CHAPTER 6. THE DIVORCE. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.

WRITER'S POINT OF VIEW

As soon as work was over, Chris got to his car. Normally, when Lucas was still alive, he would drive Lucas home every day to a point he made it routine. Now, staring at the empty seat, it just brought back plenty of memories. 

Jessica walked down to Chris full of smiles. 

“Not again” He mumbled under his breath.

“What do you want, Jessie?” He asked as she stood there with folded arms.

“We need to talk, Christopher” she replied with a pout. 

“In somewhere quiet. I know an exact spot” Jessica quickly added.

“You don't ever quit, do you?” He frowned.

“Just this last time and I'd never bother you again, I promise” She said. 

The club was pretty lousy and crazy. Everyone were dancing and having a good time.

“This is my favorite place to hang out whenever I feel blue or lonely” Jessica said after they grabbed a chair. 

“So why are we here? What is it that was so important that we needed to talk about?” Chris asked, ignoring all what she had said while he watched her order drinks. 

“I miss us.” She began. He gulped everything down as she poured him another glass.

“We used to be so perfect” She continued. 

“I know, but I love Aria now. I don't want to hurt her feelings” He took another gulp of the drink. She rolled her eyes uncontrollably.

“What is it that you see in her and I don't have, huh?

I can fix us, please” Jessica grabbed his hands, rubbing them softly just the way Aria's does it.

“I can wait, the divorce is in a few weeks from now, right?” She said pouting. He signalled for her to pour another glass and, abruptly, she did.

He didn't say a word. He was slightly drunk. She poured him more glasses until he was fully drunk. Now it was time to carry out her plans. 

“See now you're all drunk…” She spoke softly. It was getting late, she paid for the drinks and helped him home.

“It's dark already, how about I drive you over to my house then early the next morning, you go home” Jessica suggested as she got him into the car.

“Noo…” He muttered.

“What do you mean by no? It's late already and for your safety, I'm taking you over to my place, or you can drive yourself home and risk your life, your choice” She shrugged. He didn't respond.

She started the car's engine and drove off. 

The next morning, Chris had to drive back home so early so as to meet up with work. When he got home, he didn't find Aria, and he was worried.  

“Could it be she was mad he didn't come back home or at least dropped a call?” He wondered. He had it in mind to call her last night or text her, but he was too drunk that he forgot. 

He gasped when he checked his phone. She had been calling him nonstop since last night. Thirteen missed call. What the hell!

Anyway, he prepared for work and kept returning the calls, but she didn't take any. He couldn't even focus at work. 

“Is she okay? Did she go over to her parent's place? Is she mad at him that she refused to take any of her calls?” Those were the thought running through Chris mind. He didn't really remember what happened last night, but all he recalled was that he woke up on Jessica's bed the next morning.

“Yesterday, you threatened to deal with Aria, and she's ignoring my calls, hope you didn't try another funny with her?” Chris confronted Jessica during lunch break.

“Chill… Why are you so worked up?” Jessica giggled.

“I didn't do anything to Aria, I cross my heart” She continued.

“But if she ran away that's good because she's only making things easier for us” She added rubbing her hands over his chest. He jerked her hands away from him, then he walked away.

ARIA'S POINT OF VIEW

I woke up early today to Jessica's videos and multiple missed call from her. I have been trying to reach Chris since last night, and he didn't even bother to return my calls. I was scared. Could it be something terrible happened to him? Was he safe? I even had to beg my mom to help me call him too, so we kept calling until I dozed off.

I stared at the video clip for a while, trying to understand what was going on. I gasped when I realized it was a sex tape of my husband and that Jessica lady. I was dumbfounded. I was hurt. I felt numb. I clicked on the next video, same thing. She was sucking my husband and I could hear him groan from the background, then it occurred to me that this was what was going on while I was busy overthinking about my husband's whereabouts. How could I be this foolish? I buried my face in my palms and cried. I was devastated. Just when I thought he was changed for good, he shattered my heart once again. 

I went over to my parent's house, it's been a very long while. A lot haven't changed since I left. I poured out my heart to my mom, and she understood me. 

I was busying packing out my belongings when I stumbled across some papers. The divorce papers. So, he had these papers here, and he kept lying about not receiving them yet. My phone rang again and when I checked the screen, it was Chris. I hissed. 

“I've been trying to reach you since morning, and you didn't even return any of the calls” Those were his words as soon as he walked in. I was sitting on the couch, impatiently waiting for him.

“I wanted to explain why I couldn't make it home, I knew you must have been worried” my eyes followed him as he sat next to me.

“Save yourself the explanation. I know everything and I saw everything” I finally spoke. I reached for my phone, played the video and gave it to him to watch. I didn't care to listen to his explanation because I know again he'd be lying to me. 

I went back upstairs and dragged my luggage and belongings downstairs. 

“And before I forget, here are the divorce papers. I found them when I was packing my stuff, I already signed them papers it's left for you to do the same" I said as I carelessly flicked them away.

“Just let me explain, please” he begged, but my heart was already shut. 

“Just hear me out before you leave” he continued to plead. I stopped dragging my luggage to listen to what he had to stay.

“Okay, make it quick” I sniffed. My head was badly hurting due to excess crying. I can't continue to leave with someone who keeps hurting me. 

“I love you, Aria” My heart skipped. I faced down. I wish I could say the same to him.

“These few weeks has been the best part of our marriage. I couldn't have asked for more” He continued. At this point, I couldn't hold it anymore, I just let the tears rolled freely. 

Sometimes love is confusing. Occasionally, it comes unexpected. Most times we know we're endangering our mental health, but we still love anyway because we can't help it.

“I apologize for hurting you. It hurts me to see you cry like this and I have to confess you're the best thing that happened to me” I sat down slowly on the couch watching him talk. Moving on without Christopher will have to be the hardest thing to do in my life, but this is what I have to do. Maybe we weren't opportune to be together at the moment. 

“I love you too, Chris” I just had to let it out. I watched as his face beamed with a small smile. I smiled back. We locked eyes for a few minutes before my mom honked the car.

“I gotta go…" I wiped my eyes.

“Can I kiss you one last time?” I nodded. My lips were already yearning for his touch of his lips on mine. Finally, our lips met. It hurts so bad because this was the last time I'll have those lips again.

“By the way, I'll be traveling out of the country. I want to start afresh” I said after the broke from the kiss. 

“And I'll be selling off this house. I already found a buyer” he replied. I nodded slowly.

My mom's car honked again. I got up, picked up my bags and dragged them out of the building. I gave one final look at the house before I entered the car.

“How do you feel?” My mom asked concerned.

“Terrible. My heart hurts a lot" I laughed out, more like laughing away my pain.

My mom rubbed my hair. “I know. Your flight is tomorrow, though”. I nodded slowly then I averted my head as I Leaned on the window staring blankly into the sky