I first met Gabriel,” she muttered to herself. She got out of her car and rushed inside her house.
“Mum, what’s wrong?” Daisy asked her, but Juliana walked past her daughter and went into her room. Before passing through the sitting room, she stopped and took off the ring from her finger. Daisy was shocked, as she had already noticed the ring on her mum’s finger.
“What happened? Did your boyfriend propose to you already?” When her mum didn’t reply, Daisy left the vacuum cleaner in her hand and followed her mum.
“Mum! Mum!” she caught up with her in their room. “Mum, what’s going on?” She held her mum’s hands and tried to keep her from lying down.
At that moment, as they were still talking, they heard a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” Dai
sy asked, while wiping the tears from her mum’s eyes.
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