Online Love Stories: Even on a Clear Day, It Can Rain
Warm Warm is my best friend. When she asked to meet at a café, I was shocked by her appearance. A person who always cares about her looks had gone out with a pale face. I jokingly said, “Did the sky fall?” (She once said she would never go out without makeup unless the sky fell.)
“I got divorced,” she said with a downcast face, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
I widened my eyes, rubbed my ears, thinking I might have misheard, and then laughed it off, “Today isn’t April Fool’s Day, is it? You can’t be serious! You and your husband were so in love, there’s no way you’d get divorced. I don’t believe it.” I finished speaking, but the word “believe” was whispered so softly that only I could hear it. Her tears hit me hard, and despite the sweltering heat, I suddenly felt cold. If even they divorced, how could I believe in love anymore?
“Is it true?” I croaked.
“Yes,” she nodded affirmatively.
“Why?”
“I…”
“He had an online affair? A mistress? Hired a prostitute?” I rattled off a string of possibilities.
She shook her head violently, her tears flying in all directions. I panicked, grabbed her hand, and growled, “Tell me! What’s going on? Did he bully you? Let’s go, I’ll confront him with you.”
She shook off my hand and buried her face in her hands, sobbing, “No, it wasn’t him. It was me. I’m the one who wants a divorce.”
I was stunned. Warm Warm, the person I knew so well, would never have an affair…
“I have a lover,” she said, glancing behind her. A young, handsome guy waved at us and even blew me a kiss. He was nothing but a frivolous pretty boy.
“Warm Warm…” I glared at her, full of disappointment. “If this is who you are, you’re no longer my friend.” I grabbed my bag and left without looking back. After that, I never saw Warm Warm again. She called me a few times, but I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what to say.
One day, we went to a nightclub after a colleague’s birthday party. I don’t usually go to places like that, and I don’t dance, so I just sat on the side watching my coworkers on the dance floor. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught my eye. It was Warm Warm’s lover, holding another girl’s waist, dancing provocatively.
I was furious. I don’t know where I got the courage, but I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the nightclub. He struggled several times before breaking free, yelling, “Why are you dragging me?” Then he turned to go back inside.
I blocked the door and coldly asked, “How could you do this to Warm Warm? She divorced her husband for you.”
He was stunned. “Who’s Warm Warm?”
I glared at him, nearly jumping with anger.
He suddenly seemed to understand and said, “Oh, you mean that pretty lady? She paid me to act as her lover. I was curious too and asked why she’d lie to her husband, who seemed good to her. Then she showed me a diagnosis, saying she had late-stage cancer. She didn’t want her loved ones and friends to be sad.”
I widened my eyes, almost unable to believe my ears. My hands trembling, I picked up my phone and dialed her number. The response was, “The number you have dialed is no longer in service.”
I then called her husband. The call was quickly answered, and a hoarse voice on the other end said, “Hello?”
I asked, “Where’s Warm Warm?”
“We divorced. She… she…” He couldn’t finish the sentence, choking on his words.
I held the phone, wanting to tell him not to be sad, that she hadn’t changed. But before I could say anything, he continued, “It’s for the best. It made me see someone’s true nature. I’ll forget her soon. Please don’t call and remind me of her.” Then he hung up.
I looked up at the starry sky, and it started to drizzle.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
