CHAPTER 2

Work was the first thing Arthur remembered as soon as he regained consciousness. 

The cold floor made him shiver, bringing back the memories of what happened a while ago. He came home from work just to rest for two hours before going back for the morning shift when he met those strange men who wanted him to sign an annulment to dissolve the marriage between him and his wife, Claire.

At the thought of how he was forcefully made to sign the papers, pain shot through his veins and he shut his eyes, the temptation to scream out his lungs in regret pushing him to the edge.

Claire was a traitor, he thought.

Claire betrayed him.

He loved her. He did everything he could to make her happy. He forgot his ambition, his dreams just for her. Just to please her.

Yet she left him. She brought in those strangers to beat him up and force him to sign the divorce papers.

Even though he found her act so immature, he couldn't help but wonder why she couldn't ask him for a divorce without the use of coercion. 

He knew he would have tried to persuade her but if that was what she wanted, he would have granted it in the long run.

Another part of him disagreed with that. He loved her wholeheartedly. If she had told him, he would have gone berserk, trying all means to stop her from leaving.

He would have done everything inhumanely possible to please her, to make her happy, to make her feel loved, to buy her the things she loved, among other things.

Tears stung his eyes.

Like a man, he shook his head and tried to stand up but couldn't. The pain shot through him again making him wince and let out a groin.

This was the problem. He wasn't man enough. For the first time, he wished he was man enough for her. He wished he was man enough to prove his worth to Claire.

He wished he was powerful enough to get back at the man who couldn't take his hands off his wife and also the men paid to beat him up.

Mentally slapping himself and remembering work again, he forced himself up. He noticed the trails of blood on the floor had dried up and panic struck him.

How long had he been lying unconscious on that cold floor? Was he late for work?

Despite the pain he was feeling, he rushed towards the table where he had kept his phone when he saw those strange men. Quickly, he swiped it open and the time glared back at him.

It was 10 am.

His shift was supposed to start by 8 am and end 12 pm noon

He came back the night before around 5 in the morning to rest for two hours before getting ready for the morning shift.

The sinking reality of his lateness made his mouth drop agape. With his head spinning and his sides aching alongside the stinging of his eyes, he ambled towards the bathroom, pushed the door open slightly and entered.

He washed his blood-stained face and went back into the room to change his shirt. When he was done, it was ten minutes past 10 am.

He managed to rush out in time to see a cab which he boarded to his workplace. The ride lasted for twenty long minutes which made him feel more miserable. He didn't want to think of what would happen at work today. He just wanted to get there first and know his fate.

As soon as the cab came to a stop, he paid and jumped down, pain shooting through him again and reminding him of what happened last night.

He didn't want to think of Claire now. He had more pressing issues to deal with. If he lost his job, then Claire would be a winner. The only way he could get back at her was to get his life on track by working harder and working on his dreams which he forfeited because of her. 

Her materialistic lifestyle made him give up on his dream to become a businessman. Now that she was gone, it was for good.

It still hurts, his inner voice said.

Arthur shook his head and continued walking towards the entrance of the plaza. The door opened and he entered. The whole place was bustling with people so he tried to mingle so as not to be noticed but a voice stopped him immediately.

“Arthur”, the voice called out. He knew instantly that it was the boss’ voice. That man was known for his loud authoritative voice. He was well known for his greediness and his excessive love for money. He was known for his cruelty. He doesn't spare anyone who goes against his rule.

Arthur turned slowly, managing to hide a wince.

“Are you just coming?” He demanded, staring at him with a cold expression.

Arthur couldn't find his voice so he nodded in the affirmative.

Just like Arthur did, his boss, Frederick Gomez also nodded and clicked his finger, then pointed outside the transparent door. “Out!”

It took Arthur a while to comprehend what he meant. When he did, a horrible feeling stirred inside of him as he shook his head. “Please, sir…”

Frederick turned back and walked away, which made Arthur run after him pleading for a second chance.

Arthur was always punctual. He was serious about work or anything he was passionate about. He had been working for Frederick as a salesboy since he met Claire. The pay was little but he wanted something to do and also wanted experience to help him in the future if he eventually decided to venture into the business world.

Arthur was never late to work except for once; when Claire called and asked him to come over because she was sick.

“Boss, please…”

“Get lost!” Frederick yanked Arthur’s hand away from his hold, looking at him with disgust.

Surprise flitted through him.

Frederick had never looked at him that way. 

“Guards, get him out of here!” Frederick screamed, as though Arthur was a pest. Before Arthur could do or say anything, two strong hands grabbed him from behind, dragging him towards the exit.

While he was being dragged, he continued to watch Frederick’s face turning from anger to disgust and irritation.

Unconsciously, a tear dropped from his eyes.

The door opened and Arthur was thrown out, his buttocks slamming the hard floor, making a groan leave his mouth.

Because he could have time to think of his pathetic situation, the ringing sound of his phone jerked him out of his reverie.

When he fished his phone out of his pants pocket and saw “Sweetheart” flashing across his screen, his heart slammed against his ribcage forcefully.

The pain from earlier was back for a moment until something hit him. The assumption was that she might be calling because she had realized her mistake and she wanted to apologize for her actions. The assumption was that she still loved him and wanted him back. The assumption was that her choice of a man was wrong.

Hurriedly, he picked up and glued the phone to his right ear, his eyes still stinging making him shut and open them every minute.

Instead of hearing a soft cry of apology or her sweet voice calling him “Honey” like she always did, laughter erupted from the background booming into the phone.

It was Claire’s laughter. 

The same laughter that does a lot of unimaginable things to his existence. The same laughter he would kill to always see on her pretty face.

“Hey, scumbag. Was my gift worth it?” She questioned from the other side, making Arthur raise a brow in confusion.

He called her a scumbag and then asked if her gift was worth it. What gift?

He was about to ask when she spoke up again. “You think anyone aside from Frederick would employ a miserable fellow like you? Try it, let's see. If you get a job, then it means you aren't miserable after all but if you don't, it means you aren't just miserable but unfortunate. Pass my test and maybe I will come back to you, my darling.”

She laughed again.

Then the phone clicked shut. The call ended. 

Arthur balled his fist as he felt a rush of adrenaline. Blood roared in his eyes. He was boiling.

He felt like seeing her at that instant and showing her just how manly he could be. He felt like strangling her.

Without thinking, he dialled her number and it rang. She picked at the fourth ring and Arthur said the only thing that came to his head. “You are nothing but a bitch!”

“What?!” She exclaimed from the other end, her voice laced with extreme shock.