CHASE COLES
As soon as I left the house, I drove to COLES seven star hotel to meet up with Monica. As soon as I parked my car, I got out of the car and as I was just about to call her, I heard her sweet voice calling my name, causing my face to heat up, and I turn and look at her, waving her hand with enthusiasm on her face. I wave back, and she hurries down to me, so I catch her in my embrace and lean down to capture her lips. “Hey, baby,” I say. “Hi… so, did you do it?” Monica asks in anticipation as I hold her waist, bringing her closer to my body. “Signed and delivered. Our divorce should be processed as soon as I hand in the papers after she signed, then I’ll finally be all yours, Monica,” I say, but it somewhat leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. “You’ve always been mine, Mr. Coles,” She steps on her toes to leave a peck on my lips. It didn’t take long until I heard someone shouting my name. “Chase!” I am forced to break eye contact between Monica and I, and I look up and see the person calling me because they sounded enraged. Flabbergasted and confused, I see Ariel walking towards us, and my smile slowly erases from my face. How the hell did she follow me? “What?” The woman who is still in my possession looks up at me and asks, before looking at where my eyes are looking. I feel her hand clutching my jacket, and I gently pull her behind me to protect her from the storm heading our way. “No fucking way!” I grumbled to myself. “So, it’s been her… it always has! How do you feel, Monica?” She finally reaches to us and asks, causing a scene. “Ariel, what are you doing? Are you trying to drag us in your craziness?” I scold her. “Oh, so now I am the crazy one? I’m being cheated on by my husband with his ex-girlfriend, and I am called crazy! Do you want to see what crazy is, Chase?” I can't believe this is happening right here, right now! “I don’t have time for this, Ariel. Let’s go, Monica,” I take her hand attempt to walk when I’m suddenly grabbed back on my other hand. I stare at the hand holding my arm, then up at its owner. How dare she!? “You are not going anywhere until you tell me how long you have been fooling me, Chase. Didn’t our marriage mean anything to you before you could make any drastic decisions about it? Let’s go home, baby. It is our marriage anniversary today. Your ex is just a craving that will pass. I will not be mad at you, I just want us to work on us,” Her tears streamed down to her cheeks. “A craving? Honey, I came before you. You took my man away from me and married him. We were together when you came into his life, but you have the nerve to call me a craving! You stole my man! Look at yourself, and look at me. You are not even his type. They do not refuse anyone at the gym, dear. Go and fix your body, then we we can talk about it,” Monica rebukes Ariel’s crazy fantasy. Maybe I shouldn't let her get too involved in this, or it might get out of hand. She isn’t wrong, though. We were in a relationship since high school, and I promised Monica that I was going to marry her. Unfortunately, I could not go against my father's words. I got married to Ariel because I thought my father knew my best interests, but I was never happy with Ariel. Seeing her face depressed me. For three years I tried, and I thought we would connect through sexual intimacy, but that was it, nothing more. I don’t feel the love connection between us. The spark wasn’t there. She tried to be my wife, but I just wasn’t feeling anything mutual to it. Three years of our marriage was just forceful. I couldn’t understand why Ariel tolerated my indifferences all these years. I just couldn’t love her because I was just in love with someone else. “Look at you, wearing pyjamas in a broad daylight in a public space. Everyone is looking at you acting crazy. Have some value, woman, and leave us out of your craziness!” Monica scoffs. “Come on, baby… let’s go. She is not worth our time. We have a lot to do today,” Monica says, stepping confidently on her high heel, walking ahead with sophistication. Ariel didn’t glance at her but pierced her gloomy bloodshot eyes on me. “You are going to regret this, Chase! You and Monica deserve each other, Chase-Fucking-Coles!” With that said, she turned on her heels and walked away very fast. I do not like her last words and certainly do not feel good about the way she stormed off. They say you should beware of a woman with a broken heart. *** Sitting by the ocean view restaurant with Monica in the hotel, brunching on some of her favourite food, Branzino stuff. I’m not all about a healthy lifestyle, eating leaves, fish, and veggies all the time, but I am doing it today for her. She is pescatarian, so I’m compromising this day for her. “Do you like it?” Monica asks. “Meh…” I shake my hand side-to-side. “It isn’t so bad, but do they have to serve the fish with the eyes? It is creepy,” I ask, but she bursts into a laugh. “I can’t even eat it because it’s been watching me all the time,” I continued. “That’s because you can eat the eyes, too, babe,” “Oh, hell no. That’s it, I’m not having that. I’ll just have these veggies,” I say. She smiles, cutting the fish apart before putting a portion on my plate. “There. Enjoy your first pescatarian meal with me after so long. I hope to cook you more food like this in the future,” She says. “Thank you,” I sat, eating the fish that tastes good, but I am not sure if I can eat like this forever. I still love my steak. “Babe, you have been awfully quiet, you know. I have to pull you out of your thoughts since we got here. Is it because of Ariel?” I lift my eyes from my plate to her as she mentioned Ariel. I feel so uneasy. Did I make a mistake divorcing her on this day? I had never seen her angry before; it was not like her to show up in pyjamas in public. She was always humble, calm, and always smiled when she saw me. Where did that smile go? She should be happy about the divorce because we had no love between us, but instead, she showed me a very uncomfortable side of hers. “I’m okay,” I take off my glasses and hold her hand. Just then, my phone vibrates on the table. It is on silent, so I pick it up and see who’s calling, but it is just a random number. “I said no phones in our brunch time, baby,” Monica reprimands. “I know, sorry. Let me quickly answer this and focus on us. It won’t happen again,” I alert her before I answer. “Hi, this is Shantel from Rosemary Gardens. I am calling regarding your wife’s reservations for your anniversary. You were supposed to have arrived for your first activity for the day fifteen minutes ago. I cannot get a hold of Mrs. Coles, so I was wondering if you were running late? Please do let me know... thanks.”ARIEL COLES I walk really slowly into the penthouse, dragging my feet. All my energy is worn out, and I don’t feel like having any company in the house. I throw my car keys on the dining table and make my way upstairs to the bedroom that I shared with my husband for three years. If he never had hope in us, why would he sleep next to me in the same bed for so long? Why did he drag me with him until this day, only to spit me out like a meat that’s been stuck between his teeth? Why would he play with my feelings like that? I’m fragile – my heart is fragile. Did he take advantage of my kindness, or was it my stupidity of relaxing as a housewife? Now I feel embarrassed. Gosh, that girl Monica made me realise how much I missed out in the past three years. I’m only twenty-three, yet I missed out on so much of my youth, being a housewife to a man that was ice cold towards me. Monica looked very beautiful and sophisticated while I looked like I ran away from a loony bin. I can’t believe th
Ariel had woken up in the morning, feeling nauseous without vomiting. At this point, she became concerned about her health, so she decided to take a bath and get ready to go to the clinic to consult with the doctor. She arrived at exactly ten o’clock in the morning, and their family doctor assisted her immediately. “So, Mrs. Cole. Do you mind telling me what you are concerned about? Tell me about the symptoms you are having,” Doctor Jones says, sitting across the desk with his hands on the table, focusing on Ariel’s swollen eyes. “Well, I don’t even know how to explain it either, but I’ve been feeling nausea pretty often. I admit I have been stressed out pretty much, and it might be triggering my body to react, and also, I am late on my period,” Ariel confessed to the doctor who smiled in return, looking at the clueless innocent woman in front of him. “Have you vomited since?” He asked. “Yesterday in the late morning. Could it possibly be food poisoning?” Ariel wondered, pondering
ARIEL COLES “Are you going to be okay? Would you like me to call a driver for you?” Doctor Jones asked as I was preparing to leave. It’s been twenty minutes since I gained my consciousness, and just when I thought I had a dream about the doctor telling me that I am pregnant, well… I hate to disappoint myself because it wasn’t a dream. He confirmed once more to me to let me know that I am indeed pregnant. I am surprised, but I am not upset or anything. I guess I could say I am caught off guard about it, and it might take me a while to process it. “I’ll be fine, thank you, Doc,” I assure him. “Just so you know, Chase called, and I did as you asked. But something really caught me when he called. Why would he think that you would want to commit suicide?” I gasp and raise my eyebrow. “I am surprised as well. Um, but let’s be honest with each other right now. You know Chase, and you probably have an idea of what is going on because Chase is your friend. I did not choose to come here
CHASE COLESI am standing right across the table, staring at a version of Ariel that I have never met before. I won’t lie, she scares me. I have never seen her this defensive before. She never strikes me as someone who’d stand up for themselves like this. She makes me feel so uneasy because this could mean trouble. I am looking at her, staring at my mother who has had enough of Ariel’s drama as much as I am. “Ariel, what has gone into you?” My mother asks. “Oh, so are we all going to ignore the fact that Monica is here right now? Are we all going to ignore the fact I am getting divorced because of Chase’s mistress?” Oh, here we go again!“Yes! You are getting divorced because of me, so what?” Finally, Monica joins in, fed up. “I have always been in Chase’s life before you were even considered to be his wife, and you know that. Chase and I never stopped seeing each other because of you, you know why? Chase loves me and I can’t think this same for you. Do us all the favour and accep
ARIEL The divorce was processed quicker than I thought, but it doesn’t matter anymore because it is done. I should be grateful that everything happened as it was because I would have been a fool all my life. It is time that I pick myself up and be who I am made of. I am no longer responsible for myself but also the seed growing inside of me. I place my hands on my stomach and exhale. “Are you a girl or a boy? Well, it doesn’t matter because I am going to love you anyway. Daddy left me for another woman, so it is just you and me now. I am feeling down right now, but I hope that you’ll help me rise because I am not going to sit back and do nothing.” I say in my heart, rubbing my fat belly. I was undermined by the Coles because I am clueless about business. Well, I am a qualified professional doctor, so I have decided to go back to doing just that. “You are a medical practitioner, not quite clever when it comes to an economic business, so stick to your lane.” Chase’s words were me
CHASE COLES I walk down the stairs, holding my tie in my hand for my mother to make a knot for me. I reach the last staircase where I meet her and she immediately possesses the tie in her hands before she hangs it around my neck and make a fine knot, but not as perfect as Ariel’s knot. “You don’t look like a married man anymore, Chase,” My mother announces. “I’m divorced, remember,” I remind her. “But still, you do not look like you have a girlfriend. You do not look neat. The way you are dressing lately just seems out of place,” I think my mother is exaggerating. This is how I dressed before I got married to Ariel. “There is nothing wrong with how I wear,” “Well, I am just saying that Ariel knew how to dress you, and I can feel her absence now,” I sigh. “Mom, did she seem weird to you the last time she was here?” I ask. I am unable to shake off the feeling that something was offish with her when I last saw her. The words she even said to me are still lingering in my head, a
Pregnant!?” Chase exclaimed, unable to fathom the news. He wasn’t happy nor angry. He was caught by surprise, and his reaction caused a frown on Monica’s face. “You are not happy about it, are you?” She sadly noted.“No… I mean, I am just surprised. We just never spoke about having kids, so I am not sure how to take the news, but I can assure you, I am not angry or disappointed. I got you pregnant, so I will take responsibility. I will do everything right.” Chase pulled Monica into his chest and embraced her. Monica exhaled and smiled happily. “How far are you?” Chase asked. “Uh, just a couple of weeks,” Monica quickly dismissed the question, not wanting to dwell on it too much. Monica knows how far exactly she is, but wouldn’t want to jeopardise her relationship with Chase because if Chase realises that the weeks of her pregnancy and the time they started sleeping together do not collide, she might lose him for good this time. Chase never slept with Monica until the divorce wa
Love can be hard to find, but when it comes to you, you can either accept it or ignore it. For some reasons, some people are courageous enough to confront it, while others cowardice behind their past. Chase had no reason to get angry at Ariel for being pregnant with another man’s baby, and definitely had no right to tell her to terminate it. Ariel wanted to correct herself to him and admit that he made her pregnant, but after realising that Chase was happy she said no, she felt defeat and lost for words. Hearing the man she loved say all those mean things to her made her hate the man standing in front of her. She was unable to stand him, so she threw things at him to make him leave her sight. As soon as Chase left, she cried herself to sleep, but was later woken up by the doorbell which she intended to ignore, but her phone rang, causing her to go down and quickly open the door before it was broken down. “Dad!” She exclaimed at her father who barged into her home like a cop search