LOST LOVE

DECISION

*Catherine’s POV**

It’s been four days since the incident.

These past few days have been an acceptance period for me, as I come to terms with the harsh realities of this world. All the smiles—fake. All the promises—never meant to last. I’ve realized that not everyone is trustworthy, and even those we call family can betray us.

Serena has been by my side the whole time. She’s been worried I might do something drastic and has been doing her best to cheer me up, always introducing new ideas. I can’t imagine what I’d do without her.

One significant development over these days is that I haven’t once called James.

I’m not worried about him—whether he’s sleeping well, eating properly, or anything else. Wad calls me, but I reject his calls.

“Cat.” Serena handed me a glass. “What is this?” I asked, though I already knew. “Can’t you see? It’s your favorite orange juice.” I’ve forgotten what my favorites even are. Now, anything is fine.

I took a sip. “Wow, you know how to make juice,” I complimented her.

“It was really hard to make juice, but I did my best,” she replied sarcastically. I laughed at her response, and as if on cue, my phone rang.

“Is it James?” she asked. There was no chance he would call me, so I said "no" without even looking at the phone.

She walked to the kitchen counter, glanced at my phone, and showed me the screen. It was Wad. He’s the only person who’s been calling me every day, despite me not picking up.

“No need to answer.” I continued drinking my juice.

“Cat, why on earth are you ignoring his calls?” she asked. I remained silent. After a few seconds, it rang again. This time, she answered the call and put it on speaker, nudging me to say something.

“Finally, Catherine,” Wad sounded frustrated.

“Why are you calling me?” I asked, clearly annoyed.
“I want to make sure you’re alive,” he replied casually.
“Well, hear me out—I’m alive,” I responded in the same tone.
“Are you calling every day just to make sure I’m alive?” I asked, confused.
“Yeah. What if you attempted suicide and wrote my name in your note?” His answer stunned me. Is that really why he’s been calling? On the other hand, Serena burst into laughter.
“Who’s laughing?” Wad asked, hearing her laughter.

“It’s me, Serena,” she answered, her voice full of excitement.
“Hey, Serena, so you’re staying with Cat?” he asked. Her face turned red, making her look like a tomato.
“Yes, I’m living at her place,” she replied, overly polite.
“That’s good. Is it hard to adjust to living with her?” he asked, half-jokingly.
“A little, but she’s my friend. I have to adjust,” they both started laughing and chatting.

“Excuse me. Did you two forget about me?” I interrupted, and Serena looked at me.
“You don’t want to answer my calls. You don’t want to talk to me. So I think I can call Serena to get updates on you, right Serena?” Wad asked, and she answered sweetly, "Yes."

“Don’t be nosy, Wad. Mind your own business,” I scolded him.
“I’m just checking on my long-lost friend,” he said, then hung up.

Serena drifted off into her dreamy world, while I went back to reading the newspaper.
“What are you looking for?” she asked.
“Job openings,” I replied, shocking her. It’s been over a year since I last worked.
“That’s a good start. So, what kind of job are you looking for?” she asked encouragingly, taking the paper from my hands.
“Wait… Accountant in a café? Are you crazy?” she asked, looking at the red circle I’d drawn around the listing.

“So what, Serena?” I asked, confused.
“The salary will be too low, and you’ll have too much work. You should find something else,” she said, concerned.

“I don’t mind the salary. I have a nice bank balance, Rena. This job is just to keep me occupied,” I explained. My bank balance is comfortable; I don’t spend much of it. When James returns from his imaginary trip to Japan, Serena will have to go back to her place, and I’ll be left here all alone. That thought has become a nightmare for me.

“Cat, can I ask you something?” Rena asked, unusually formal.
“Yeah, what?” I asked, cautiously.
“Why do you hate Wad?” she asked. I imagined many questions, but this one caught me off guard.
“I don’t hate him,” I answered simply, and it was true; I don’t hate him.
“But you never take his calls, and when you two talk, you always end up bickering,” she pointed out. Well, that’s true.

“Rena, he was my high school classmate,” I began.
“You guys were classmates?” she asked, amused.
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“And…?” she prompted, curious.
“You know James and I were best friends before our relationship, right?” She nodded.
“James was a playboy back then,” I said, and she gave me an ‘I know’ look.

“Wad had a girlfriend named Merlin. She cheated on Wad and started a secret relationship with James. James didn’t know about Wad and Merlin. Since then, we’ve all had issues, and Wad didn’t talk to us much after that,” I explained.

“We can’t blame Wad for that,” she said.
I didn’t respond.

“I don’t see the problem here. They were kids at the time. When he found out James had stolen his girlfriend, Wad reacted. Why have you kept your distance from him?” she asked. I don’t have any real issues with him. We used to talk in the past.

“The problem is that he still hates James. I think Wad uses me as leverage against James, and that worries me. I don’t want to be a pawn between them,” I admitted.
“Don’t be silly, Cat. Wad may hold a grudge against James, but how could he possibly use you against him? You caught James cheating on you with your own eyes. On that day, when I couldn’t find you anywhere, Wad was the one who helped me,” she said.

“What are you saying?” I asked.
“You should think carefully about who you keep close and who you keep at a distance,” she said, heading to the kitchen. Yes, I need to make some decisions. I also need to decide what to do about James.

I was walking through the garden. My plants looked tired, so I watered them. As the sun began to set, I went inside, took a bath, and put on a silk nightdress. Serena was setting the table.

“Wow. You look breathtaking. If any boys were here, they’d probably kiss your feet,” rena teased.

I sat down and started eating. It was delicious.

“Are you planning to get divorced?” she asked casually. I’ve been thinking about it. Why should I stay with someone who doesn’t want me? Someone who lied to me and kept me waiting? It’s clear that his priority is that other woman. If he’d fallen out of love, he could’ve had an honest conversation with me, and we could have ended things as friends. But instead, I had to watch my whole world crumble before my eyes.

“Yeah, I need to find a lawyer,” I answered.
“Why find a new one? Isn’t Wad enough? I did some background research—he’s an amazing lawyer,” she said cheerfully.
“Don’t use me as an excuse to meet him. If you want to see him, go yourself,” I teased.

“I’m not using you. James is very powerful; he could easily bribe other lawyers, but Wad won’t fall for his tricks. And if Wad hates James, that could be to your advantage too,” she said.

When did Serena start being so clever?

“Rena, is that really you?” I asked, amused.
“Enough making fun of me. Now finish your plate,” she ordered.
“Yes, madam.” I finished my plate obediently.

I thought about it. Serena was right. A divorce could stain James’s business and family name, so he might do anything to stop it or make it seem like I’m the problem.

Wad is a talented lawyer, but if we start talking, we’ll likely end up fighting. Still, this is something I need to do. I won’t let James play me for a fool any longer. I can’t normalize cheating—it’s a crime. I’ll stop being his docile wife.

It’s time to stand up for my pride.

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