JASMINE

ELOISE'S POV.

I felt a wave of nausea just by sitting with these people.

“Excuse me.” I blurt out and my legs start carrying me out of the dining room before I lose my temper and do something I'll regret.

“Wow, now she just left the table when everyone’s not finished? Klein, this is exactly what happens when you don’t discipline your woman!” Mrs Wesley’s nonsense keeps ringing in the back. I only stop walking when I'm out in the building premises.

My heart is as heavy as a rock. I'm taking in short, shallow breaths to try and steady my raging heartbeats and I'm blinking many times to stop the tears burning in my eyes from spilling down.

How did I let my life become like this?

“Eloise”

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

“Eloise.” He calls yet again in his cool tone. Sighing heavily, I snap my eyes open and his face comes to view. He looks calm and collected as always.

“Yes.” I answer dryly.

“What was that about?”

“What exactly?”

“Throwing your cutleries and walking out on everyone. That was uncalled for.” His accusing words are accompanied by an ice-cold look in his eyes. A look that sends shivers down my spine, but I don't let myself falter.

“Klein.” I suck in a deep breath and try to steady my shaky voice. “How am I supposed to remain calm when your mother keeps insulting me?”

“That was indeed unnecessary and I have already asked her to stop. There was no need to behave irrationally afterwards.” I stare at him blankly, completely speechless and almost drowning in shock.

“Let’s cut the crap, Klein, you know the reason for my mood isn't only about your mother's insults. Where were you last night?”

“I told you something came up.”

“Damn it, Klein! Am I a fool to you? You were with a freaking woman last night! You were drunk. Both of you went to a hotel together. And now you stand here and tell me “something” came up! Is it a norm for you to go to the hotel with other women?”

“How did you know?”

Is he crazy or am I the one?

“Is this the only thing you have to say?” I look at him in total disbelief. How can someone say such a shameless thing with a straight face? “Let me tell you how I knew it. I heard that bitch’s voice through the call. She freaking picked it up just to show me she was with you. And your photos with her in the hotel are all over the Internet! See how I knew about it?”

Klein looked at me with an unreadable expression.

“First of all, Jasmine is a friend of mine who I prefer you call her in a more respectful way. Second, I was drunk and she only sent me to the hotel. That’s all. I’ll handle the photos. It won’t affect yours or the group’s reputation.”

I chuckle.

Hard.

“Do you think I’m easy to fool around with? You, a grown ass man, got drunk with a grown ass woman, entered AND left the hotel together. There is proof. How am I supposed to believe this is just a misunderstanding? That woman was literally showing off to me that she was the one who was with you, on your birthday night, not your freaking wife. And now you are telling me to call her with a more respectful name? How about I just quit and let you guys have your own little happy life?”

I shout, and the tears I have been holding back stream down my cheeks. I'm such a pathetic joke, always taking pride in thinking of myself as a smart wife for giving my husband enough space. Now all jokes are on me because I have pushed him into the hands of another woman.

Klein's already tense face turned even more unpleasant.

“Don’t overthink it. No one was showing off to you. I must have been too drunk to talk after I picked up the phone.”

KLEIN'S POV.

I can see the fury burning in Eloise’s eyes like wildfire. Her fists are curling and uncurling by her sides. Her entire face has gone red with rage. This is the angriest I've ever seen her.

I have always seen her as a suitable wife. She's beautiful. Very beautiful and smart and she understands the terms of our marriage perfectly. She knows how to keep proper distance and she does her things on her own without needing to consult me. She always looks presentable in public whenever we go out and she's okay with the fact that we can only meet each other's needs as a married couple occasionally. So when grandpa insisted on her to be my wife, I agreed.

Things got rough for her after her family’s company experienced a downturn. I believed she had been working way too hard to get a little uptight. And that has led to her neurotic reaction these days.

Yesterday I made a mistake. It wasn’t my intention to not go back home. Morgan picked me up at the airport and asked me to have a drink in an urgent manner. He said it was about his business. I wasn’t occupied so I agreed.

When I arrived, however, I was greeted by the person I least expected to see.

FLASHBACK.

“Happy Birthday!”

The wish is followed by sounds of confetti popping in the air and soon, the entire atmosphere is saturated with ribbons from the poppers, flying around and landing on anything they flew towards. My eyes nearly fall from their sockets when I see the woman standing before me. Her familiar smile is plastered on her face as she's staring at me with those beautiful emerald green eyes.

“Jasmine.” I call disbelievingly and her smile widens.

It's her.

The woman who had been an important part of my teenage life but left three years ago without any proper explanation.

A whirlwind of indescribable feelings rushes through my veins.

“It's such a relief to know that you still remember me.”

“It’s nice seeing you again. But I have to go. There's something important I need to take care of.”

“Klein!” Jasmine calls in a low voice but I ignore her. I believe some people should stay in the past. Especially when they decided to leave in the first place.

I turn on my heels and start walking away, but three steps later, I'm stopped by a firm arm grabbing me on my shoulder.

“Klein. Wait!”

I turn around to see my best friend, Morgan.

“Is this why you called me here?” I ask, with a blank face and he lets out a heavy sigh, massaging his forehead with his fingers.

“Look man, you can't just leave like that.” He throws a quick look at Jasmine who's standing by the door with the most pitiful look on her face. “I was surprised to see her too. I know we all have some rough history back then, but Jasmine just returned to the country and she took the initiative to throw you this birthday party. Let’s sit down and talk things through.”

“I'm sorry I lied to you guys.” Jasmine chimes in. “I just couldn’t accept myself to be imperfect and my ego took over me… I thought I should find a way to let you guys forget me.” Jasmine said in a rather sorrowful way, making me very uneasy.

Against my better judgement, I stay and listen to what she has to say. Turns out, she had developed a very rare medical condition that heavily affected her daily functioning. She couldn’t stand herself withering in front of her close friends so she flew abroad for medication. Her pride didn’t allow her to admit her actual situation, so she orchestrated a fight with us and cut off our connection.

I don’t know how to feel about it. She could have told us and she knows we would have done everything in our power to help. Especially me. I would’ve done my best to save her just like she saved my life before.

“But then I thought it through and realised that hiding away for the rest of my life isn’t the answer. I want to take control of my life again, that’s why I am here. So, this isn’t only Klien’s birthday party, but also my homecoming party, you guys.” Jasmine mused, “And you don’t have to be worried because my condition is under control.”

“You are truly something Jas, you know that right?” Morgan slurred, I can tell he’s already tipsy. “I thought you guys would end up together, I really did. But no chance now, Jas. Klein is a married man.” Morgan nudged me with his elbow, “You quit the game too early. I don’t think Eloise would've had much of an advantage over you, but you weren't here, so she won. And that woman really knows how to win grandpa's favour. She knows who’s in charge. She's a clever one.”

Morgan’s words have started to irritate me.

“Shut up, Morgan.” I fire at him sternly. “Don’t talk about my wife like that.”

I don’t know if it’s because of the shocking revelation or the alcohol, but my mind is starting to feel hazy faster than it should. I can barely make out Jasmine saying —“Stop joking Morgan, I’m not going to be a homewrecker.”— in the background, and I lost consciousness afterwards.

END OF FLASHBACK.

I was told this morning that they took me to Morgan’s hotel. Jasmine also stayed for the night because of how late it was, but we stayed in two different rooms, of course. We are both decent people. That’s why it annoys me to hear Eloise levy false and imaginary accusations against Jasmine even after my explanation. I didn’t make it home and that was my fault, but it wasn’t like we had an appointment anyway.

She really shouldn’t get all emotional and attack an important friend of mine in that way.

Looking at Eloise’s tear stained face, I was really shocked as to why we got this far. She had always been a graceful and self-possessed woman, and I was glad that she was always emotionally stable.

Before I can say anything to her, I am interrupted by a call.