Dec 23, 2023
Merry, Merry! 🎄⛄️✨❄️
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Merry, Merry! 🎄⛄️✨❄️
Chapter 13
"Sorry to hear that," Agnes said, "Truly saddening. Many couples go through the same thing. Divorce is a terrible thing, I hate it."
"Sometimes though," she added, "Divorce is the solution, even more so in cases of cheating, abuse, and domestic violence, which obviously wasn't the case of your divorce." "No, it wasn't."
"At least yours wasn't a nasty divorce," Agnes said, "The type of divorce that'd make someone never marry for the rest of their lives. The complicated, aggressive, unwanted divorces that I see so often around me."
"My ex-wife and I both agreed to divorce," Marc explained. "She's the one who asked for divorce. She filed and she moved out of our house. She then had her lawyer contact me. It was her decision."
"I did not want to separate but I finally abided by it. It was painful for both of us. It was very painful for me."
"Being used to being together all the time, so attached to each other back in the day, it felt wrong to separate. I felt a sense of void. Gradually over time, I was able to move on."
"It takes time," Agnes said. "She and I are grateful for the happy past that we once shared," Marc said. "Glad to hear that." "Yeah."
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Chapter 10
"You're welcome" Marc replied. "I meant those words from the bottom of my heart."
"I wish those words could come true", Agnes said sadly.
"One day," Marc affirmed. "Do not loose hope."
"If only…", Agnes murmured, "If only I wasn't so cursed!…" "Cursed?" Marc asked.
"I don't know", Agnes answered. "Things haven't been the greatest, relationship-wise. I've accumulated many breakups to date. It has gotten worse. Is something wrong with me? Something seems to drive away any potential suitor looking forward to marry."
She sighed, "When a man deems to show some interest… he would just… ghost me and disappear!"
"It's so infuriating and frustrating!" Agnes added, "It saddens me. Something really scares them. They just… run!"
She said in an uncertain voice, "I don't know what it is. I can't explain it."
"If they didn't take things to the next level with you," said Marc, "Perhaps what they feel for you is not enough to go past that dating phase and they're just no longer interested in you?"
"No no no," Agnes interjected. "It's not just that. There's more to it than that. There's got to be. It's something else…"
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Chapter 9
On her way back to the building, Agatha couldn't help but notice the smell of spicy foods coming from the neighboring streets. It reminded her that it was already dinner time.
It was a distinct smell which wasn't coming from the windows of people cooking in their homes, but from the Spice Market area of downtown San Myshuno.
The food stalls of San Myshuno were notorious for their unique dishes and cooking ingredients, especially during the festivals, which Agatha attended a few times this year with Agnes and some friends.
Agatha even learned to prepare festival dishes by memorizing the ingredients when eating from the food stalls.
"I don't feel like cooking tonight", she thought. "I'll just grab a couple servings of… maybe Chinese or Indian food?"
On the way to buy her food, she checked for any incoming message from Agnes. There was nothing.
She scrolled back and forth. She had texted Agnes twice and still no response.
She ordered her food and waited on the side of a stall, re-sending her 2 texts to make sure they were delivered.
"It says Read!" Agatha exclaims. "She saw them!"
"Why won't she answer my texts??!!"
"Not you ignoring my messages AGAIN, Agnes!"
The conversations got so animated at the restaurant that it was a little too hot for Agnes and Marc to stay inside. They decided to finish their drinks at the bar and to seek out a quieter space away from the restaurant's ambience.
They opted for a park nearby within walking distance. They sat on a wooden bench near a trail and conversed until late.
"I should get you home before your sister worries…" Marc said. "Sorry, I mean cousin."
"It's ok" Agnes reassured. "Sister or cousin, it's almost the same thing for us. When we were kids people often mistook us for sisters because we were so close!"
"Even when we would have a fight", Agnes continued, "They would say we fight because we are sisters!"
"Hahaha, that's sweet", Marc laughed. "That's what sisters do." "Hahaha, right."
After a brief silence, Agnes added, "What a fantastic evening tonight was. I enjoyed everything." "I am glad."
"The toast you gave me earlier… It was touching. Thank you."
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Chapter 12
"You're definitely the type who would speak up for their ladies" Agnes said . "Aren't you guys a dying breed? Didn't know your kind was still around." Marc chuckled.
"By the way, where have you been all my life?" Agnes asked, before getting up from the bench. "I wouldn't have minded you being my man!" Marc laughed.
They started walking to the car. "If you had been mine, to be honest, I would have-" Agnes stopped mid sentence, realizing her own words.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry", she apologized. "I shouldn't speak so selfishly. You were probably busy enjoying a perfect relationship with your ex wife. Why are you even divorced?"
She glanced at him and said, "Come to think of it, I don't know much about your past marriage. Why are you single?"
"There's no such things as a perfect relationship," Marc said. "What happened exactly??" Agnes asked with insistence.
Marc seemed to hesitate before talking. "I… I will tell you."
Agnes noticed Marc's hesitation. She felt embarrassed for asking what happened, "You know what? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"Sorry if I sound so intrusive with my questions. I'm obviously making you uncomfortable. You obviously don't want to talk about whatever happened between you and your ex wife." "It's fine," Marc said. "No, this was inappropriate of me. Where are my manners? I have no business asking all these details about your past."
"Feel free to tell me to shut up," Agnes said. "I deserve it sometimes. Agatha would agree with me on that..."
Marc chuckled, "It's okay, I don't mind at all your questions. It's not like my marriage problems and divorce were a secret anyway. You have the right to know."
After a brief silence, he continued, "To answer your question, let's just say that love was no longer there."
"As time passed, over the decades," Marc said, "My wife and I grew apart."
"Having lost that connection after so many years, we became distant. Living together like total strangers was toxic at times. We were not what we used to be anymore."
"It was time to let go. A separation was a good start, which eventually led to a complete finalized divorce."
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Chapter 11
"You know", Marc said, "Dating isn't synonym of yielding toward becoming engaged. People may try to date you while not really being into you."
He added, "Believe it or not, some may date out of pure curiosity or just plain boredom. Your dates left and run away? Fine. They don't know what they're missing. I think dating someone as fascinating as you is quite a privilege."
Agnes sighted heavily. Marc continued, "What if they thought they weren't good enough for you? What if it was the opposite, that you weren't good enough for them?"
"What if they thought you're too much to handle or too complicated?" Marc asked, "Regardless the reason why they left, it doesn't mean it's your fault if they didn't want to continue."
"Things always started normally and nicely with them," Agnes said. "We would start seeing each other and then BOOM, radio silence forever."
"Like you and I," she added, Things are going so great right now. But I wonder how long before you too disappear..."
"Hahaha," Marc laughed, "I won't disappear, dear! I'll be there whenever you need me. Do you know if your past dates heard about your troublesome breakups and as a result may have approached you with so much judgement?"
"If they come to you already thinking that it wouldn't work, since it apparently never works with you, then it actually might not work. Especially considering how your relationship status is viewed by those around you…"
"What do you mean?" Agnes asked. "Well, word of mouth," Marc replied. "I'm sure plenty have heard of your past failed dates. Someone you know may know someone you've dated and heard things about you that they told XYZ etc., and so on."
He took a deep breath and said, "To tell you the truth, even me, I was warmed about you. I was told, by some people, that you were maybe not the best option to consider if I wanted to remarry." "What?!" Agnes exclaimed, "Weasels!! How dare they??!! Who told you?? Give me their names and I'll make them hear my side of things!
"Don't worry about them," Marc said quickly. "I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I won't side with a bunch of stupid rumors. You had some failed relationships, and so? I'd bet they had many more failed relationships than you.
Agnes laughed a little but was still perplexed.
"No one is safe from a failed relationship," Marc added. "I think they shouldn't judge you."
"Marc...," Agnes started but remained silent.
"You're not cursed," Marc said. "Their loss."
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Chapter 2
To Hell the worries. 🥱
Agnes has more important things to focus on at the moment, and that's a date night with her brand new man, Marc Gamboa. 🤵♂️✨
She wants to look her best! She wants to make a great first impression.
First impressions will always be a thing for Agnes. Whether she's going to a party, a meeting, an appointment, a job interview, a bad first impression can have a long lasting impact, and that's the last thing she needs right now.
She has thoroughly prepared herself for the great occasion and now she's ready to go!
Marc Gamboa showed up right on time to get Agnes and take her out to dinner.
"Ohh, he's here!", Agnes exclaims, all excited.
"What a charming man!", says Agatha while looking at Marc from a window.
The two cousins began to head to the stairs that led to the main floor.
"Good luck on your date, Agnes!"
"Thanks, Agatha! I hope he's a good match for me!"
Going downstairs to meet Marc, Agnes felt a bit nervous. She felt something like butterflies in her stomach when she saw him.
From upstairs, Agatha watched as Agnes welcomed Marc in.
When entering the lobby, Marc looked up and saw her. He greeted her in a courteous manner with a head gesture. She greeted him back the same way.
Not wanting to be a bother, Agatha turned around, heading back to the apartment.
"I'm just gonna let them be", she thought, "But I'm keeping an eye open."
"This isn't happening for the first time. But still, you never worry too much about that sort of things."
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