RACHEL
"Is that what upset you?" Lena asked after I finished narrating what happened between Sebastian and me, and she didn't seem to find anything wrong with it. She stared at me as though she didn't understand what I had just said.
"What do you mean? Are you listening to me at all?" I sat up, gradually getting sober. "He asked me to leave Jeremy. That's like divorcing him," I emphasized with my palms.
A sharp unease settled in my chest. Divorce. The word sounded too final... too real. As if saying it out loud might actually make it happen.
She nodded, thumping her chin. "Okay...? I'm still trying to understand where the problem lies."
My lips parted, and I let out a hollow snicker. "You are unbelievable."
"No, Rachel. You're the unbelievable one. This Sebastian or whatever gave you candid advice... advice anyone who truly cares about you would give," Lena's jaw clenched. It was still dark, but the little rays diffusing from the city were enough for me to see the scowl on her face.
"He's trying to ruin me. That's not advice," I retorted, pissed off. The way Lena supported a stranger was really annoying.
She snorted. "No. You're already ruined, Rachel. You just refused to accept it," Her voice was low.
My mouth parted; however, I was about to talk back when the driver's voice cut in. "We're at the address."
Lena and I exchanged glances. I huffed, rolling my eyes, and she sneered at me. We got out afterward. I didn't wait. I kept walking into the house while she settled the driver.
As soon as I got in, I walked to her fridge, took a bottle of cold water, and chugged a lot of it to suppress my tipsiness. Then she walked in, staggering slightly. Anyone could tell she was still drunk, but Lena wasn't new to the game. She could still speak and act sensibly while drunk.
Letting out a relieved sigh, she flung her bag onto the couch and collapsed on it, flopping her arms. "I also need some water, my friend," she slurred.
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and walked to the living room. Grudgingly, I flung it onto her body. She picked it up and chuckled. "Still holding grudges?"
Instead of responding, I settled on the couch and leaned back, one arm behind my head. My eyes fell on the ceiling as I wallowed in my thoughts.
When Lena finished drinking, she shifted into a similar position to mine. A deafening silence filled the room, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
"If you ask me, I'll say Sebastian is right," she broke the silence, in an extremely annoying manner. Just when I thought I should forget about that foolish man, she brought him up.
"Keep your thoughts to yourself, Lena. I don't want to hear anything about him," I said, still in the same position. She didn't respond afterward.
A few seconds later, she gasped, springing up and sitting upright. "I think I've gotten a better solution, Rachel." Her eyes widened.
Initially, I didn't want to give Lena my attention because I was certain she would only piss me off, but my brain did otherwise-curious and anticipatory-so I had no choice but to shift my gaze to her.
Smiling, she leaned closer to me. "I think you should agree to the open marriage Jeremy suggested."
Just like I'd predicted, she really did annoy me. With irritation churning within me, I stood up, but before I could say a word, she clapped her hands. "No. That's not all." She put a finger on my lips. "You need to listen to me carefully before you react." She winked and flashed a gossipy smile.
There was nothing I could do afterward. I just needed to listen to the wonderful plan my professional planner had.
"So, you'll agree with him like he wanted and look for a man who will pretend to be your boyfriend," she outlined. "Then, you guys can work together to make him jealous and realize how much of a queen and damsel you are," she added, cupping my face with a full grin.
It took me a while to comprehend everything she said. My mouth parted, about to reject her offer, but as usual, she beat me to it. "I know. I know." She raised her hand in the air. "You're conflicted about who's the perfect man for this job, right?" She leaned closer. "Look no further, girl. Sebastian is the right person for this job."
His name echoed in my head, uninvited... and strangely persistent.
"What!" I couldn't resist talking back at this point. "Are you mad? Is your drunkenness getting into your brain?" I shouted, my face tightening. How could she say such things casually? I should make a plan with a man I met four hours ago?
She chuckled. "It's not that deep, girl. If you really think Jeremy is the only man you want, then you've got to give this a try," she asserted. "Make him jealous. Make him want you. Make him realize you can do without him. That's the only way to bring him back to his senses," she added.
"It's that deep, Lena. Pretending to be another man's girlfriend? You know I won't partake in such nonsense," I flared up, not letting any of her suggestions get to me. She was drunk and definitely oblivious to the words she spewed.
"So what do you want to do?" she shouted back, hitting the couch aggressively. "I've given you all the alternatives that can help you, but you insist on being the fucking foolish, understanding wife." Her tone held disappointment and anger-fierce but shaky. "This man doesn't even deserve you. He treats you like shit. Dump his ass and find somebody better," She snapped, "Or are you just scared no one else will ever choose you?" she added bluntly.
Biting my lower lip, I shook my head and let out a bitter chuckle. "You've gone mad, and it's not your fault." I stood up. "I blame myself for always bringing my marital issues here."
She laughed, her eyes dimming gradually. "We're at it again. That foolish victim game."
I froze, shocked by what she said. Tears rushed to my eyes, but I held them back. She was drunk, and it was no use exchanging words with her. We would just keep hurting each other.
My throat tightened. For a second, I almost spoke... almost admitted she might be right. But the words refused to come.
"Call me when you're sober," I said, grabbed my bag, and dashed out of her house.
The plan was to spend the night at her place, but not anymore... not after everything she had said to me. When I got to the road, I ordered a taxi, and it arrived five minutes later.
I leaned my head against the window as the city lights blurred past. Lena's words replayed in my head, over and over again, louder than the music from earlier, louder than my own thoughts.
Once the taxi pulled up at my house, I got out, made my payment, and headed inside. My fingers lingered on the door handle for a moment. Something felt off, like stepping inside would only make everything worse.
It was late, almost midnight, and I expected everyone to be asleep. In fact, I hoped everyone had gone to bed because I was tired. I didn't think I was ready for the trouble they might cause me this morning.
Alas, if only wishes were horses. I was welcomed by my husband's girlfriend as soon as I stepped into the house.
"Welcome home, Rachel," Clara's voice cut through the silence.
Disappointed, I shut my eyes and shook my head. "Of course. It only gets worse."
