Charley's Condo, Ten Minutes Later

I stared at the pushed-around furniture and scattered papers in the condo. It seemed as though a fight did break out here. “I'm sorry for the mess,” Charley said as she walked into the kitchen.

“No need to apologize. I'm just glad you are okay.” She opened the refrigerator and dug around in it. “Do you have a first aid kit?”

“Yes, it's in the first bathroom on the right.” I nodded and walked down the hallway. I looked at different doors to figure out which one belonged to the bathroom. I didn't want to just walk into her room without her permission. As I saw what looked like a sink through the cracked door, I pushed it open. I was right, it's the bathroom. I turned on the light and looked around.

I opened the cabinets under the sink and located the first aid kit. I grabbed it and closed the cabinets. “Are you hungry?” Charley asked from down the hall.

“Sure,” I said before turning off the lights and closing the door. I walked down the hallways and into the kitchen. 

“What are you interested in eating?” She asked.

“Maybe we should eat at my place. The fridge is full, and if you want to cook something there, you can-”

“I want to eat one more meal at my place. Can I do that?” She has a disheartened look on her face. I can understand. She is going to leave her old life behind once we move in together. “We can get to know each other.” I nodded.

“Let me patch up your face first, okay?” A small smile came to her lips before she nodded.

“Okay.” She walked over to the table and sat down. I followed her and began to clean her scratch. “I cleaned my lip last night and my scratch earlier today before going to work.”

“That's good, but does it still hurt?”

“A bit, but I am okay.”

“How did everything even escalate to you getting a busted lip?” I asked before grabbing the ointment and placing a bit on her scratch.

“Jocelyn came to my place last night. She said she cooked for me, which was true, but something was off. When we got inside, we ate and talked. Everything felt nice until she asked me where I had been. I told her I had been doing something for work, but she didn't believe me. Instead, she insisted that I had been ignoring her because I had been on a date with some man.”

“Why is she angry about you going out with someone?”

“Because she doesn't like me being happy, so anyone who comes into my life. That person can make me happy and feel better about myself, which pisses Jocelyn off.” She is aware of Jocelyn's intentions but doesn't know how to get out of the situation. My foot began to tap. I'm getting pissed off.

“That is what caused the fight?”

“She slept with Aman. That's what caused it.” My eyes widened. “She felt that since I was having fun with someone, she should take the opportunity that was in front of her. I guess she figured it out two days ago.”

“So she ran into Aman and slept with him? How do you know she is telling the truth?”

“She has pictures. Ones they took together knowingly. The bitch had the nerve to brag about them. After the first one she showed me, I found myself slapping the shit out of her.”

That's my fiancé

“Of course, she fought back after, but she hardly got any hits. It felt so good, too. She got an ass beating worth eight years of trauma.”

“I'm happy to hear you got that out, but I am hoping you are really okay?”

“I'm fine, just pissed off is all.” I placed the bandage on her face. “How will your family feel about us getting engaged so soon?”

“They will be okay with it. What about yours?” I said.

“They will be shocked, but I can talk to them. If anything, I know my mother may feel a bit happy. It's been some time since she saw me in some type of successful relationship.” She smiled brightly. “How do you feel about that? You're going to be my first husband?” A sweet smile that can warm and cold your heart.

She was one I likely will 

not forget. 

Be it that she may have been joking or not, I find that her words freeze me. The thing is that I hope to never be thawed.

“Charley?”

“Yes Sang-ook?” 

And because of that, I will always do everything I can to see that smile on her face again.

“I promise to always be there when you need me.”