“Something wrong?” she wiped her hands on the apron and walked towards her daughter. Putting her arm around her, she let her weep quietly into her clothes. After a while, the crying had stopped. Dinner was still waiting to be cooked.
Her daughter was led to the kitchen to sit while she continued her preparations. They ate in silence. Leaving the dishes aside, she took her daughter’s hand and they both went to her room. “Honey, what’s wrong?” Tears threatened to spill out. Her daughter swallowed and began her story.
Finally, the cause was known. Yvette was upset that Paul had seem to take her for granted again. He would always thrust her with some task to be done and she would do it. However, he never thanked her once for her help. This time, he had gone too far. He had told her to take his place at a seminar while he settled something.
After the seminar, she was in Tanglin Mall for some shopping when she saw him settling his something. That something was another woman who as laughing and touching his chest and groping him wherever she could reach. Shocked, Yvette was riveted to her place for a moment.
Anger took over. She stalked towards the happy couple and slapped Paul. He frowned at her and started calling her a ‘bitch’, ‘witch’ and ‘pig’. Fuming, she slapped the other woman too. His words stung. He had made use of her all these while. The bracelet was on the other woman’s wrist.
She had thought he was buying for her. Obviously, he was two-timing her. Perhaps just using her as a spare tyre when the other woman wasn’t free to accompany him. She didn’t say a word all this time and ran away after punching him in the stomach. The other woman was shrieking murder. No one approached them.
She had felt something was wrong for a long time. It was only when she saw it with her own eyes then she woke up. Thomas had warned her to be wary of Paul. He had mentioned that Paul was a ‘two-headed’ snake and to watch out for him. In love with Paul, Yvette didn’t take his words to heart and trusted Paul.
That trust was broken now. Crying, she hid behind the pillars and kept asking herself in what ways was she inferior to the other woman. It was only when someone tapped her shoulders that she looked up to see that it was nearly dark.
Her mother simply patted her and stroked her hair. Yvette leaned onto her shoulders and sighed. “Mom? Am I ugly?”
“Honey, you are lovely in your own way. That pig didn’t realise it. I’m glad that you found out now than later.”
“Really?”
“Yes, if the both of you had married, it would be a disaster. I have never been really fond of his fake smile and words.”
“Oh Mom, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright, Honey. I have been that way once.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Thankfully, I met your father.” Mother and daughter smiled at that.
“Honey, the moral of the story is to make the right choice. If you find out early that the choice isn’t what you expected and isn’t good enough, don’t carry on. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I have committed many mistakes along the way and when I finally found your father, I knew I was making the right choice.
Marriage is something that is serious and I always believed that it is a sacred vow to be kept for life. Women must never marry for the sake of marriage. I don’t care what your friends say about marrying fast. A husband must be able to care for his wife and family. If he didn’t treat you right during the courtship, you can be rest assured that after marriage, he won’t change a single bit.”
The advice sat well with Yvette. She was beginning to think that life must be wonderful, Thomas seemed to be interested with her too. This time, she would start slow.
