1
It was pitch black all around, with only the cigarette butt between my fingers flashing a faint, dark red light.
I've been squatting at my doorstep for over an hour, staring blankly at the two pairs of shoes outside.
One pair belonged to him, and I'd never seen the other pair before; I figured it must belong to the man he'd recently started seeing.
Judging from his shoes, he must be a tall man.
Those who are taller than me are perhaps more reliable than me.
At first, I was furious. I really wanted to smash down the door, rush in, grab him, throw him to the ground, and give him a good beating, then we'd part ways and never see each other again. As for that adulterer, I wouldn't hold back either; he wasn't worth my slaps! My torn leather shoes would be enough to deal with him; I'd make him taste the power of crocodile skin, beat him until he was unrecognizable! Let's see if he'll ever have the guts to come to my house and mess around with other men again!
However, all of this remains just a fantasy.
More than an hour passed, and I was still squatting in the same spot. My legs were already numb, and there were cigarette butts all around me. My anger had somehow turned into feelings of inferiority and endless worries.
I sighed; my eyes felt a little sore.
We were just one day away from our third anniversary together, but look at us now.
...Never mind, his choice of someone else is enough to prove that I'm not as good as that person, and I'm not good enough for him.
I understand the saying that forced relationships are never sweet.
I should leave like a man who can laugh even if the sky falls, or walk in and break up with him peacefully with a smile. Either way, it's much better than both of them feeling awkward when they come out and see me after they've finished.
I am a reasonable man, but why do my legs feel like they are rooted to the ground and I can't move them at all?
Damn it! Just because I still love that man who betrayed me!
A dull thud came from downstairs, and the overhead light suddenly turned on, startling me.
I saw my pale, limp fingers holding the cigarette butt, while the two pairs of shoes by the door looked even blacker and shinier.
Just as I was feeling bewildered, the glaring light went out silently a few seconds later.
Many apartment buildings in Beijing have these motion-sensor lights. They're dark when there's no sound, and they're still dark when there's little noise. These lousy things only light up for a few seconds when people stomp on them hard, kick them, or yell at them, before stingily plucking back the lights to darkness. Residents have worn out countless pairs of shoes because of these contraptions.
Looking down at my "Lacoste" brand shoes, I guess I owe half the credit to them!
These shoes should have been replaced last month, when he said he would give me a pair I liked.
I gave a wry smile. I'd been foolishly waiting all this time, but it's already winter...
The old elevator not far away opened with a dull "thump".
"Damn it! It's such a hassle every time I come back! I'm already exhausted enough!"
The person who stepped out of the elevator cursed irritably, and then I heard a loud "thud," and the damn thing above my head lit up again.
The footsteps were getting closer and closer. I should stand up immediately and find somewhere to hide. After all, it's not something to be proud of to be seen looking like a stray dog.
But I don't want to move, not at all.
So I could only hope that the person was a resident from the east and would turn a corner ahead and let this unlucky man go.
But reality often falls short of expectations. When I heard the person's footsteps close by and wanted to stand up immediately to find a dark place to hide, the other person had already seen me first.
The man had a stack of newspapers tucked under his arm and a large belly. He walked towards me, swaying a plastic bag full of vegetables as he pulled out his keys.
"Oh~ isn't this... mmm~ mmm~~"
Before he could finish speaking, I leaped forward and pounced on him, covering his mouth with my hand. The newspapers under his arm fell to the ground with a loud "thud."
"Brother Zhang, I need your help. Please don't say anything right now, okay?"
I lowered my voice to the lowest possible level and nervously spoke to Brother Zhang.
Seeing him nod with wide eyes, looking somewhat bewildered, I finally let go of his hand.
"What's going on? Is there a thief?" Brother Zhang immediately tensed up, looking around warily before fixing his gaze on the shadowy spot ahead.
"This...no,...I had something to take care of. I'm really sorry about earlier. Please go back first," I said awkwardly.
Luckily, that stupid motion sensor light had already turned off, otherwise how could I face anyone in such an embarrassing situation?
"Fighting again? Haha~ Young man, this brother's argument is just like a couple's argument, they fight in bed... Mmm~ Mmm~ Mmm~~~" Brother Zhang's voice got louder as he spoke, scaring me half to death! I quickly covered his mouth again, but it was too late.
The door that had been bothering me for so long opened with a click, and a beam of white light shone out from inside, shining directly on me and Brother Zhang.
He stood in front of me, his favorite shirt draped over his arm, and the owner of the unfamiliar leather shoes stood beside him. Just as I had imagined, he was very tall.
Our eyes met. The two people in front of us were surprised, Brother Zhang was flustered, and I felt a "thump" in my heart, and then I was completely stunned.
"What's wrong? What's wrong? What's going on? I almost suffocated. Xia, what kind of shady business are you up to?" Brother Zhang was the first to break the silence. Seeing that I didn't react, he easily broke free from my restraint and started shouting as soon as he caught his breath.
I was jolted awake by his loud voice, and when I came to my senses, I turned around and wanted to run away.
This is so damn embarrassing! I never imagined that seeing him and that adulterer would be like this.
"Where are you going? Come in," he said expressionlessly.
The adulterer glanced at him.
Hearing his cold tone made me want to leave even more.
No, I want to run! At the fastest speed I've ever been in my life.
"Hehe~ Let's talk this out. We're all family, don't ruin the harmony. Young people these days are so hot-tempered. Hehe~ I'm going back to my room first, you two can chat slowly. Remember, talk things out!" Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Brother Zhang picked up the newspapers scattered on the ground and walked back to his house with a laugh.
Three people remained at the scene.
He glanced at the cigarette butt on the ground, then at me. "You still haven't found a job, huh? But you seem to have plenty of money for cigarettes!"
What a damn hurtful thing to say, especially in front of the adulterer.
If I don't say anything, I'll have completely lost face!
"Come in, I have something to tell you." With that, he walked in without looking back.
The adulterer glanced at me and quickly followed me inside.
How damn well-behaved!
I stared at the door that was wide open to me, and my intuition told me that hell lay within.
I ran, I ran as fast as I could.
I ran to the elevator, pressed the button hard, and rushed in as soon as the door opened.
His voice came from behind, "Xia Xiang, where are you going? Come back here—"
Looking at the overhead light, I reached out and covered my wildly beating chest, then burst into a silly grin.
"Hehe, they escaped, they escaped."
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