Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Caen City, Northwestern region of Calvados, France

My little happy reminiscing time with Jodie finally come to its end. She invited me over for dinner but since I already had plans with Jeff, I had to say no to her.

“That isn’t the only reason, is it? You are afraid to mend the already loose ends, right?” my sarcastic mind teases me as I fix myself inside the locker room.

I look at my phone to check the time and it’s already 6 in the evening. Given the walking time, I still have 30 minutes to freshen up before my date with Jeff.

I tie my hair using a rubber band and hit the pedestrian street. The apartment where Jeff and I are living is just 15-minute away from here.

This part of the city is my favorite place. By far, it is the liveliest corner in this city. Caen isn’t as big as France but you can enjoy a lot of things here. Well, I guarantee how I’ve been enjoying its nightlife for a year now.

Unlike in the States, bars here are a little quieter, more modest, and more discreet. We can enjoy partying, dancing without worrying about being harassed or whatsoever.

The museum where I am working is the only one in this city, so people gather here. As I walk on the street, different faces of art and masterpiece are displayed on the street.

People come here to express themselves through painting, hoping to be discovered one day.

On my way home, restaurants, groceries, convenient stores, and lots of coffee shops are built left and right. So we usually have breakfast in one of those.

After walking six blocks, I turn on the leftmost corner and then cross the street. Now, I have finally reached our place. One reason why we chose to live here is its peaceful ambiance and of course the price.

Jeff and I are only part-time workers here, so we need to cut back on our expenses. Yes, we are living a simple life, far from the life I used to have, but I am happy. And I don’t regret a thing.

I enter the building with a stone arch pillar and greet our superintendent, “Bonsoir, M. Dubois.”

I smile at him and he nods back at me. I go straight to the elevator and wait for my turn, after it dings, I press the fifth floor, the highest floor, apparently.

Houses here aren’t like the ones in Paris or bigger metro cities. Most likely, seven-storey would be the highest.

As soon as I get off the elevator, I search for my key and put it inside the keyhole, then open the door. I immediately hit the shower and quickly change.

I look at myself in the mirror, I probably get thinner, but at least my stomach is flatter. I chuckle.

I wear simple clothes nowadays. Well, it’s not that I can’t afford a beautiful signature dress, but I choose to save more. I’ve been saving up to buy a property here in France, so I can stay here for good.

I wear a flowy lace dress. Its bright pink color perfectly contrasts with my pale skin tone. Then, I wore plain black stiletto heels. I put on a bright pink lipstick that matches my dress.

“Parfaite,” I look myself in the mirror and I confidently say it.

Just in time, it's exactly 6:45.

I have plenty of times to go back to the museum where Jeff would pick me up.

***

“Babe,” I call him from afar, still catching my breath.

Like I said, the nightlife here is indeed breathtaking. I see Jeff watching the street performers across from where he is sitting.

He waits for me at the coffee shop.

“Did you wait long?” I ask worriedly.

He shakes his head and looks at me, from head to foot. His eyes trace every inch of my body causing me to feel uncomfortable.

“Er, is this too much for tonight?” I shyly ask.

But instead of answering, he hugs me tightly and responds with his warm kiss.

He kisses me deeply and I let him do so. He distances and stares at me once again. I could see the changes in his face, sadness in his eyes.

“Babe, is something wrong?” I cup his face as he avoids my gaze. I can sense something is wrong. So I wait for him to answer before I let go.

He forces a smile on his lips and utters, “No, babe. I, I, just can’t believe you are here with me. After a year, you are still here with me.”

My heart aches with his words, I don’t know what he meant but I feel different, “Of course, babe. Where else would I be? I’ll stay by your side just as you stayed by me.”

I kiss him gently on his cheeks. “So, do I look pretty, or is this a bad idea?”

He chuckles. Finally, I see a little happiness in him. He responds like a gentleman, “You look stunningly gorgeous, babe. You should wear more of that.”

“You think so. Why? Didn’t you say you like the simple version of me?” I tease him.

“No, Avery, I like every bit of you, I love you, babe,” his face is serious as he directs those words to me.

Truly, Jeff always knows how to touch my heart in every way. “Babe, you are so sweet. Thank you.”

With my response, he hides his disappointment behind that smile. I know, it breaks his heart every time I respond ‘thank you’ to his every ‘i love you’.

I love him, that’s for sure. I know I do. I know I learn to love him now. And I know he feels it, too. But I just couldn’t bring myself saying those words to anyone anymore.

I may be traumatized or what, but I just can’t. It is suffocating every time I even try to do it.

To ease his pain, I kiss him again, “You know how I feel right?” I look at him directly in his eyes.

And he nods and smiles at me again.

“So, where will you bring me tonight?”

“Well, I prepared something for you. I want to make this night special. Why don’t we try the newly opened restaurant, Pelforth’s Le dîner,” he smiles and pulls my hand.

But I know how much expensive it is so I halt him, “Babe, isn’t it so expensive? Maybe we can try it next time.”

“Let me do this for you. Besides, I already reserved it, so no backing out, okay?” he pinches my nose and continues dragging me because of my heavy feet.

When he touches my nose, my body easily reacts to it. Suddenly, I remember a memory I already buried, a person who likes brushing my nose.

I shake my head, “It’s been two years Avery Anderson. Forget about him and just love Jeff whole-heartedly.”

***

The receptionist brings us to our table, a very special spot by the window. Jeff really knows me after all. He knows how I like talking about the people passing by. He knows how I love to look at those streetlights.

But as soon as we sit down, I could see him unsettling, “Babe, are you having second thoughts here?” I tease him.

“No. I mean, this is just so wonderful,” he chuckles and happily exclaims those words.

I frown, “Hmm, can’t follow you here?”

“I mean, I know how much you love this spot, so I tried hard to reserve exactly this one. But so many times, they turned me down since they mentioned somebody already got this. And yet, we are here. We got it!” he excitingly says.

I smile at his childish and yet innocent remark, “Isn’t that amazing? It means this is for us. Maybe, they valued your tenacity.”

“Maybe, babe, I am so happy to be with you here.”

“Me, too.”

We start ordering our meal, and of course, I plead him to order just the cheapest, since the cheapest meal here costs around $250. After having a little argument, he finally gives up.

Being with him and seeing his effort is enough for me.

After a while, they bring the meal to our table, and we start digging in. We both enjoy the meal and everything is just sumptuous. The price seems reasonable, I think. We laugh, drink, and eat like a normal couple.

When our meal is finished, Jeff asks me again assuring I am already full,

“Are you sure you don’t want to get anything? We can still get some w-”, but I halt him.

I hold his hand and squeeze it, “Babe, I’m good. Thank you for the wonderful meal.”

I try to be a low-maintenance girlfriend to him so that we can save a lot of money, but my gestures seem to may have stepped on his ego. Despite him not saying it, I know he doesn’t feel good by the looks on his face.

“Babe,” I call him in a sweet manner, but he retracts his hand from mine. This time, I know something is wrong. For the two years of staying together, Jeff rarely gets mad, so I am always worried when he does, just like now.

He sighs and lifts his head. I can see his eyes almost filled with tears, trying to hold back his cry, “Tell me, Avery. Do you really love me? Or do you pity me? Am I even worth your love?”

***

(Dmitri’s Thoughts)

I finally saw her.

I finally saw her again.

But it was never a coincidence. I, I made it happen. I chase her here in France.

After two years, I finally get to see her again. I would never let go of her hand again.

Six months ago, after a year and a half of no news about her, I finally got the lead. Finally, some colleagues saw her accidentally. And there, I started everything, I ventured to a new line of business, restaurants.

That’s right, Pelforth’s Le dîner, is actually owned by me. I scouted this place near her museum, so I can look after her, so I can watch her from afar.

But even before that, I set Jodie up to be one of our art scholars here in France. I deliberately gave her the address of the museum she’s been working at. I heard she’s studying to be a curator.

“Avery, you are indeed a beauty with class and prime etiquette,” I told myself.

But tonight, I saw her again. I thought I was going to be ready for this moment, but I was wrong. I already knew Jeff and her had been living together. Yes, it really broke my heart, and still, is breaking my heart.

But, I just really wanted to see her again. I wanted to steal her away from him. I wanted to tell her that I am the one for her. If there was still a chance for us, I would do it.

“But that chance is all gone,” I said to myself.

Tonight, I saw their names on the customer’s reservation log, and I know how much she likes the window seat spot.

Luckily, I was the one who reserved that spot for myself. But seeing her name, I didn’t hesitate to give that spot away to her, even though she’s already with someone else.

My heart pounded for her again when she entered the restaurant. She’s as gorgeous as I remember her. Though she lost weight, no one compares to her beauty, still.

I wanted to run to her and hug her, but Jeff was already behind her. He took the spot that was supposed to be mine.

He became a man that I wasn’t ready to be. He made her happy. And as I watched the two of them tonight, I know that she cherished him so much.

Though it hurts, I guess it’s time for me to leave. I shouldn’t have come here.

I love you, Avery. I am sorry if I wasn’t brave enough.

___

Bonsour - good evening

parfaite - perfect

Pelforth’s Le dîner - Pelforth’s Diner (restaurant’s name)