After dinner, they both went outside to talk. As they walked, Rita said, "Now you don't have to act."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"In front of my family, you said I am your wife and that you love to serve me."
"Where's the lie?" he replied.
"Since when did we become like this?"
"Aren't you my wife?"
"Tell me the truth."
Gilbert laughed. "What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
Without replying, Gilbert noticed a store and went to buy beer for both of them.
Rita looked at him in shock. Suddenly, she bumped into someone.
"Sorry," she said immediately, looking down.
The person laughed. "Is it you, Rita?"
Rita then realized he was from her school. They had been in the same class in tenth grade.
"Sorry, I don't know you."
She wanted to avoid him because he was one of the people who had bullied her. In her nervousness, she couldn't even make eye contact with him.
But the other guy said, "Come on, I know you're Rita."
She fell silent. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
Gilbert saw her talking to someone and came back to check. He looked at Rita; she was shivering as if she had seen a ghost. Seeing this, he put his hand on her shoulder.
"Who are you talking to?" he asked.
Rita didn't answer, but the guy said, "Hi, I'm Oscar. We were school friends."
Gilbert ignored him and asked Rita, "Do you know him?"
She shook her head.
Gilbert looked at Oscar. "But she doesn't know you."
"Who are you?" Oscar asked.
"I don't want to see you near her again."
"Who the hell is she to you?"
"None of your business. But if I see you near her again, I'll have you arrested for harassment."
Oscar looked at Rita. "Do you think some random guy can scare me?" he laughed.
Gilbert's expression hardened. "Who are you calling a random guy? I'm her husband. I can call the police right now, and then you'll understand."
He took out his phone and started dialing.
Oscar immediately backed off. "No need. I'm leaving anyway."
He walked away angrily.
Gilbert turned to Rita. "Are you okay?"
Rita was surprised by his actions. She had never thought anyone in this world would protect her from her bullies. At that moment, she looked at him as if seeing someone entirely different.
Maybe he really does want to change, she thought.
Gilbert gently shook her. "Rita, are you okay?" he asked again.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Gilbert led her to a seat near the shop.
"Who exactly was he?"
"He was my classmate in tenth grade, Oscar. He was part of your bully group."
At that moment, Gilbert realized that, in trying to protect her, he might have complicated things.
Damn. Now he'll tell everyone that I married Rita. I didn't tell him my name, but they'll find out eventually.
Gilbert was lost in thought when Rita spoke again.
"You want to know about me?"
He snapped out of it. "Yes."
"My life was normal until I met you. In front of the whole class, you said I was the ugliest girl you had ever met."
Gilbert listened silently, watching her expression.
"After that, the whole class started bullying me. Even after you left, they continued until I finished school."
Tears slowly streamed down Rita's face.
"Why didn't you change schools?" Gilbert asked, genuinely concerned.
"What reason could I have given my parents? It wasn't that simple."
"Why didn't you fight back?"
"At first, I tolerated it. Then I tried to avoid them, but they never left me alone. So I decided to fight back. But then they set a dog on me, and it bit me."
"So that's why you're afraid of dogs."
"Now you know why I hate you."
Gilbert didn't know what to say. Deep inside, he felt ashamed.
I was really a jerk.
They sat there quietly, drinking their beer. The atmosphere was heavy with silence.
When they returned, Gilbert wanted to leave, but Rita's aunt insisted that he stay since it was already late.
Inside Rita's room, they sat in awkward silence like strangers. Finally, Rita broke the ice.
"You can take a shower. I'll prepare your bed."
"Okay," Gilbert replied.
Inside the bathroom, Gilbert muttered, "Shit."
He could feel the awkwardness. Then he reminded himself of his goal.
My plan is finally working. Soon, I'll get the divorce.
Meanwhile, Rita found herself thinking differently about him.
He wants us to have a normal husband-wife relationship now. But why am I so scared to give him a chance?
She didn't know what to say to him. She got up and prepared his bed on the floor, beside her own.
When Gilbert came out after his shower, he saw what she had done.
"Thanks for preparing the bed. You can go take a shower now."
Rita smiled. "Okay."
That night, Rita couldn't stop thinking about him. She couldn't sleep at all. Meanwhile, Gilbert slept like a child.
Eventually, she drifted off while watching him.
The next morning, Gilbert woke up and saw Rita sleeping at the edge of the bed, one of her hands resting on his face.
He gently woke her.
"Good morning, Rita."
"I want to sleep," she mumbled.
He smiled and let her rest. After getting ready, he went downstairs.
At the breakfast table, Rita's mother asked, "Where is Rita?"
"She's still sleeping."
"How can she still be sleeping when her husband is ready to leave?"
"Aunty, she was tired after our walk last night. Let her sleep."
But Rita's mother didn't listen. She went upstairs to wake her.
"Your husband is leaving! What are you doing? Come downstairs and see him off."
Hearing Gilbert's name, Rita immediately woke up.
He's leaving?
She wanted to go see him, even though she didn't want to admit it.
Why is this so complicated? she wondered.
Though she wanted to go downstairs, another thought made her upset.
He didn't even ask me to come with him. Just because he wants to change doesn't mean he likes me.
Both Rita's mother and Aunt Iris looked at Gilbert, wondering why he wasn't asking Rita to return with him.
Finally, Gilbert said, "Rita, whenever you want to come home, just call me. I'll come and pick you up."
Gilbert thought he was acting like the ideal husband, but the three women looked at him with disappointment.
Rita smiled faintly. "Okay."
I don't have the right to be upset because he doesn't like me, she thought.
After Gilbert left, Rita's mother and aunt exchanged worried glances.
"What if they're thinking of breaking up?" they said at the same time.
On the way home, Gilbert's phone buzzed. It was a message from his mother.
"Son, Laura's mother died. Hurry, I'm going to the hospital."
Gilbert was stunned. He immediately called Laura.
"Where are you right now? I'm coming."
"I'm at the hospital," Laura replied, trying to control her emotions.
When Gilbert arrived, he saw his parents talking to Laura's father. He searched for Laura and found her sitting alone outside the room, waiting for the formalities to be completed.
"How are you?" he asked softly.
"I'm fine. I already knew this would happen."
She smiled, but he could see the sadness behind it. Her eyes were red—she had clearly been crying all night.
Gilbert gently placed his hand on her back.
"I'm here with you." he said softly.
Laura looked at him and nodded "I'll come tomorrow to take Robin."
"You don't need to worry about Robin, He's fine at my house," Gilbert replied.
After a pause, Laura said quietly, "I'm going back."
Gilbert's hand dropped from her back. His eyes reddened, as though he might cry.
"Okay."
He knew he had no right to stop her.
"But I'll always be there for you. Please don't cut off contact."
"Thank you. I know." Laura said.
Then Laura added, "Tomorrow is the funeral. Come with Rita."
Gilbert hugged her and nodded.
Just then, Ray arrived.
"Hi. I'm sorry, my flight was delayed."
He hugged Laura.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"If you need anything, I'll be there for you."
Gilbert, sitting nearby, said, "She's going back."
Ray didn't seem surprised.
"I'll come there to visit you. Don't forget me."
Laura smiled. "I won't."
Later, Gilbert's mother asked him to come to the family villa.
"We need to talk to you about something very important."
But Gilbert made an excuse.
"I have to go back and bring Rita, so I can't come with you."
His father knew he was avoiding them.
"It's okay," he said. "You can call her. Pick her up tomorrow on the way to the funeral hall."