A Handsome, Friendly Stranger

Jared woke up the next morning as early as 5am, feeling more refreshed than the night before. He was angry that Clarissa had not come and apologize all night but decided to play the role of the bigger person and go say hi to her. After all, she was still his wife, right? He only wished she would learn to be more respectful and submissive.

The place was a two bedroom apartment and he shared the rooms between them. Even though they were husband and wives, he hated seeing her working or studying that he sent her from their matrimonial room to stay in the guest room along with all of her stuff. Most time, he slept alone but would only call her whenever he was horny or cold. He would need her in his bed tonight since the weather had been so cold the night before.

He stepped in for a cup of coffee because Clarissa always prepared it for him before he even wakes, but groaned out in deep pain when he felt a sharp object pierce through his feet. "Damn it, woman! You still didn't pack these broken glass? No wonder God didn't give you any children. If you were a mother, is this how careless you would be? Damn it it hurts!" He jumped on one feet, feeling the burn of the wound.

"Where is this woman anyway!" He looked around and saw the house empty. Then he was even more surprised when he saw the divorce files on the table. "What is this? Did Desdra really bring this thing out? I told her I wasn't going to divorce..." He paused. "Wait, did she see this?" He quickly went through the file and saw that she had signed it! Then he saw a note beside it and was certain it must had been from Desdra. 

Like flash, he rushed to the guest room only to see that it had been emptied! All of her clothes, books, bags, everything was gone!

"No. Did she take it too far and actually divorced me? What is this! I better call her right now. Damn it, I'm late for my interview!" He cried out as he heard the reminder of an alarm. "Damn it! I need coffee! How do I even make one? Fuck!" 

***

Two days now and Clarissa was still feeling helpless and miserable than ever. Her feet still hurt but Sana had quickly treated it before it got infected. She limped a little but the pain was reducing. Still, it was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her heart.

She volunteered to go fetch groceries that evening while her friend, Sana would cook. Eve was only good for spending money and eating. They had not changed a bit.

But just to get out of the house, Clarissa forced herself to step out after being pampered straight for two day. She didn't want their pity. It only made things worse. Sana Lark flourished well in her medicine lane and is now a successful Matron at her hospital, and Eve Weston is a New York successful romance author with nearly forty books in the market already. 

To top it all, she was also a well respected literature lecturer at a prestigious college. While Clarissa remained stagnant. It hurt and she was ashamed of how her life had turned out. She had gained nothing at all, if not that she was able to pursue her master degree. And even then, Desdra would dare block her path to success by poisoning the mind of the hiring people? What then would she have gained?

She needed to get a job somehow, and move out of their apartment to start her own life instead of being a leech. They didn't complain though, but she knew they must all despise her and hate her for being pathetic.

With a heavy sigh, she picked the last item on the list and turned to the cashier to pay for her goods. 

"Hey, look how cute you look in those." A tall fine man said to Clarissa's right. He looked about the same age as her, or older, and certainly had an air of handsomeness around him with his shaggy brown hair and piercing gaze. Dimples crinkled as he smiled at her. "We're wearing the same t-shirt. See," he pointed at their shirt and smiled again. 

Clarissa didn't know what to make do of that news. How does it concern her? How would it bring solution to her messed up life? People were funny, especially hot guys who liked flirting like that.

"You're supposed to smile and say thank you. I guess," he said, thick brows arching upward. He looked stunned, with his eyes glistening bright and puzzling. He must have been wondering what he had said wrong.

Just because he was handsome doesn't give him the right to expect anything from her. Her own very husband--ex husband now, had the same influence on her and she got stuck with him for eleven years. Only for him to break her heart now, despite her being submissive and respectful towards him. She was a good girl. A great person to him. What did she get in return? Her weak ass signing a divorce papers of a five years marriage.

"Oh because I'm a lady? I'm supposed to owe you something like a smile?--"

"--don't get me wrong. That's not what I mean--" He moved back a step, waving his hands in the air like he submitted. 

But Clarissa still had things to say. "Because clearly if I were some dude right now, you wouldn't expect me to smile and jump in excitement just because you mention that we're wearing the same t-shirt, ain't that right?"

He looked offended now. "Jeez, it was just a compliment. I thought you would be excited like I was...you know what? You're right. It's okay to have a bad day, I won't bug you."

Clarissa roared out, "oooh, so lemme guess? I must be on my period, right? That's why I'm so cocky now, huh? Why are you men out there so brought up this way? No respect to ladies at all." It hurt more as she recalled Jared telling her not to follow her dreams. It wasn't fair at all! But this man was not Jared. But then, what if all men were the same!

"Excuse me," the man said, disappearing quickly from her sight.

Clarissa heaved in a deep sigh. "Was that too much?" She shrugged and went on to the counter to pay.

"Oh that handsome man wearing your same shirt has paid! I thought you knew each other. He spoke so sweet about you before walking up to you. Where is he anyway?" The attendants gaze fell forward in search of the young man.

"Wait, he paid for me?" Clarissa had to repeat and the lady nodded with a smile. She looked around with the hope of finding the young man but he had disappeared already. "Well, sorry." Clarissa muttered stubbornly. Deep down, she knew she was not so unfriendly and wished she could see him again to apologize.