Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 3

“Shouldn’t you be with Clyde right now?” Brittany let out a sigh as she watch Crystal sit on the chair in front of her.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, the sun was shining brightly, sale’s were all over the malls and a lot of people were already going about their leisurely morning as it was a weekend.

“He has a game with his friends today, remember? You know how he is when it comes to playing basketball with his friends,” Crystal just let out a sweet smile.

She wanted to remind her friend that that day was specially reserved for a certain schedule already.

Brittany let out a frown immediately giving her a mocking face. “Isn’t he over with that? I mean, how old does he think he is, shouldn’t he be focusing more on the two of you rather than still playing around with his friends. I would understand if it was something a bit more fun and worthwhile,” she burst out, raising her hands like some crazed lunatic.

“I still go out with you don’t I.” Crystal smirks.

She was used to her friend having a sudden tantrum when she suddenly decides to ask her out, during those days when Clyde was busy with his own things. But, it seems this was one of those days were she needed to remind her about it.

“Yeah, during your work breaks and when he also wants to go out.” Brittany rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms while leaning on her chair.

It was obvious that her friend was again quite pissed at Clyde for the set of schedule that she needed to follow, but she understood well enough why her boyfriend was like that.

“He needs his exercise and I’m not going to deprive him of his ‘me time’, you know how calm he is after that. It’s the one thing that seems to keep him relaxed these days,” she explains.

“He didn’t need it when he still had his old job.” Brittany pouted, rolling her eyes again.

Crystal just let out a sigh. “You know how stressful his work is after the promotion, besides it’s just once a month,” she says again.

Wanting to still have her friends approval, ever since she and Clyde started dating, Brittany had never once liked her fiancee, though the two basically knew each other longer than her.

“Then why doesn’t he just bring you along to his games,” Brittany blurted out.

It seems her friend determined to again question Clydes schedule, even though she doesn’t see any problem with it.

“He did one time, but I didn’t really fit in, specially since they were all guys there,” Crystal states quite happy with that knowledge.

Besides she was quite sure that if she asks Clyde, the man would let her tag along again. Though she really didn’t want to since last time she went with him, she ended up in sheer boredom.

“You’re really giving him too much lee way you know, even though he just moved your marriage to next year!” Brittany spits out, like the words were something vile in her mouth.

“Stop being such a pessimist.” Crystal jokingly scoffs.

Though her friend was a worry body, she was quite thankful that Brittany has always been there for her. So she knew that her friend was just worried about her current situation.

“And stop being so assured with that so called fiancee of yours. I mean, for all we know, he might not really want to get married and just wants to stay as is,” Brittany says with another sharp tone.

Though she didn’t want to, Crystal could not help but feel a sudden gush of pain in her chest. It was something that she was also thinking these past few months after Clyde decided to move their scheduled date, it was the one thing that she dreaded, that’s why she just kept it at the back of her head. But now that her reminded her of it, she just couldn't help but worry again.

“I...I’m okay with that. I mean, marriage is just a paper and title after all, what’s important is the love and care that we have for each other, and the security of actually being together right,” she just says, wanting to justify her man’s decision.

“Girl, seriously. Do you honestly believe such a thing.” Brittany ended up raising one eyebrow.

Crystal just ended up giving her friend a half smile, not wanting to continue any further with their conversation. Her friend seemed to have understood that.

Brittany just gave her temple a quick massage. “Then, if you man Clyde can’t give you that, he can at least let you off the hook, to at least compensate for it. I mean, there are still greener pastures out there for you,” She states finally smiling for a change.

“Is this about that again?” Crystal finally let out a giggle.

She now finally realized the reason behind the all out bombardment of her friend against Clyde again. It became much more clearer now, after what her friend said.

“Yes,” Brittany grinned as she slapped a folder on the table, “my friend says she has an opening in their company, which I know will definitely suit you,” she says a matter of fact as she pushed the piece of brown paper towards her.

Crystal just looked at the said thing, her friend had always pushed her to apply for a high positioned job, but she was just not really that confident or sure about it.

“I don’t know. I mean, wouldn't the work take a lot of my time,” she just says, remembering the effort and hours of work that a lot of those jobs required.

“And so? Doesn’t your job take a lot of time already, plus this one pays much better,”

“We’ll my job doesn’t really require much from me, plus I do have a lot of other things to do besides work you know,” she says.

It’s not that she didn’t appreciate what her friend was doing, it was just that she wasn’t sure if she was up for the actual job the was being offered. It was a really high position and being on the low end of the hierarchy for quite some time now, she wasn’t really ready for such a type of responsibility.

“Yeah, like more work at home, cleaning, cooking and taking care of that man who can’t even give you any assurance,” Brittany scoffs, her face crumpling as she gave her a very discontented look.

Crystal just let out a sigh. “He is my fiancee you know, isn’t that enough assurance already,” she waves her off. Not wanting to argue anymore.

“Girl, even getting married is no assurance these days. We aren’t in the olden times you know, there are plenty of opportunities for bright young women like you, don’t let your talents go to waste just because some man promised you a good future, which by the way is still not even that clear. Why don’t you just try to take a leap, change for the better, grab this great opportunity and be yourself!” Brittany held up her hand like some radical protester.

Crystal couldn’t hide her giggle from how her friend look, it took her a couple of seconds to get over that, before speaking again. Brittany on the other hand continued posing with several more hand gestures as if finally trying to lighten up their mood.

“I never did get why you’re always so bent on that woman empowerment thing,” she laughs out.

Her friend has always been like that, since the moment that they met. It was something that she was already used to by now, but still doesn’t seem to understand.

There was a fact that she had always believed that men and women had different strength and weaknesses. It was the one thing that her mother had always taught and reminded her, over and over again.

“It’s because I’ve faced reality multiple times already, that’s why. If you aren’t able to take care of yourself with your own skill and power, then you’ll just end helpless in the end,” Brittany blurts out. Doing one of those wonder woman like poses she loved to do.

“And that’s also the reason why you’re still unable to snag a good man.” Crystal smirks at her.

It was one of the things that she knew her friend was unable to easily counter. Though her friend had the looks, confidence and strength of a great woman, plus the fact she was always on different dates every now and then. Being in a stable and contented relationship was something that her friend never really had.

“Oh please, people like those are so rare you can basically count them within your fingers,” Brittany just rolled her eyes, all the wile flicking her fingers through the air.

“Yes,” Crystal agrees, remembering how lucky she was with her beloved fiancee.

But before she could even say another word, Brittany had already raised her hands to stop her from continuing.

“And Clyde’s not one of them, I am very sure of that!” she points out to her.

Crystal just pouted at her friend, obvious that the woman had again managed to read what was on her mind. At first she just thought that it might just be that her friends personality was too strong or dominating for some men. But, after seeing some of the guys that Brittany was dating, how they threw themselves at her feet, she knew that her friend was the one that had some relationship issues.

“Can we just stop with that already please. He’s just enjoying his success right now, that’s all. You know what he’s been through these past few years,” she reminds.

It was not something that she was fond of, but it was somewhat the time where she and the man managed to further deepen their bond together.

“Yeah and I also know what you’ve been through, all those times you were basically the one keeping him afloat, paying the bills, keeping food at the table, you even agreed to pay for some of his own debts and what do you get!” Brittany’s tone was again full of remorse and sarcasm as she flung her hand to the air.

Crystal let out a deep sigh again. “He is quite understanding with my work schedule you know, from all those over times that I needed before. And he did say he’ll pay me back,” he tells her.

“Yeah, so that he wouldn’t look like the bad guy and he should have paid you back sooner, specially with the amount of money his earning right now. Sad boy dilemma like those shouldn’t be tolerated you know,” Brittany scoffs.

Crystal just squinted her eyes as she looked at her friend. “I bet you’re just hungry. Why don’t we just grab a bite to eat, my treat,” she says.

Thinking that it might just be the reason why her friend was so unreasonable right now when it came to her current relationship. It was one of those things that we're usually the cause of it.

“No, you paid last time so it’s my turn. Besides, there’s this nice restaurant I’ve always wanted to visit. It just so happens I’m in the mood for a fancy lunch right now,” Brittany states with a smug smile, her eyes twinkling as if stating that she was the one who won their little argument.

“As you wish,” Crystal just agrees holding her own laugh.

Brittany then quickly stood up with a quick shake of her buttocks. “Let’s go then,” she wiggles out of sheer excitement.

She ended up just laughing as her friend grab on to her and pulled her up from her chair. They ran hand in hand together towards the parking area, giggling like little kids.

Those were one of the things she enjoyed the most during her quality time, she was still able to be herself around her friend. Not hiding nor pretending to be the weak and submissive girl, she was able to stand her grounds without the usual repercussion of being too impulsive or strong willed.

That was also another reason, why even though Brittany came as quite strong and frank towards her, she never held it against her friend, because before she did imagine herself being like that. Yet all of those things changed when she met Clyde.