CHAPTER 5. DEATH IS INEVITABLE

Chris phone rang. It was four in the freaking morning. Who on earth calls someone at this time?

“Chris… Your phone” I mumbled with closed eyes. He picked up the phone, there were already people wailing in the background.

“Could it have had anything to do with Lucas?” I thought.

“Lucas is gone…” Chris's voice trailed off.

“What? How come?” I was confused. How can Lucas, someone I met full of energy days ago, just die like that?

“He tried to commit suicide. He was suffering from depression. He took pills, but they were able to rush him to the hospital. Sadly, he couldn't make it"

I closed my eyes, digesting all what Chris had said. I know I had just met him just once, but he was a really sweet and funny guy. Occasionally, we don't even know what people are battling with until we have a deep conversation with them.

“Chris… I'm sorry. May his soul find rest” I adjusted myself to him until we were just an inch apart and without saying a word, I pulled him into a hug. He hugged me even tighter. 

The house lost his spark. I watched my husband ate his breakfast in silence. I felt bad he was this hurt.

“You know, I've been thinking…” Chris spoke. He paused eating and stared at me. I just needed to hear that he cancelled the divorce. At this point, I didn't want a divorce anymore, he was literally all what I needed. 

“Yeah?” I said softly. He looked drained.

“After our divorce, I'll be moving out” he continued. I felt my heart skipped. 

“But why?” I asked. He scratched the back of the hair. He always does that when he's trying to think.

“This house wouldn't be the same when you're gone” 

“I was thinking of selling it off while I start afresh” 

“Ohh” I muttered. 

During his lunch break, I decided to pay him a visit with some food I got for him. His looked happy to see me. 

“This is where he used to seat” Chris pointed to an empty seat beside him, then it dawned to me that he was referring to Lucas.

“I can't get over the fact that Lucas is gone” His voice was pretty crack. I held out his hands and rubbed them softly.

“Ohh well… well…well” A female approached us, crossing her arms. My instincts told me it was no other person than Jessica James. 

She was wearing a short yellow gown over a yellow heels. She looked stunning. She wasn't even dressing to kill, but her killer body was doing the most. 

“You must be the Aria I've been hearing of…hmm” She spoke.

“ And you must be the Jessica James?” I responded.

“Yes… Jessie for short” She smiled.

“You look way younger than I expected," she said as her gaze traveled from my face down to my knees.

“Jessie, if you don't mind, can you excuse us?” Chris finally spoke up. Jessica gave one look at me and mumbled something under her breath as she walked out.

I was dying for an explanation on the relationship he has with Jessica. Some part of me was burning with jealousy. 

“Jessica and I used to have something for each other in the past. “ He explained just like he was already reading my thoughts. I blinked my eyes uncontrollably.

“Ohh okay” I said in a small voice.

“But we're not together anymore. It's been six months since we broke up” he added.

“Wait. So, you were secretly dating Jessica at my back? I just can't believe you” I frowned.

“I am sorry, okay? Please” he apologized. I looked away.

“But we're no longer together, and I have zero interest in her anymore” He took my hands and began rubbing them softly just like I did to his.

“By, why are you so pissed anyway?” He said as he laughed. This is the first time I saw him laugh since morning.

“I am your wife, well, until next month” I tried to defend myself. “You have to respect me as your wife until then” I quickly added a backup. 

“Yeah sure.” he muttered.

Soon his lunch break was over, he didn't even touch any of the food I brought to him. I felt like I could stay longer, but I just had to leave anyway. I waved goodbye to the rest of his colleagues before leaving. 

LUCAS'S POINT OF VIEW

The day started badly. Losing my best man to depression, but then Aria's support was everything. I had already told her I would move out after the divorce and I meant it because nothing can fill up the loneliness when Aria is gone. I felt so terrible because how come I'm just realizing that I was already blessed with a caring wife.

Aria has asked me multiple times when our divorce paper will be done, and I kept telling her it's going to be ready in a month, but the truth is that it is already set, but I can't just tell her, not yet. How do I even break it to Aria that I don't want a divorce? I want her. This couple of weeks she's made me realize love can be so unpredictable and maybe sometimes arranged marriage do work out.

Jessica walked in, interrupting me from my thoughts. I sighed. What does she want this time?

“What do you want?” I asked her. 

“Why would you make me jealous by asking her to come over? You made me look like a fool in front of the ant, ” She said as she folded her arms. 

“Jessie, that's not of my business. We're no longer together and everything we had and shared in the past is gone” I replied. 

“We're not over until I say so, mark my words. I'll so deal with that woman!” She said furiously.

“I'd never forgive you if anything happens to Aria. Stay away from her, or you'll regret it” I warned pointing out a finger.

“I thought you never loved her. Why this sudden change?” 

I didn't say a word. It was unexplainable.

“Ohh, so you love her, huh?” Jessica asked again, nodding slowly like she was trying to put two and two together to get an answer.

I sighed again. I buried my forehead in my palms. Jessica was right, I really do love her.