Charles' POV:
My mother had been in Kitsap for several days, yet she still didn't want to come home.Meanwhile, I
was at home, sitting on the sofa when I decided to give her a call.
"Mom, why haven't you come back yet?"
"I haven't seen Scarlett yet.I won't come home until I do."
She sounded really disappointed.
"Mom, it won't do you good to be there.Just come home, okay?" I suggested, rubbing my temples in
frustration.
Suddenly, my heart was overcame with stress.
"Let me just wait a little longer.Please," she replied.
"Her leg hasn't recovered yet.I don't think she'll go out anytime soon.You won't have a chance to see
her," I replied, attempting to persuade her.
"Fine.I'll be home soon."
My mother sounded like she was down in the dumps.But once I heard her agree, I hung up the phone
and went to the tennis court.
Lately, I'd been dealing with lots of problems, and I really needed some time to relax.
David and Spencer were already there, waiting for me.I approached them and said, "Spencer, play with
me first."
"Sure, buddy."
Spencer went to the opposite side of the court and shouted, "Charles, go easy on me, okay?"
I didn't heed his request.I went to the service area, stretching my limbs.
Then, I threw the ball high into the air, and smashed it downwards in a swift yet decisive manner.
"Charles, take it easy! I haven't even warmed up yet!" Spencer shouted.
Right after he finished the sentence, the next ball was already hurtling towards him at a fierce
momentum.
Spencer barely rallied it back, and I easily returned the ball.
Within just three rounds, he admitted defeat.
"That's it! I'm done.I need a break.David, I'm tagging out.You play with him instead!"
We both turned our attention to David, only to find a girl in a short skirt standing beside him and waving
at us.
"Spencer!" the girl shouted.
"Nicole? What are you doing here?"
Spencer strode out of the court and headed to the rest area.I followed him out.
"I'm playing tennis with my friends over there.I noticed you were here, too, so I came to say hello."
"Oh, I see.Well, go back to your game then," Spencer replied impatiently.
Obviously, he wanted Nicole to get out of here at once.
"Are you free tonight? Wanna have drink with me?" But Nicole refused to give up.
"Sorry, but I have an appointment tonight," replied Spencer.
"Do you mind if I come with you?"
I couldn't help but look at Nicole from head to toe after hearing that response.What a dense girl she
was!
"I do mind.And I'll have you know that I'm a married man now.My wife doesn't like it when I hang out
with other women," Spencer responded, visibly annoyed.
"Wait, you're married?"Nicole was surprised, and so was I.
"Yes, and you know her.It's Vivian."
"What? How is that possible? I don't believe it! You're lying to me, aren't you?" Nicole's eyes widened in
disbelief.
"Well, believe it or not, I don't care."Spencer shrugged.
"How could this be?"
Nicole bit her lower lip as tears welled up in her eyes.It looked like she was about to break into tears.
"Don't cry.You look ugly when you cry."
Even after seeing her so disheartened, Spencer remained tough.
Upon hearing that, Nicole glared at us and stormed away without another word.
After she had left, David and I approached spencer.
"Since when did you get married?" I asked.
"Two days ago," Spencer said casually.
"What the hell, man? Getting married is big thing! Why didn't you tell me and David about it?" I asked.
"Well, we've been busy with our own affairs recently.Besides, I don't think it's too late to announce it
tonight, is it?" Spencer flashed me a smile.
I grinned back at Spencer.
Honestly, I was delighted to know that my best friend could marry the woman he loved.
"Anyway...no more talking, Charles.Break time is over! Let's get back to playing tennis, shall we?"
"Alright."
After playing tennis for quite some time, we decided to go to Mint Bar.And as soon as we sat down,
Spencer said, "Order whatever you want.It's my treat.Oh, by the way, Vivian will be here too."
"Sounds great!" David picked up the menu and began to order.
Meanwhile, I took out a cigarette and lit it.
"You've been smoking more often recently."
David put the menu aside and continued, "You weren't like this before, Charles.What happened?"
Instead of responding, I just continued smoking.
Spencer chuckled at David and remarked, "Only Scarlett can make him this upset."
At the mention of her name, I frowned and took a deep drag on my cigarette.
"That's none of your business."
Spencer realized that he had made a gaffe, so he clammed up.
"You shouldn't smoke so much.It's not good for your health," David said with a smile, trying to ease this
awkward tension.
"You're no better than me."
I turned to David, asking him if he would like to have a cigarette.He waved his hands at me and replied,
"I've quit smoking."
"You've quit smoking? Are you and Icey preparing for pregnancy?" I asked.
Dead silence ensued in the room again.
After taking a drag on the cigarette, I fell into contemplation.It wasn't until I felt the cinder of the
cigarette reach my fingers that I came to my senses.
Not a second later, I put out the cigarette butt on the ashtray.Ever since Scarlett left, I had been
depressed.I was smoking all the time, and I felt like I was going to break down.
"Fine.I'll have one."
After a long time, David broke the silence.
"I implore you not to smoke, dude.You shouldn't smoke if you and your wife are preparing for
pregnancy, "I replied, trying to dissuade him.
"Have you ordered the wine?" I asked.
I put the cigarette aside, thinking that it wouldn't help me.
"Yup.Oh, by the way, didn't Alice go to Kitsap? Did she manage to see Scarlett?"
"Nope.And even if she did, it's useless.Scarlett doesn't remember us anymore," I said listlessly.
But inside, my heart ached.
David and Spencer lowered their gazes and fell silent until the waiter brought in our liquor.
"Forget that.Let's just drink, shall we?"
Spencer opened the bottle and poured us each a glass.I raised my glass and gulped the whole thing
down.
The burning sensation in my stomach coursed through my body, but even then, alcohol couldn't
paralyze my heartache.
'This must be true suffering" I thought to myself.
"Charles, don't drink so fast," Spencer remarked.
I turned a deaf ear to his reminder.I wanted to get drunk and to lose my mind.But even as I drowned
myself in alcohol, it did not stop my heart from feeling pain.
"I saw someone that day," David continued.
"And who might it be?" asked Spencer.
"Susan." David put on a straight face.
Surprised, Spencer asked, "Susan? You mean Rita's mother? What about her?"
Their conversation piqued my interest, so I gave David my attention.
"She's now the mistress of a private hospital's director," he remarked.
"Hang on.How did she become a mistress at such an old age? Man, whoever that guy is, he's got
pretty low standards," said Spencer.
All of a sudden, my phone rang.
When I saw that it was William, I didn't want to answer it.
"William? Why is that asshole calling you again?"
Spencer leaned over and appeared to be pissed off.
Still, I didn't answer the phone.
Unable to remain calm, Spencer answered the call for me and put it on speaker mode.
"Hey, what the hell do you want this time, William?" he shouted.
"Oh, hey, Spencer! Could you kindly remind Charles to file a divorce already?" said William.
"That's none of your damn business," said Spencer.
"If he's deliberately delaying the divorce, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep the news from the children
anymore," said William.
Annoyed by William's sarcasm, Spencer growled, "I'm warning you, William.Stop this nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense.Scarlett and I have two kids now.I'm actually doing this for his own
good.Anyway, just tell Charles to think it over.Bye."
William sounded calm and collected throughout the phone call.
"Hey, hey, hey! Who do you think you are?"
Spencer was about to lose his cool.He immediately grabbed my phone and started hurling curses at
William.
"That's enough, Spencer," I responded.
"Charles, are we seriously just going to let this happen?"
Spencer seemed unreconciled.
"William has gone too far!" David echoed.
"Now is not the time for that.Sit down and drink,"
I remarked, trying to calm them down.All of a sudden, someone pounded on the door of the private
room from outside.
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