Chapter 7: The Story

The next day, when I prepared myself for the date, my mom started the interrogation. “Where are you going, Lana? With whom? Do I know them?”

“I’ll go with my new boss, Mom. He’s nice,” I said calmly. I had gotten used to her many questions.  

“A date?”

“No. It’s just to build a good relationship so our work will be good.”

My mom raised her thick eyebrows. “Oh, really? Then why do you keep searching for clothes if you aren’t dating?”

“Well, I need something good to wear. Besides, it’s embarrassing if I go with my boss but I wear a bad one,” I said, giving her a make sense explanation while shrugging. 

“I see. But then, last year you had an office event. How come you weren’t as busy as now to find a new cloth to wear?” She seemed still curious.  

“Mom, I want to pee. Later, okay?” I rushed to the toilet.  

In the toilet, I let out a sigh of relief. If I didn’t escape, my mom would continue interrogating me until she found a satisfying answer. For six years without ever going to any date, it was obvious my preparation tonight was too much.  

Before returning to my room, I peeked first from a small hole in the toilet door. I wanted to ensure my mom had already left my room. After watching for a while, it seemed she wasn’t in my room anymore. Great! I walked without sound. Fortunately, my mom had already departed my room. Yes! I clenched my hand and smiled.

So, I sorted some clothes again. After thinking for a while, there were only three clothes left on the bed. Since I was still too confused to choose, I went to the bathroom first to have a shower. 

Afterward, I finally chose a simple black dress. The other dresses were a sexy red dress and a boring oversized gray dress.  

The black dress I chose fit my body, but it wasn’t too tight. Laces were on the side of the sleeves and neck, giving feminine impression. I loved it! Also, I was totally into the black dress because it gave a thinner illusion. After wearing the dress, I wore simple makeup. I finished after a half hour.  

I didn’t know it was seven p.m. already because I was too busy selecting clothes and wearing makeup. Then my mom shouted from downstairs, “Lana, your boss is here. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Mom. I’m coming!” I said.

In the living room, I was stunned to see Edward with my dad and mom. They talked with him, and my dad nodded enthusiastically. My mom grinned when she saw me.  

Edward smiled too. “Ready?” 

I nodded. “Let’s go?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we’ll go now. I’ll send Lana home at max at eleven,” he said. 

“Okay. Take your time,” my dad said while patting Edward’s shoulder. 

Patting his shoulder? It seemed my dad liked Edward. My dad had never patted my ex’s shoulder, even though they met several times. 

Edward shook hands with my parents, then walked to the front door. My mom winked at me. I thought she liked Edward too.

When I was in his car, Edward opened the door for me. When I was about to step inside, he whispered in my ear, “So beautiful!”

My cheeks were hot instantly. “Thanks.” I wanted to comment that he was handsome, but my tongue refused to cooperate. Besides, saying it might create a misunderstanding. I didn’t want him to think I flirted with him. 

Not only that, but once he was in the car too, he stared at me for a while. I squirmed on my seat. “What’s wrong? Anything’s wrong? Any smudge on my face?” I touched my cheek, worried if my lipstick or powder were messy.

“No,” he said while shaking his head. “You’re so beautiful.”

“You already said that,” I said lightly, trying to make it not a big deal. 

“It’s true. I’m glad I asked you out today.” 

Then he started driving while I drowned in my mind. He played the same song.  

I sighed inside. He only wanted to have a good working relationship. So, no need to think too far. It would be worse if I had a crush on him because it was impossible he liked me. I repeated the words as if I chanted a mantra. 

Later, he broke the silence. “I haven’t told the complete story about Laura. I only told you halfway yesterday.”

“Oh? Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“When you asked me if Laura is married yet, I said no because she didn’t and would never get married. I wasn’t ready to tell you everything.”

“It’s okay if you aren’t comfortable. You don’t need to tell me.” I said nothing for a while because I had to be strong and be a good friend to him. “But if you want to tell me, I’ll listen to you.” 

He shook his head. “No, not at all. I’m comfortable with you. I don’t know why, but I feel you are calming, and somehow I feel like I can tell you everything.” He was quiet again for a while, then he finally said, “Including telling you about Laura. It’s been two years, but ….” He let out a long sigh. “It still feels like yesterday.”

I was ready to hear it, but he drowned in his mind. Since I thought he wouldn’t tell me anything else, I didn’t encourage him and enjoyed the silence. 

But then he continued his story. “When Laura knew about the affair, she ….” He took a deep breath. 

Since he said nothing for a while, I stole a glance at him. I saw a teardrop on his cheek. He cried? It would be awkward if I commented. So I said nothing, pretending I saw nothing. 

He stopped the car on the side of an empty street. Then, he bent his head forward and put his forehead on the steer. 

After a while, he lifted his head from the steer. Without staring at me, he continued, “She was speeding on the highway.” He let out a long sigh several times. “Then the car hit the roadblocks. The car behind her couldn’t press the brake on time so it hit her car.” 

He stopped talking. After taking a deep breath a few times, he finally continued with a hoarse voice, “Laura ... died instantly in the car accident.”

I gasped to hear that. I had never expected she was already gone. From his story yesterday, I thought he still expected to find a way back to her. Afterward, I tried to think of the right words to say to comfort him. Sadly, I couldn’t think of anything. So, I patted his shoulder slowly. 

After maybe two or three minutes in silence, he glanced at me with a gloomy sight. His eyes were red. “I’m sorry …. The first date should be romantic. I ruined it by telling you a tragic story.”  

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. I’m sorry about what happened.” Somehow, a question popped into my head. “Do you feel guilty all this time?”

Then, his words came so quickly as if I pressed the right button. Like the river flew, his words spilled, “You don’t know how much I’ve been blaming myself.” He took a deep breath again. Then he continued with a choking voice, “I killed her!”

“No! No!” I said. “You made a mistake, but you didn’t kill her. She was the one who drove her car, and she was speedy too.”

“But … if she didn’t know about the affair, she might still be alive until now.” He was quiet for a while and shook his head. Then, with a tortured voice he said, “It’s my fault!”