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The Proposal That Was Just a Bet
NovelShort
Hoàn thành
On graduation day, the boyfriend I'd loved for four years proposed to me. He knelt on one knee with a bouquet of roses in his hands. "Erica Gilbert, marry me. I want to take you out of your school uni...
Chương (4)
第1章
1: 1
On graduation day, the boyfriend I'd loved for four years proposed to me.
He knelt on one knee with a bouquet of roses in his hands. "Erica Gilbert, marry me. I want to take you out of your school uniform and put you in a wedding dress."
I was so moved that tears streamed down my face. I had just taken the ring from his hand when I heard a low snicker.
"Job, you said if Erica accepted the proposal, you'd owe me a day as my boyfriend. Does that still count?"
Job Stephens got to his feet and tossed the roses down at his feet.
"A bet's a bet. Today I belong to you."
This wasn't the first time Job had put himself up as a stake.
On my birthday he didn't show. He called and said, "Sylvia and I played rock-paper-scissors and I lost, so I'm on lockdown in the dorm tonight, praying for good luck for her."
On our anniversary, he showed up for one minute.
His excuse was that he'd lost rock-paper-scissors to Sylvia Simmons and had to keep her company all night.
A classmate teased me.
"Erica, you really are our class's Zen master. Job's about to be Sylvia's boyfriend and you can still hold your temper."
Job glanced at me, then reached out and pulled Sylvia into his arms.
"I'm just keeping my word. What's Erica got to be upset about?"
I stood at the edge of the crowd, listening to the classmates egg them on. "Kiss, kiss," they chanted.
And I decided that from now on, I wouldn't hold it in anymore.
......................
The roses on the ground burned my eyes red.
I had imagined Job proposing to me countless times. Now it was nothing but a joke.
I turned and dropped the ring into the trash can.
On my phone, the company I'd had my heart set on had sent an offer of employment.
Below it there was a note:
"Ms. Gilbert, your grades are outstanding and you've won major awards. Joining our company also comes with the chance to study abroad. We look forward to having you."
I looked up just in time to see Job tenderly brush a loose strand of hair from Sylvia's forehead.
I didn't hesitate anymore. I sent back, "I accept the offer," then quietly went back to the dorm.
I sorted out my onboarding paperwork and came out of the dorm, and there in front of me were Job and Sylvia.
The moment he saw me, Job instinctively took a quick step to put distance between himself and Sylvia.
Only a glance.
Job frowned and walked up to me.
"Erica, you did this on purpose, didn't you? You know I lost to Sylvia today and I'm her boyfriend, and you still wore the couple's outfit."
Sylvia gripped Job's wrist.
"Silly, Erica's staking her claim. More than that, she's trying to get your attention."
I raised my eyes and looked over.
Sylvia was wearing the same white T-shirt as me.
It was the matching couple outfit that Job and I had taken three days to pick out.
The day the clothes arrived, he'd said we'd wear them and take photos together, that we'd announce our love to the whole world.
Now three people were wearing it.
I turned and went back to the dorm, and changed into a pretty floral dress.
When I came out, a flash of admiration crossed Job's eyes.
Right in front of the two of them, I threw the white T-shirt into the trash.
Sylvia's eyes went red at once.
"Erica's blaming me for wearing the same clothes as her. I'll go change out of it right now..."
Job's face darkened.
"Erica, you're really being childish today."
His voice dropped a few degrees.
"I'm Sylvia's boyfriend right now. You deliberately wore the couple's outfit to embarrass her, and now you're throwing it in the trash to hurt her feelings."
"You're this petty. Doing grad school together, living together someday, it's going to be exhausting."
Watching him wearily pinch the bridge of his nose, I suddenly wanted to laugh.
Hanging on Sylvia's bag was the couple's charm I'd picked out myself.
In her hand was the same jasmine milk tea Job always got.
Her social feed was dozens of photos of the two of them wrapped in each other's arms.
And now she was wearing the couple's outfit I'd chosen, standing in front of me, the real girlfriend, accusing me of being childish?
My heart clenched with pain.
The old Job.
If I was gone for even an hour, he'd call me dozens of times in a panic.
Now, two whole hours had passed with not one message, not one word of concern, as if he'd already forgotten I existed.
And all of this began to change with one game of truth or dare.
Sylvia said she'd had a crush on Job for a long time.
From that day on, Job stopped putting any real effort into me.
The birthday cake he ordered for me was mango, the flavor that sends me into anaphylactic shock.
At meals, he'd carefully pick out the cilantro Sylvia didn't eat, but he forgot to pick the fatty bits of meat out of my bowl.
Job often said,
"Erica's just fussy. She can't eat this, can't eat that. Not like Sylvia, who's not picky about anything."
The truth was, even back then, I should have understood that whatever Job and I had had already gone sour.
Seeing that I wasn't speaking, Job let the impatience seep into his voice.
"Erica, you're pulling a long face. It's just because I gave the couple's outfit you picked to Sylvia, isn't it?"
He dug some bills out of his pocket and shoved them into my hand.
"Here's five hundred bucks. Enough for you to buy a new set."
Seeing that my face still hadn't changed, Job got angrier.
He tossed me another two hundred.
"That's your rent. I rented myself out to Sylvia as her boyfriend for a day. Is it enough?"
Beside him, Sylvia choked out, "I should just give the clothes back to Erica. Don't let my selfishness come between the two of you."
"No need!" Job's voice was ice cold. "She's just been spoiled rotten."
Then he took Sylvia by the hand and strode away.
It was a long time before I came out of the humiliation Job had left me in.
I had just wiped away my tears when my roommate came rushing over.
"Erica, something's wrong. Something's happened to Job."
第2章
2: 2
My roommate dragged me, half against my will, to the little grove where Job and I used to meet.
There was Sylvia, holding a flower crown, down on one knee in front of Job.
"Job, I'm greedy. I don't want you to be my boyfriend for just one day. I want you to be my fiancé."
Job froze.
Sylvia bowed her head, the picture of wounded sweetness.
"Just pretend for one day. It won't get in the way of you and Erica going to grad school together, and it won't touch your future."
Their classmates started chanting, "Say yes! Say yes!"
Job took the flower crown from her hands and set it on his own head, gazing down at her like she was something to be adored.
I used to weave flower crowns for Job too. He always called it childish and never once put one on.
The next second,
someone gave Sylvia a little shove.
Job caught her against his chest and laughed out loud, delighted.
The smile on his face looked exactly like the one he'd worn the day I agreed to be with him.
I stepped closer.
Job was still lost in his happiness. He didn't notice a thing.
Sylvia wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Job, who's prettier, me or Erica?"
He answered without missing a beat.
"You, of course."
Then Sylvia rose onto her toes and kissed him at the corner of his mouth.
Job's eyes went blank for a moment.
Then he closed them.
I bit down on my lip, pushed back the bitterness rising in my throat, and walked right up to them.
The classmates saw me.
The whole place went dead silent.
Job sensed something was wrong, opened his eyes, and saw me.
He shoved Sylvia away on reflex and started explaining.
"I agreed to be Sylvia's boyfriend for one day. It's normal for a couple to kiss."
My mind went blank. I couldn't get out a single word to challenge him.
Job dragged in an irritated breath.
"I already told you, today I'm Sylvia's boyfriend. What did you come here for?"
I dug my nails into my palm and said, "To watch. To catch you two being sweet on each other."
Sylvia came over, eyes brimming with hurt.
"Erica, don't blame Job. He's just making my college love-story dream come true. If you're angry, you can hit me, yell at me, whatever you want."
Job pulled Sylvia behind him and looked at me like I was a threat.
"Erica, if you keep making a scene, then we're breaking up. You can go to grad school on your own."
I said it calmly. "Fine. We're done!"
Job's eyes went wide with disbelief.
The classmates rushed to smooth things over.
"Erica, four years together. Breaking up over one of Sylvia's jokes would be such a waste."
They pulled Sylvia in front of me.
"Let Sylvia treat everyone to dinner to make it up to you, okay?"
Before I could answer, they hauled me into a car and drove straight to the steakhouse by the school gate.
As we got out, Job explained under his breath.
"Erica, I really was just helping Sylvia live out her dream. Don't be angry anymore."
He reached out to pat my head the way he always did. I turned aside and dodged it.
His hand hung frozen in the air.
Once everyone sat down, Job planted himself next to Sylvia, sulking like a kid.
Just then the waiter brought over two drinks.
"These are our graduation-season couple's specials, on the house. Which two are they for?"
Job took the drinks and, right in front of me, handed one to Sylvia, carefully sticking the straw in for her.
Not long after, the waiter set down the split pot, one broth mild, one spicy.
Job took one look and rapped his knuckles on the table.
"Sylvia's been running hot lately, she can't have anything spicy. Put the mild broth on her side."
The classmates laughed. "Job's so thoughtful. No wonder Sylvia chased after him."
Then someone caught on to how wrong that sounded and glanced at me.
Job didn't deny it. He just patted Sylvia's head.
Sylvia flushed and lowered her face to sip her drink.
It took a while before something finally registered with Job.
He picked up food for me and gave a small cough.
"Why the cold face? Are you hungry?"
I looked at the bowl heaped full of chili peppers and pulled my mouth into a bitter little smile.
My stomach's bad. I can't eat spicy food.
Once, the moment Job saw me eat anything spicy he'd panic like he was watching me swallow poison.
He'd even order the mild broth every time we had hot pot, just to keep me company.
Now he'd piled the chilies into my bowl with his own hands.
I set down my chopsticks and held back the tears spinning in my eyes.
"My stomach hurts. I'm leaving."
第3章
3: 3
Behind me came the sound of Sylvia sniffling. "Job, is Erica leaving because she won't forgive me?"
Job's voice was tight with anger.
"Ignore her. She's always making a fuss."
"Can't even take her to dinner without a tantrum, spoiling it for everyone."
My chest felt like a stone was pressing down on it. Even breathing was heavy.
I ran all the way to the old locust tree by our front gate before I finally let myself sob out loud.
When I'd cried enough, I took out my phone and deleted every one of Job's contacts before going inside.
The moment I walked in, Dad took one look at me and sighed.
"I knew you'd come home in tears."
"Job called me a little while ago. Told me to keep you in line, said you were being petty and bullying that Sylvia girl."
I looked up. "What else did he say?"
"Said if you don't go apologize to your classmate, he'd rethink going with you to New York for grad school."
"Said you were wearing him out."
I let out a bitter laugh.
Job had watched me leave without a single word of comfort. He hadn't even noticed I'd blocked him. All he'd done was call to demand justice for Sylvia.
I took a deep breath.
"Dad, I'm not going to New York for grad school. I'm taking a job in Los Angeles, three thousand miles away. The offer's already in. I start as soon as I have my diploma."
Dad's voice rose a few notches.
"Erica, you've finally come to your senses. The job market's tight right now. Getting into a company that good, that's a few years I won't have to worry about you."
The whole night, not another word from Job.
The next morning, Dad came back from his workout in a fury.
"That Job kid is no good. I thought he did well in school, treated you right, figured I'd take him on as a son-in-law someday."
"Never thought he'd bring some girl home last night and cook her breakfast himself this morning. Don't you go looking for him again."
The more Dad talked, the angrier he got.
"And his mother's over there bragging that Sylvia's sweet and sensible, just right to be her daughter-in-law. Says you only ever made her son upset."
The cup froze in my hand.
Job had never once cooked me breakfast. His mother had never once said I was right to be her daughter-in-law.
At least I'd already let go of what I felt for Job.
My heart didn't ache so much anymore.
But Dad thought I was heartbroken.
He hurried to pull out some cash.
"Erica, go buy yourself a milk tea. Something sweet will lift your mood."
Dad pushed me out the door.
At the coffee shop, I didn't expect Job and Sylvia to be there too.
They were holding hands, sipping from each other's drinks.
I used to love stealing sips of Job's drink too.
But he always dodged me on purpose, said he'd catch the germs from my mouth.
Now here he was, drinking away with a look of pure contentment.
They saw me too.
Job's eyes brightened for a clear instant.
Then his voice went cold again. "Erica. You made a scene in front of everyone yesterday, and today you've got the nerve to come chasing after me?"
With that, he ordered a sweet iced latte, the one I loved.
Sylvia came over and took my arm, all friendliness.
"Erica, don't be angry. I'll give Job back to you today."
Job pulled her into his arms.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Erica didn't behave yesterday. Her punishment is that I stay yours three more days."
He looked at me.
"For the next few days, Sylvia and I are a couple. Don't come interrupting our time alone."
So it turned out he knew a couple needed time to themselves too.
But when he and I went to the movies, I had to bring Sylvia along.
When we went to the library, he'd save a seat there for Sylvia.
Even on the anniversary of when we fell in love, he said it was too quiet and had Sylvia join us.
Our time alone had long since become a party of three.
第4章
4: 4
Right then Job's phone rang, and he stepped outside to take it.
Sylvia smiled at me. "Erica, do you know the nickname Job gave you?"
She didn't wait for me to answer. "Plain tap water."
"He says the two of you grew up going to the same school right down the street, and when he thinks about grad school together and then working together, it just feels like plain tap water. Boring beyond words."
I gripped the money in my hand, but my voice stayed even. "If he has more fun with you, then he's all yours."
When Job came back in, Sylvia dropped her head as though she'd been wronged.
Job strode over.
"Erica, were you bullying Sylvia again?"
Sylvia clung to his arm.
"Job, I'm fine..."
Job shoved me aside and led Sylvia toward the door.
"Erica, if you bully Sylvia one more time, don't blame me for what I do."
No questions, no doubt. He just found me guilty.
The clerk held out the sweet iced latte Job had ordered for me. I didn't take it. "I'll have a different flavor from now on."
After that I stayed home, not wanting to run into Job again.
Finally, my professor let us know we could come pick up our diplomas from the school.
But I'd barely stepped out of his office when Job came charging straight at me.
"Erica, how can you be so vicious?"
Before I could even react, he dragged me over in front of Sylvia.
"Just because I spent one day being Sylvia's boyfriend, you post the photos of her proposing to me on the campus network, smear her, so how is she ever supposed to find a boyfriend now?"
I stared at him, incredulous.
"I didn't post any photos, and I never smeared her."
Sylvia came up to me, eyes red.
"Erica, I know you and Job are the ones meant to be. I never once thought about taking him from you. I... I only wanted to stay by his side for one day."
She dropped to her knees in front of me.
"Erica, please, will you delete those photos?"
Job flew into a rage and clamped his hand around my throat.
"Delete the photos and apologize to Sylvia in public!"
I was shaking all over with anger.
"I'm not the one who posted the photos. I won't apologize."
Job snatched my diploma away.
"A jealous, unrepentant woman like you is trash to society, diploma or not."
"If you don't apologize, I'll rip it up."
He shoved his phone at me.
"Post a public apology on the campus network. Say you were jealous of Sylvia and doctored the photos to smear her."
The company I'd applied to cared about character as much as grades.
If I posted a statement like that, I could lose the job.
"Job, go ahead and check. I really didn't post Sylvia's photos."
Job held the diploma up in front of my face.
"Keep making excuses and don't blame me for taking this all the way."
I explained desperately. "I really didn't..."
Before I could finish, I heard the sound of the diploma being torn to pieces.
His shouting kept going.
"I always thought you were kind and sensible, but why do you have to go after Sylvia at every turn? I'd already planned it all out, grad school with you, a whole life together, and you turn out this heartless."
Just then Job's roommate came running over, grinning.
"Job, I posted those photos of you and Sylvia on the campus network. You two really ought to thank me."
Job's rage stopped dead.
Sylvia's crying froze in her throat.
Job grabbed my hand to explain. I walked away without looking back.
I didn't want to argue it out with him. I just didn't want anything more to do with him.
I didn't even want the hatred.
The next day I applied for the digital version of my diploma. When I got home, a delivery driver brought me a bouquet.
The card read: "Erica, I'm sorry about yesterday. Sylvia got a real fright, so I'm taking her somewhere to clear her head, and when we're back I'll go register at the school with you."
I threw the flowers in the trash and left to start my job in Los Angeles, three thousand miles away.
A month later, Job knocked on my family's door, arms loaded with gifts.
He looked at my dad, eyes full of hope.
"Sir, hurry and call Erica out. She and I are going to New York for grad school together."