Chapter 3 Breaking the silence

CHAPTER THREE

Charles headed home with confusion and lots of questions on his mind.

Who was that guy? Was she married? What was her reason for getting married to me?

He kept wandering through his thoughts, thinking about all his clients, and realized that each had a reason for marrying him.

Either one was bullied in school, needed their parent's support, or something else. But Miss Casser was different; she only married him for meals at her place.

His phone buzzed, and when he stared at the screen, it read Client Jimi. He immediately made a right turn before pressing the answer button.

"Hi Jimi, it's at Safefod School, right? I'm heading there," he said, trying to sound blunt, not wanting her to know he had forgotten their contract.

When he arrived at the school, he was drawn to the notice board that read:

End of the Year's Party

"End of the Year's Party," he read aloud.

"What am I doing here?" he muttered, trying to relax.

Immediately Jimi sighted him; she signaled for him to sit close to her and even called out to his son on the podium presenting.

"Son, look, Dad is here!" she said, nudging Charles to cheer him.

He stormed out of the building instantly, feeling disappointed, followed closely by Jimi.

"Charles!! Get back inside! Our contract isn't over! How dare you embarrass me?" she screamed, stretching her hand to slap him.

He caught her hand mid-air and yelled, "I'm a husband, not a father! Didn't you read the contract well?"

"It doesn't matter! Husband and father are still the same!" she scolded, shouting again, "Get back inside!"

"May our path never cross. Send your account details; your money will be refunded," he said coldly.

****

At Royal Camp, Miss Casser was being tutored by a psychiatric doctor, Dr. Jiang, employed by her boss, who believed her silence was not normal but caused by a trauma or an incident that had happened years back.

"What's your favorite movie scene?" Dr. Jiang asked the class.

"It's a thriller," a frantic voice answered from behind.

"What's your favorite color?" Dr. Jiang asked.

"It's red," she responded again, this time sounding more energetic.

"What's your most affectionate expression to your loved ones?" she asked.

But the class became as silent as a graveyard not even the sound of wind was heard.

"Was my question too hard?" Dr. Jiang asked, smiling, but got no response.

"Today's assignment is to overcome your call phobia. I have a question list that will help you start a conversation," she said, handing out the scripts.

"It can be anyone you know," she continued. "If you try to have a conversation, you can talk smoothly."

"Excuse me," Miss Casser said firmly, raising her hand. "What if you don't have anyone you know? What would you do?"

"If you don't have anyone you know, family is okay too," Dr. Jiang replied, smiling warmly at her.

"Family?" she asked, as if jolted back to reality.

Realizing the eyes of people on her and the whispers around, she signaled Dr. Jiang to continue.

"Don't find it hard," Dr. Jiang encouraged kindly.

After dinner, Miss Casser sat alone in her study with a script on the table boldly titled:

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION

With numerous questions on her mind, she thought about what to do. Who to call?

She had no one, no family, no friends.

So she decided to call Dr. Jiang.

"Hello, Dr. Jiang," she said uncertainly.

"Not everyone has a family. I can't do this assignment," she confessed.

"What about past relationships?" Dr. Jiang asked.

"Do I need to dig up past relationships?" she asked skeptically.

"Do you leave past relationships often?" Dr. Jiang pressed, surprised.

"If they don't want the relationship to last, of course I have to erase their presence," she answered plainly.

"Is there a problem?" she asked, noticing the sudden silence.

"Mrs Casser, do you know that the court wants to know about your social skills?" Dr. Jiang finally spoke, her voice still and serious.

"No one lives without a relationship.

People just don't admit it or they put too much meaning into it.

Miss Casser, are you still listening?"

"Yes, I was looking for my husband's business card," she said calmly.

"You have to look at his card to know his phone number? Isn't it saved on your phone?" Dr. Jiang asked, surprised.

"Yes. I'm hanging up now. Bye."

****

"Charles, what's with the face?" Charlie asked, frowning. "Wait, is it Miss Casser?"

"No, it's my last client. She wanted me to be flexible... she said I should be a father," he said hesitantly, clenching his fist.

"Wait, hope you're not using that on me, right?" she asked, moving away from him.

"So sorry. Why would she be your last client?" she said softly, caressing his hair.

Meanwhile, Mrs Casser tapped her phone furiously and dialed Mr. Charles without a second thought.

"Hello, what's your favorite movie scene?" she asked shyly, without giving any explanation to why she called.

"It's a thriller," he responded, confused.

"Have you done an MBTI before?"

"No?"

"What's your favorite tteokbokki brand?"

"Teokbokki has different brands?" he asked, still confused.

"I don't know either," Miss Casser snapped.

"Do you like mint chocolate?"

"I've never tried it."

"He never tried it," she mumbled while writing it down.

"What are your favorite ice cream flavors?"

"Sorry?"

"Mrs Casser, are you okay?" he asked, worried.

Mrs Casser didn't answer but continued the conversation.

"Your recently read book?"

"Shackled," he responded, intensely.

"Mrs Casser, what are you doing?" he asked again, lost in thought.

"I found a topic for a conversation for the first time," she finally said.

"And I'm the one you called?" Charles asked curiously, realizing how important he was to her.

"Yes. You are my husband and the only person I know."

"Goodnight. Sorry for the late-night call."

"What's with her? She isn't really normal," Charles said, his face radiating warmth and happiness.

"What happened? Why did she call?" Charlie asked, her eyes widening in terror.

"She just found a topic for a conversation for the first time and I'm the first person she thought of," he said proudly, letting out a triumphant whoop, arms raised in victory.

"Guess what? She also said I'm the only one she has," he said, smiling so brightly his smile could light up a room and it did, illuminating the space around them.

Angrily, Charlie let out a thunderous roar.

"What a pity!"

"Pity?" he asked, twirling, his napkin flowing around him like a colorful bell.

His phone buzzed.

Message from Madam Jenny:

"I'm not using this number. I'm going to delete your number. Take care."

He tried calling her several times, but it wasn't connecting.

Frustrated, he threw his phone, his face twisted in annoyance.

"Charlie," he called suddenly, "have you done the MBTI?" he asked furiously.

"I'm ENFP," she answered, her brow furrowed, confusion wrinkling her forehead.

"How annoying," Charles sighed deeply and walked away.

"Why are you annoyed? Aren't you drinking?" she asked, beginning to hate the fact that he only talked about and cared for Mrs Beauty Goddess.

****

She stood in the kitchen, staring at him through the dim curtain.

"Food is ready," she said, her eyes shining like stars, bright and full of wonder.

They sat calmly, facing each other. She ate quietly, as usual.

She chuckled, a soft rumble shaking her shoulders.

Charles thought on how to start a conversation and how to inform her of his retirement. His face scrunched up in confusion.

"It's delicious," he said, clapping his hands, his eyes sparkling like diamonds.

He summoned the courage and muttered under his breath,

"Let's break up."

Her brow furrowed, confusion and fear wrinkling her forehead.